A Creator's Guide to Working with Brands in Pune

To work with brands in Pune, you need four things: a clear media kit, rates you can explain, a habit of reading every brief and contract carefully, and correct ad disclosure on every paid post. Brands want creators who are reliable, easy to work with and honest with their audience. Follower count matters less than you might think.

Step 1: Build a simple media kit

A media kit is a one or two page document that tells brands who you are and why they should work with you. Keep it short and updated. Include:

• About you: your name, niche and city. Mention your area if it helps, such as Baner, Kothrud or Viman Nagar.
• Platforms and followers: Instagram, YouTube and any others.
• Audience details: top cities, age groups and gender split, taken from your insights.
• Performance: average reach and engagement for recent Reels and posts.
• Past collaborations: a few examples with results, if you have them.
• Services: Reels, Stories, YouTube videos, UGC, event appearances.
• Contact details: email and a phone or WhatsApp number.

Brands in Pune often look for creators with a strong local audience. If most of your followers are in Pune, say so clearly.

Step 2: Set your rates

There is no fixed rate card in India. Your price depends on your niche, reach, engagement and how much work the content takes. Some tips:

1. Start from your average reach, not your follower count.
2. Price by deliverable: one Reel, one set of Stories, one YouTube video.
3. Charge extra for usage rights, such as when a brand wants to run your video as an ad.
4. Charge extra for exclusivity, when a brand asks you not to work with competitors.
5. Offer bundles for longer partnerships.

Barter can be fine for small, local brands you genuinely like, such as a new café in Koregaon Park. As you grow, move towards paid work. Your time and audience have value.

Step 3: Read the brief properly

A good brief tells you what the brand wants. Before you agree, check:

• The goal of the campaign: awareness, sales, app installs or visits.
• Key messages you must include.
• Things you must not say or show.
• Format, length and number of deliverables.
• Deadlines for drafts and the final post.
• How many rounds of changes are included.

If something is unclear, ask before you start filming. It saves time for both sides. If a brief asks you to make claims you cannot back up, such as health or earnings promises, push back or decline.

Step 4: Check the contract

Always get the deal in writing, even for small jobs. An email that lists the terms is better than nothing. Look for:

• Deliverables: exactly what you will post, and when.
• Payment: amount, GST if applicable, and payment date. Many brands pay 30 to 45 days after posting. Ask for part payment upfront if you can.
• Usage rights: where the brand can use your content and for how long.
• Exclusivity: which competitors you cannot work with, and for how long.
• Revisions: how many rounds of edits are included.
• Cancellation: what happens if the brand cancels after you have filmed.

Step 5: Follow ASCI disclosure rules

In India, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has guidelines for influencer advertising. In simple terms, if a brand pays you, gives you free products, or has any material connection with you, your post must be clearly marked as an ad.

• Use a clear label such as #ad, #collab, #sponsored or #partnership.
• Place the label where people see it straight away, near the start of the caption, not hidden among many hashtags.
• For videos and Reels, add the disclosure in the video itself, not only in the caption.
• Use the platform's paid partnership tool as well, where available.
• Only review products you have actually used.

Guidelines can be updated, so check the latest ASCI rules from time to time. Clear disclosure protects you, the brand, and the trust your audience has in you.

Step 6: Deliver like a professional

Brands come back to creators who make their job easy:

• Reply to messages within a day.
• Share drafts on time.
• Post on the agreed date and time.
• Send screenshots of insights a few days after posting.
• Say thank you and suggest ideas for the next campaign.

Where to find brand work in Pune

Many local brands, from Hinjewadi tech start-ups to Baner restaurants, prefer working through agencies that manage creators for them. Joining an agency network gives you access to paid campaigns without chasing every deal on your own. You can apply through our join as a creator page, or see the kind of creators we already work with on our creators page.

Frequently asked questions

How many followers do I need to work with brands?

There is no fixed number. Many local brands work with nano creators who have a few thousand engaged followers in Pune. A focused niche and a real, active audience matter more than a large count.

Do I need to add #ad if I only got a free product?

Yes. Under ASCI guidelines, free products or any other material connection with a brand count. Label the post clearly, even if no money changed hands.

Should I charge GST as a creator?

If your income crosses the GST registration threshold, you will need to register and charge GST. Speak to a chartered accountant to understand what applies to you.