How to Find a Manager as an Influencer

Your DMs are overflowing with brand deal inquiries, your content calendar is a tangled mess of spreadsheets, and you're spending more time answering emails than actually creating content. If this sounds familiar, it's time to seriously consider finding a manager. This guide breaks down exactly how to determine if you're ready for management, where to find the right person for your brand, and how to pitch yourself like the professional you are.

First, Do You Actually Need a Manager?

Hiring a manager is a major business decision, not just a status symbol. Jumping in too early can cost you money and creative control, while waiting too long can lead to burnout and missed opportunities. Before starting your search, ask yourself if you’re genuinely at the stage where a manager adds value.

Signs You're Ready for a Manager:

• Consistent Inbound Offers: You receive multiple legitimate, paid collaboration offers each week. You're no longer just getting free products, brands are offering real budgets for your work.
• You're Overwhelmed by Admin: More than 25% of your workweek is spent on non-creative tasks: negotiating rates, reviewing contracts, chasing invoices, and filtering through low-ball offers. This is time you could be using to create better content.
• You're Leaving Money on the Table: You suspect you could be earning more, but you feel uncomfortable negotiating or don't know the industry-standard rates. A good manager lives and breathes negotiations and will almost certainly secure you higher fees that more than cover their commission.
• You Want to Think Bigger: Your ambitions go beyond sponsored posts. You're thinking about product lines, podcasts, book deals, or long-term brand ambassadorships. A manager has the industry connections and strategic vision to help you build a durable, multi-faceted brand.

When to Hold Off:

• You're Still Building Your Audience: If you're just starting to grow and brand deals are sporadic, a manager won't have much to work with. Focus on consistent content creation and community engagement first.
• You Only Get Gifted Collabs: While product trades are great, most managers work on commission from paid deals. If there are no checks to take a percentage of, they have no incentive to work with you.
• You Aren't Earning Consistent Income: Before you can afford to pay a manager 10-20% of your earnings, you need to have steady earnings in the first place. Make sure your business is financially stable enough to support another person.

What Does an Influencer Manager Actually Do?

The term "manager" can be confusing. It's not someone who will comment on your posts or edit your videos. An influencer manager, also called a talent manager, is your primary business partner. Their main goal is to handle the business side of your career so you can focus on the creative side.

Core Responsibilities of a Manager:

• Sourcing & Negotiating Brand Deals: This is their number one job. A great manager not only fields your inbound requests but actively seeks out new, long-term partnerships with brands that align with your values. They handle all the back-and-forth on rates, deliverables, and usage rights to get you the best possible deal.
• Contract Review: Influencer contracts can be filled with confusing legal jargon about exclusivity, perpetual usage rights, and payment terms. Your manager will review every contract to protect your interests and make sure you aren't signing away your rights for a one-off post.
• Managing Communication: They act as the professional buffer between you and brands. This centralizes all communication, weeds out irrelevant offers, and maintains a level of professionalism that strengthens your brand perception.
• Financial Admin: No more awkward emails chasing late payments. Your manager handles invoicing, tracks payments, and follows up with brands to ensure you get paid on time.
• Strategic Career Planning: Beyond day-to-day deals, a good manager helps you map out your future. They'll help you identify opportunities to diversify your brand, whether it's launching merchandise, starting a YouTube channel, writing a book, or hosting events.

Where to Find a Potential Manager

Great managers don't typically advertise on job boards. Finding the right fit requires some proactive networking and research. Here are the most effective places to look.

1. Peer Recommendations

The best and most reliable method is to ask other creators. Reach out to influencers in your niche who are a few steps ahead of you in their career. Don't DM a mega-influencer with millions of followers, instead, connect with a peer you genuinely admire who has a similar audience and content style.

Example opening line:

"Hey [Creator's Name], I’ve been following your work for a while and love what you're doing with [mention something specific]. I'm starting to look for management myself and was wondering if you’d be open to sharing who represents you, or if you have any recommendations. I know how busy you must be, so no worries if not, but any insight would be amazing!"

2. Check the Bios of Creators You Admire

This is the simplest way to find managers who are already successful in your niche. Go to the Instagram profiles of 5-10 creators whose career path you'd like to emulate. Look in their bio or click their "email" contact button.

You'll often find an email address that isn't their personal one. It might look something like: creatorname@managementcompany.com or business@[creatorname].com. A quick Google search of that domain or management company name will lead you right to their website, where you can learn more about their roster and team.

3. Search on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for this. Don't just search for "influencer manager." Use more professional, industry-specific terms to find legitimate contacts.

Keywords to Search on LinkedIn:

• "Talent Manager, Digital"
• "Creator Partnerships"
• "Digital Talent Agent"
• "Founder" at Influencer Marketing Agencies

When you find someone who looks promising, don't send a generic connection request. Craft a short, personalized message explaining who you are and why you're reaching out. Managers are more likely to respond to someone who has clearly done their research.

