I Got My First Sponsor at 5K Subs
45sChallenging the common belief that brand deals are only for big creators, this clip offers a surprising and relatable revelation for aspiring YouTubers.
▶ Play Clip"Title promises proof of income and delivers with specific numbers, but includes a lengthy sponsor segment for DigiSigner, slightly diluting the value."
The video details the creator's five-year journey earning money through YouTube sponsorships, starting from a $50 first deal at 5,000 subscribers to a total of 30-35 lakhs. It highlights key mistakes (undercharging, poor communication, no contracts) and the importance of treating sponsorships as business deals, using tools like DigiSigner for professional contracts.
Creator starts by discussing their experience with brand deals, noting that many creators lack clarity on how to get sponsorships, how much to charge, and when to get paid.
Got first sponsor at 5,000 subscribers, contrary to the belief that big numbers are needed. Charged around $50, which was a small amount but a big victory, teaching that trust and positioning matter more than numbers.
In the second year, earned over 1 lakh but still undercharged. Brands were unclear about deliverables, leading to confusion. In the third year, a big brand refused to pay because no contract was signed, despite video delivery.
By the fourth year, started using media kits with clear pricing and proper tools like contracts. By the fifth year, sponsorship income doubled due to a proper system in place.
Sponsorship became a stable income stream, not just a side hustle. Emphasizes that implementation alongside learning made this possible.
Identifies three major mistakes: undercharging (saying yes to whatever brand says), poor communication (assuming brand understands vision), and lack of proper contract (just email confirmation).
Started using DigiSigner, an e-signature tool, to create and send contracts. Free plan allows 3 documents per month; paid upgrade offers unlimited docs and legally binding signatures compliant with eSign and eIDS.
Total earnings from sponsorships over 5 years: 30-35 lakhs, separate from AdSense or affiliate income. Emphasizes that treating every deal as a business deal and using right tools led to this success.
Treat every sponsorship like a business deal to build trust and get repeat collaborations. Encourages viewers to take brand deals seriously and use DigiSigner for professional contracts.
The creator's journey shows that sponsorships can become a significant income stream if handled professionally, with clear contracts and fair pricing. The key takeaway is to treat every deal as a business transaction to build long-term trust with brands.
At what subscriber count did the creator get their first sponsor?
5,000 subscribers
00:29
What was the amount of the first sponsorship deal?
$50
02:00
What are the three common sponsorship mistakes mentioned?
Undercharging, poor communication, and lack of proper contract.
05:21
What tool does the creator recommend for signing contracts?
DigiSigner
06:16
What is the total sponsorship income over 5 years?
30-35 lakhs
07:44
Why did a big brand refuse to pay in the third year?
Because no contract was signed, only email confirmation.
03:16
First Deal Victory
Shows that small deals can be significant learning experiences and that trust matters more than subscriber count.
02:00Lesson from Non-Payment
Highlights the critical importance of contracts in business deals.
03:16Income Proof
Provides concrete numbers, making the video credible and actionable.
07:44Business Mindset
Emphasizes treating sponsorships as business deals for long-term success.
08:10[00:01] integrated video. After that let me talk about the dedicated video which was a deal with a big brand. If I calculate the total of sponsorship deals till date, then calculate the total of sponsorship deals till date, then almost everyone wants sponsorship
[00:15] but how do they get it? How much money do you get and when do you get it? No one has this clarity. Personally, when I started YouTube, I thought brand deals were only for big creators. But I was wrong. I got my first sponsor at just
[00:29] 5000 subscribers when I had around 5000. There was doubt and fear inside and at that time I had not even thought about a legal contract. Today it has been 5 years since I started on YouTube and what started as a side hustle has earned me so much through sponsorships alone
[00:45] that people can hardly earn in full time jobs. But yes, if I had made the same initial mistakes even today, the But yes, if I had made the same initial mistakes even today, the and brands are not trusted. So that you don't make this mistake. I'll
[01:00] give the full breakdown in this video. How did you get your first deal , what did you learn, what was your total income from sponsorship ? And most importantly, here are the four things you should avoid so that
[01:13] you can get real serious brand deals with less effort. So first of all let's talk about my first brand deal. Most creators think that they will get a brand deal only if they have views or cross 10 to 50 subscribers. I was also thinking the same thing at one time that
[01:29] I was also thinking the same thing at one time that mail arrived from a small brand. At that time I had only 5000 subscribers. There was doubt inside also. This could be real or it could be a scam. Should I do it or ignore it? The
[01:44] biggest problem was that I couldn't understand how much I should charge. What should I write? How do I confirm ? And to be honest, when a sponsor deal is done for the first time, there is no clarity. So I sent a simple reply. Charged much less but still the deal was cracked. I got around $50
[02:00] as far as I remember. The amount was small but at that time it was the biggest victory for me. That day I understood that brand deals are not achieved by numbers but by trust and positioning. And once I got my first sponsor, the game started from there.
[02:15] And if you have not yet found your first sponsor, then comment that you need a sponsor. I will definitely post a video on how to get your first sponsorship. Now let's talk about the second thing, air on air growth.
