How to Request Products on TikTok

Getting free products from brands you love isn't just for mega-influencers, you can make it happen right on TikTok, even with a small following. The secret isn't a complicated pitch or a fancy agent - it's a simple, authentic video request that puts your content creation skills on display from the very beginning. This guide will walk you through exactly how to craft compelling video requests, what brands are looking for, and how to turn a free product into a long-term partnership.

Why Video Requests Are So Effective on TikTok

Unlike a cold email that can easily get lost in a cluttered inbox, a TikTok video request is a public, creative, and proactive pitch. It’s a genius strategy for a few key reasons:

• It Shows, It Doesn’t Just Tell: A well-made video request is a portfolio piece. You're not just telling a brand you can create great content for them, you're actively showing them your style, personality, and video quality in the very same format they care about.
• It Leverages Social Proof: When you post a request and tag the brand, your followers often jump into the comments to tag them too. This creates a wave of notifications for the brand’s social media manager, making your request impossible to ignore. It’s warm outreach backed by your community.
• It Taps Into the Power of UGC: Brands are constantly searching for User-Generated Content (UGC). Authentic content from real customers is marketing gold because it’s relatable and trustworthy. Your request video is a piece of UGC in itself and signals to the brand that you can create more of it. It’s far more persuasive than a formal email claiming you love their products.

At its core, a video request is a low-risk, high-reward way to get on a brand's radar. You provide them with immediate social buzz and a preview of your talent, making it much easier for them to say "yes" to sending you a product.

Step 1: Get Your Profile Partnership-Ready

Before you hit record on your request video, your TikTok profile needs to look the part. Brands will do a quick scan of your page before responding, and you want that first impression to scream “potential partner,” not “random spammer.” Think of your profile as your digital resume.

Find Your Niche and Stick to It

Are you a skincare fanatic who tries every new serum? A home chef who loves clean-ingredient snacks? A cozy gamer with a dedicated streaming setup? Whatever your passion is, make it clear through your content. Brands want to partner with creators whose audience aligns with their target customer. A scattered profile with random dance videos, car memes, and one-off cooking clips makes it hard for a brand to see a clear fit. Consistently creating content around a specific topic builds a loyal, engaged community that brands find valuable.

Post High-Quality Content Consistently

You don't need a Hollywood film budget, but your videos should be clear, well-lit, and have crisp audio. Pay attention to TikTok trends, use relevant sounds, and learn basic editing within the app or with tools like CapCut. A feed full of thoughtful, high-quality videos proves you take content creation seriously. It demonstrates that if they send you a product, you’ll treat it with the same level of care and creativity.

Optimize Your Bio

Your bio is prime real estate. Make it easy for brands to contact you. Don't hide your business email or force them to DM you. A professional bio should clearly state your niche and include a call-to-action to a clickable business email address. For example:

“Your go-to for affordable skincare routines ✨”
📧: sarahcollabs@email.com

This simple act professionalizes your account and removes friction for a busy brand manager who wants to get in touch.

Step 2: How to Create the Perfect Video Request

Now that your profile is polished, it’s time to craft your ask. The best video requests feel genuine and enthusiastic, not demanding or entitled. Follow this simple framework to create a video that grabs attention and gets a positive response.

Choose the Right Brands

Your success rate will skyrocket if you're strategic about who you ask. Don't start by making a video for Nike or Apple. Instead, focus on brands where you have a real chance of standing out:

• Small to Mid-Sized Businesses: Emerging brands are often hungry for content and more receptive to creative outreach. They may have smaller marketing teams and are more likely to see your video directly.
• Brands You Genuinely Love: Authenticity is EVERYTHING. The best requests come from an honest place. If you already use and love a brand’s products, showcase that! It makes your video more believable and powerful.
• Brands Active on TikTok: Scroll through their feed. Are they actively posting? Do they engage with other creators' content? If they’re already invested in the platform, they're more likely to be looking for partners.

Craft Your Script and Message

Don't just wing it. A little structure goes a long way. Your video should be short, to the point, and focused on providing a benefit to the brand, not just getting you free stuff. Think of it like this:

1. The Hook (1-3 seconds): Start with energy and name the brand immediately. For example: "Okay, [Brand Name], we need to talk!" or "If you're obsessed with [Product Category] like I am, you know about [Brand Name]."