4. Explore Management Company Websites

Once you identify a few management companies through the methods above, spend time on their websites. Look at their roster of talent. Do the creators they represent align with your niche and values? If they only represent gamers and you're a food blogger, it's probably not the right fit. Look for boutique agencies that specialize in your vertical, you'll often get more personalized attention than you would at a massive, do-it-all company.

How to Pitch Yourself to a Manager

Remember, this is a two-way street. A manager is investing their time and resources into you, so they need to be convinced that you're a good bet. A professional, data-driven approach will make you stand out from the sea of "can you be my manager?" DMs they get every day.

Step 1: Get Your House in Order

Before you send a single email, make sure your brand is "pitch-ready."

• Professional Branding: Are your social media profiles cohesive? Is your content high-quality and consistent?
• Organized Business: Do you have your finances in order? Are you easy to work with? A manager is looking for a partner, not a mess to clean up.
• Create a Media Kit: This is non-negotiable. A media kit is your creator resume. It should be a visually appealing PDF (1-3 pages) that includes:
  • Your bio and a professional headshot.
  • Key stats: follower counts, average views/likes/comments, and engagement rate across all platforms.
  • Audience demographics: age, gender, top locations (you can get this from your platform analytics).
  • Examples of your best brand partnerships and any testimonials or case studies.
  • Your contact information.

Step 2: Craft the Perfect Outreach Email

Once you have a list of potential managers, send each one a personalized email. Do not mass-email a generic template.

Email Template Breakdown:

• A Clear Subject Line: "Creator Seeking Representation: [Your Name/Handle]" or "Talent Management Inquiry: [@YourHandle]".
• Personalized Opening: Show you did your homework. Mention a specific creator on their roster you admire or a specific campaign they worked on. Ex: "Hi [Manager's Name], I was so impressed with the recent campaign you ran for [Creator] with [Brand]. My name is [Your Name]..."
• The Quick Intro: Briefly introduce yourself and your niche in one sentence. State your key high-level metrics (e.g., "I'm a food creator with a combined audience of 500k across TikTok and Instagram, focusing on easy plant-based recipes.").
• Show Your Traction: This is where you prove you're ready. Mention a few recent brand wins or a significant growth milestone. Ex: "Over the past quarter, I've successfully partnered with brands like Whole Foods and Imperfect Foods and am consistently receiving 5-7 inbound paid partnership requests per week."
• State Your Goals: What are you looking to achieve with a manager? Ex: "I'm looking for a strategic partner to help me secure larger, long-term ambassadorships and expand my brand into a product line."
• The Call to Action: Keep it simple. Ask for a brief introductory call. Ex: "Would you be open to a 15-minute call next week to discuss a potential partnership? I've attached my media kit for your convenience."

Major Red Flags to Watch Out For

Unfortunately, some people look to take advantage of hopeful creators. Protect yourself by recognizing these common red flags.

• They Ask for Upfront Fees: This is the biggest red flag. A legitimate manager works on commission only, typically 10-20% of the deals they bring you. Anyone asking for a "signing fee," a monthly retainer, or payment for an "audit" is not a real manager.
• They Give Vague or Grandiose Promises: If someone guarantees they’ll make you famous or promises six-figure deals right out of the gate, they are overselling themselves. A real manager will be realistic and speak in terms of strategy and opportunities, not empty guarantees.
• Exclusive Long-Term Contracts Immediately: Be wary of anyone pressuring you to sign a multi-year exclusive contract from day one. It's common to start with a shorter trial period (3-6 months) to ensure it's a good fit for both sides.
• Lack of a Roster or References: If they can't name other creators they represent or provide references from brands they've worked with, walk away. A manager’s track record is everything.
• Poor Communication: If they are unprofessional, disorganized, or slow to respond during the initial conversations, that's exactly how they'll be when they’re representing you to major brands. Trust your gut.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right manager is a huge step in graduating from a content creator to a business owner. By carefully assessing your readiness, pinpointing what you need in a partner, and presenting yourself professionally, you can find someone who will not just manage your brand but elevate it to heights you couldn’t reach alone.

While a manager handles contracts and negotiations, organizing and scheduling your creative output remains your core responsibility. Getting your content strategy dialed in not only makes you more attractive to a manager but also creates the mental space needed for these big career moves. This is exactly why we built Postbase. With our visual calendar, you can plan and see your entire schedule at a glance, and our reliable, video-first scheduler helps you post your Reels, TikToks, and Shorts consistently and on time, every time. It's the perfect tool to prove to any potential manager that you have the creative side of your business running like a well-oiled machine.