[02:31] clear. If YouTube is to be taken seriously, sponsorships will have to be handled like a business. But growth never happens in a straight line. Every year I got to learn something different. That's when mistakes happened, sometimes everything worked perfect. By the second year,
[02:47] more than 1 lakh. Some bigger deals had started coming. But I was still charging significantly less. But many brands were not clear about one thing: what they wanted in the video? What should be highlighted? Does he want to show
[03:03] about himself? What things do you want to tell the audience? Nothing was fixed. Then in the third year, a brand told me, to be honest, that we never signed any contract with you, so we are not going to pay you. Whereas I had
[03:16] already delivered the video. It was a very big brand. You must have heard the name. Language learning is related to need. Languages that teach English. I will not take names. But I understood it that day. Email confirmation alone will not suffice. And by fourth year,
[03:29] I started making media kits. Write the pricing clearly in it and use the final proper tools. Like getting a contract signed. And by the fifth year, sponsorship income had doubled. The work is also getting handled a little easily
[03:43] because by now a proper system has been built and today if any brand reaches out, everything is clear. Money, terms, deliverables and a signed contract. So for now let me show you some live proof. Also, I have a
[03:58] accept foreign payments. These are just outside brands. These are not Indian brands. The story of Indian brands is different. If we talk about recent times here, it is about an integrated video. After that let me talk about the dedicated video which was a
[04:10] deal with a big brand. I will blur the brand name, obviously I brand brand if you have continuous deal with the same brand in the same digit. So by doing this, I have earned a lot from one brand. Otherwise
[04:23] it is just a transfer of voice. Like where the brand asks, I want to do a wire So there I have to share that I cannot give them my Indian bank account. A lot of things are needed. So I have created a media maker who is wise.
[04:38] And other brands that accept PayPal have a different transaction history in PayPal. Apart from that, there are Indian brands which are different and can give it to me directly in my bank account. And sponsorship isn't just a side hustle anymore. This has
[04:51] become a proper stable income stream. And all this became possible because along with learning, implementation was also done. And if you are looking till this point then one thing is clear to you. You too are probably very serious about this possibility like me. If yes, then
[05:07] subscribe to this channel so that you keep getting such content in future. Now let us talk about some common sponsorship mistakes which can cause you a lot of harm. Getting a brand deal feels like an achievement. But if there is
[05:21] feels like an achievement. But if there is And honestly I have made all these mistakes. Every creator does. Especially in starting fuzz. The first big mistake is undercharging. Charging less. Whatever the brand says,
[05:36] I say yes without thinking and this thing must be happening with you people too. The second thing is the issue of communication. I thought the brand would understand my vision and the brand thought I would understand their vision and both of us would get confused.
[05:49] So stay away from this thing and stay clear. And the third and most risky thing is no proper contract. Just write yes on the email. Many times brands said that we
[06:01] never agreed to this thing. This was never in our scope. Payments are getting delayed , cancelled and we are the ones who suffer the loss. Time is lost, energy is lost and forget about money. And this continued until I fixed a simple rule:
[06:16] I fixed a simple rule: started using DigiSigner. A simple, fast and professional e-signature tool that makes creators' work easier. Firstly, I created the contract,
[06:31] saved the template, generated the link and sent it to the brand. He signed and the job was done. No one is copying and pasting you again and again. There is no confusion. And if you are a beginner and are is a free plan also. You can send three documents every month without paying anything.
[06:46] Once sponsorships become regular, a simple upgrade unlocks unlimited docs templates, signing links, and team features. Plus all signatures are legally binding. Compliant with eSign and eIDS. So it
[07:01] is valid even at the court level. So brother, it is a simple thing. Be it a creator or a brand, trust is built through a system and digeser creates that system. The link is given in the description. Free trial is also available without credit card. Do try it once. Now
[07:14] after seeing all this, if this question is coming that brother, how much did you earn in total? So let me tell you clearly. Because I guess someone would have process of 5 years. Where we got to learn something with every deal. Starting at
[07:30] just $50. $4000, then gradually Mistakes were made, we learnt from them and created a system and that system is behind today's results.
[07:44] If I calculate the total of sponsorship deals, till date I have earned around 30 to 35 lakhs only from brand deals. And this is the number for 5 years. And this number
[07:56] is different from Adsense or Affiliate. It only comes from sponsorship. But the point isn't the money. The point is that money became possible when I treated every deal like a business deal. Used the right tools and improved the process. And if I could
[08:10] give one message to my version of 5 years ago, I would say this: Treat every sponsorship like a business deal. Otherwise, the brand will come once but will not come again and again. And today, I have truly earned the most from those brands with which
[08:24] collaborated in multiple videos. Now journey, my mistakes, real proof of income, everything. But now the most important question is what are you going to do? Will you just watch the video and close it or will you finally
[08:39] start taking brand deals seriously? Because the brand says yes but trust is built only when you deal professionally. And if you want the brand to not only say yes but also sign the contract within 24 hours, then do one thing:
[08:55] use DigiSigner. A simple contact link has to be sent. The brand will sign. You will have proof, clean, fast, legal. The link will be found in the description. You can go and check it out. And if you are confused about how much you should charge for sponsorship
[09:09] then click on this video where I have explained how much money you can get from this sponsorship whether you have less than 1000 subscribers.
[09:25] okay [music]
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