2. The 'Why' (5-10 seconds): Share your genuine passion for the brand. This is your chance to build a connection. "I've been using your vanilla protein powder every single morning for the last six months, and nothing else compares." If you have one of their existing products, show it on camera! This is absolute gold and instantly validates your claims.

3. The Ask (5-10 seconds): Frame your request as an offer, not a demand. Instead of saying, “Send me free stuff,” offer to create value for them. "You just launched a new dark chocolate flavor, and I would love to create a video showing my followers how I use it in my favorite brownie recipe." or "I want to create a full GRWM-style video testing out your new skincare line for my audience who trusts me for honest reviews."

4. The Call to Action (3-5 seconds): Mobilize your audience. "Okay, TikTok, do your thing! Please tag [@BrandName] in the comments below so they see this. I promise to give you an honest review if they do!" This final CTA is what gets the comment section buzzing.

Nail the Execution

The technical details matter. Make your video easy to find and enjoyable to watch.

• Video & Audio Quality: Film in good lighting (natural light from a window is best). Make sure your audio is clear and free of distracting background noise.
• Text Overlays: Add text on screen summarizing your ask, like "Help me get [@BrandName]'s attention!" It helps viewers who are watching with the sound off.
• Tagging: Tag the brand directly in the video caption using the @ symbol. Double-check to make sure you’ve tagged their official account. It's also a good idea to tag them again in the comments for good measure.
• Hashtags: Use a mix of relevant hashtags to broaden your reach. Include the brand's name (e.g., `#brandname`), a campaign hashtag if they have one, and creator-focused tags like `#ugc`, `#ugccreator`, or `#productreview`.

Step 3: What to Do After You Post

Don’t just post your video and hope for the best. Be proactive to make sure your ideal contact person sees it.

Go the Extra Mile with DMs and Email

Once your video is live, do a little extra outreach. Copy the link to your video and:

1. Send it to the Brand's TikTok DMs: A quick message like, "Hi! I'm a huge fan of your brand and just made this video because I'd love to partner with you. Hope you like it!" is perfect.
2. Send it via Instagram DM: Sometimes, a different team manages the Instagram account. It never hurts to hit both channels.
3. Find a Marketing Email: This is the pro move. Check the brand's website for a marketing or press contact. Send a short, friendly email with the subject line "TikTok Collaboration Video Idea." In the body, introduce yourself, express your love for the brand, and paste the link to your video. This shows professionalism and determination.

Engage with the Comments

As your followers start tagging the brand, reply to their comments! Thank them for their help. This keeps the engagement on your video high, which tells the TikTok algorithm to show it to more people. An active comments section also looks great to the brand when they finally see your post.

Step 4: A Brand Said Yes! Now What?

Congratulations! A brand has reached out and wants to send you a product. This is where you transform a one-time freebie into a lasting relationship.

• Be Professional and Organized: Respond promptly and politely. Provide your full shipping address and any other details they need. Clarify expectations - do they have any specific talking points or a timeframe for you to post? Most product gifting ("seeding") arrangements don’t, but it’s always good to ask.
• Over-Deliver on Your Promise: Did you promise one video review? Make two or three. Create an unboxing video, a "first impressions" video, and then a follow-up video a week later showing the results. Post across platforms if you can (e.g., a TikTok video and an Instagram Story). This makes you incredibly valuable and memorable.
• Follow Up: Once your content is live, send the brand a quick email with the links. Let them know how much you enjoyed the product and that you loved creating the content. This simple act of closing the loop shows you are a reliable partner and opens the door to future, *paid* opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Requesting products on TikTok is a powerful way to kickstart your journey as a content creator and build relationships with brands you admire. By polishing your profile, being strategic with your approach, and delivering genuine, high-quality content, you can effectively get your foot in the door and showcase the value you bring to the table.

Once brands start sending you products, the next challenge is managing the content you promised to create. This is where we built Postbase to make things simpler. You can use our visual calendar to plan out when each review or testimonial video will go live across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts, ensuring you stay organized and never miss a beat. By scheduling your content ahead of time, you can focus on what you do best - creating amazing videos - while knowing your partnership commitments are always met reliably.