Getting your first deal — Sidney's outreach script vs. Zera's 'your first deal is already approved'

Two ways to land an in-house deal: **Path 1 — DM creators for the brand contact** Short DM to an existing ambassador: "Hey, I'm interested in doing UGC content for [brand], do you happen to have a contact for me to reach out to?" → they reply with the brand email → you pitch direct. **Path 2 — Pitch the brand's social account directly** "Hi! Are you looking for new UGC creators, this program has concluded with [other app] and I'd love to work with your brand. I do a lot of UGC across TikTok / cross-posting on IG for various brands." **The email script that gets replies:** Subject: "UGC Creator Interested in Partnering with [Brand Name]" Body (template): > Hi [Name], > My name is [Your Name], I'm a Tech UGC creator and I recently [came across your content / received your contact from your creator ___]. If you're currently looking to add more to your team, I'd love to work with your brand. > I made a few sample videos showing what I could do for your team if I were to be brought on: > [link to PUBLIC google drive folder] > If you're open to it, I'd love to get on a call with you and discuss your UGC program. > Excited to hear from you! > [Your Name] / [Email] / [TikTok/IG link] **Why you're getting ignored:** - Generic message (copy/paste energy) - No sample content (or broken links) - Sounds unsure / like a beginner - Too long (they won't read it) → They don't have time to "figure out" if you're good. SHOW them.

Send 10-20 of these (not 2). Volume matters more than the 'perfect' message.

**This is the lesson with the biggest mismatch between bootcamp and Zera.** Sidney's Part 5 is entirely about cold outreach: - 2 paths to land a deal: DM creators to get the brand's email contact, OR pitch the brand's social directly - Detailed email template ("UGC Creator Interested in Partnering with [Brand Name]…") - A "Why You're Getting Ignored" checklist (generic message, no samples, sounds unsure, too long) - Send 10-20 messages per round, expect most to get ghosted **For Zera creators: NONE of this applies. There is no pitch. There is no email. There is no "getting hired". Your first deal is the first brand whose link you actually use.** **What "first deal" means on Zera:** 1. Open /affiliate-dashboard 2. Pick a brand from your approved list (Coach can suggest one) 3. Click "Generate Content Pack" — Coach drafts 3 Finance UGC script variations 4. Grab the tracking link 5. Film + post 3 videos. ~30-60 minutes of work. 6. Wait 24-72 hours. First conversion = first deal. Real money in your affiliate dashboard. **The bootcamp lesson that DOES apply (universally):** - "They don't have time to figure out if you're good. SHOW them." On Zera you show them with a converting video, not a sample-portfolio Drive folder. The dashboard's live conversion data IS your sample reel for the next brand. - Volume over perfection. Sidney: "send 10-20 messages, not 2." Zera: "post 10-20 videos, not 2." Same compounding logic, different action. **Failure modes for Zera creators (the equivalent of "why your DM gets ignored"):** 1. Generic content (looks like every other trading creator) → fix: niche down, use specific brand benefits the audience actually cares about 2. Tracking link not in bio when posting (lost commissions) → fix: pin the link, update before each post 3. Long, talking-head explainer (no hook) → fix: stop the scroll in 1-2 seconds or you're dead 4. Posting once and giving up → fix: the volume rule applies to your feed, not your outreach **Coach should ABSOLUTELY NEVER, EVER:** - Suggest a creator cold-DM a brand outside Zera. Zera's whole product proposition is that this work is already done. If Coach falls back to that advice, the product positioning collapses. - Suggest building a portfolio Google Drive folder. The dashboard is the portfolio. - Suggest sending the "UGC Creator Interested in Partnering" email template. That belongs to Sidney's model, not ours.