Brand Deal Wizard Review: How I Monetize With Podcast Sponsorships

Brand Deal Wizard Review: How to get sponsored by a brand just got a lot easier and more lucrative! My honest thoughts and takeaways from the brand deal course for influencers and creators.

Last year I committed to monetizing my podcast through brand deals and podcast sponsorships. While I tried several other income streams like paid workshops, a private podcast, and even requesting donations, nothing worked. So, I hired a podcast monetization coach to help me figure out a sustainable podcast business model. Since learning how to secure podcast sponsorships, I have partnered with brands like Citizens Bank, Motley Fool, and attractions like The Wild Center. Podcast sponsorships is now one of my top income streams. Despite this success, I struggled with what to say to brands, especially when faced with objections. I also knew I was leaving money on the table by not following up or re-engaging past clients. Wanting a mentor to point me in the right direction, I discovered Justin Moore on Twitter @justinmooretfam.

I binged Justin’s helpful Twitter threads, joined his newsletter to access campaigns and watched his weekly YouTube videos. So, when he opened the doors for Brand Deal Wizard, a 4-week course that teaches creators how to pitch more effectively, secure longer-term partnerships, and make more money, I didn’t think twice. I enrolled in Cohort 6 that same day.

If you’re considering enrolling, continue reading this Brand Deal Wizard review for my thoughts on if joining this program is worth the investment. *Spoiler Alert* It absolutely is!

Learn more about why I joined Brand Deal Wizard here.

This post may contain affiliate links, and I may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you enroll in the course.

Brand Deal Wizard Course Format

Brand Deal Wizard is a live cohort-based course you complete within four weeks.

As a cohort-based course, you’ll join the program with a group of motivated creators, all completing the coursework together. Calling all YouTubers, TikTokers, Instagram influencers, bloggers, and podcasters, this course is for you.

Every week you’ll meet for live classes with Justin which run 1.5 hours. There are also additional office hours with his team and special guest interviews.

While some students hadn’t worked with many brands before, many had and needed guidance navigating the complexities of pitching, negotiating, and pricing.

Inside the course, you’ll have access to a private community where you can meet and connect with your classmates, who will quickly become your cheerleaders, accountability buddies, and friends.

Replays for all sessions are housed in Circle, a course and community platform (so there is no need to log into multiple places). If you have an iPhone, download the Circle app to have all the course materials available at your fingertips.

Can’t make it live? Video replays are accompanied by transcripts and timestamps, which are incredibly helpful for finding what you’re looking for later.

Stand Out Course Features

Let’s talk about the course features that stood out to me.

If you like templates and cheat sheets, Brand Deal Wizard has plenty of them, including email swipe files, beautifully designed post-campaign reports, and more.

You can also find proven pitch subject lines, a list of 50 brand deal platforms, a pricing calculator, partnership agreement templates, and a sponsorship tracker.

The downloadable resources are extremely valuable, helping to save you time and take the guesswork out of what to say or do next. This section alone is worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Months later, I often find myself accessing these resources when I need a refresher.

How To Make the Most of the Course

Attend as many live classes as possible, so you have an opportunity to ask questions on the call. Justin has no problem going over the scheduled time to answer all your questions which I appreciated. This course may not be for you if you’re looking for a self-paced course with pre-recorded lessons. Every week builds upon what you learned previously, so missing classes and falling behind can set you back, although replays are available shortly after the live call.

Attend office hours with Dee for a smaller mastermind. Dee, an alumni of Brand Deal Wizard Cohort 3, has used Justin’s methodology. Dee is knowledgeable, charismatic, and very generous, sharing real-world examples of what has worked and what hasn’t.

Lastly, engage with the community.

Introduce yourself at the beginning of the program, post your questions, cheer on your classmates, and feel free to answer questions by sharing your thoughts and insights. Some classmates may slide into your DMs. Take advantage of opportunities to connect one-on-one.

I appreciated the real sense of community that didn’t fizzle away once the course ended.

How Much Does Brand Deal Wizard Cost?

Brand Deal Wizard is an investment of time and money, but if you follow Justin’s methods, you will improve and grow your business.

Brand Deal Wizard currently costs $3,000 or 3 installments of $1,095 ($3,285 total).

If you’re not ready to commit, Justin publishes plenty of helpful content on his YouTube channel and TikTok. Browse through his archives and implement as much as you can in the meantime.

Since doors open three times a year, there’s plenty of opportunity to plan ahead and join the sponsorship course when you’re ready.

What I Learned

Through this sponsorship course, I learned how to position myself for success, including what to say, what not to say, and things I should keep in mind at various stages, from pitching to negotiating to invoicing.

Here are some of the things I learned:

• How to find the right person to contact when pitching.
• Understanding what brands are looking for.
• How to R.O.P.E. in brands with an interesting pitch that gets replies.
• Tips for applying for brand deals through an agency.
• How much should I charge for a brand deal or pricing models.
• Ways to set up terms and conditions.
• How to create a relationship with a brand for the long-term, and so much more.

But this Brand Deal Wizard course review would not be complete without cons. I could only think of two — I wish the course was longer, perhaps six weeks or eight weeks, so we could have more time to implement together with real-world examples.

Also, since accountability groups were introduced midway into the program, I didn’t get a chance to meet with mine due to scheduling conflicts. I’d like to see assigned accountability calls with set times built into the program and introduced on Day 1 like the office hours.

Final Thoughts: My Brand Deal Wizard Course Review

Overall, I feel more confident in my ability to pitch, negotiate, and secure brand deals. Brand Deal Wizard affirmed I was doing a lot of things right, but there was still room for improvement.

Since finishing Brand Deal Wizard, I’ve taken pitching more seriously, where I now spend a day every week reaching out to brands. In a given week, I send out anywhere from 3-5 custom pitches, many of which I hear back from immediately.

Working with brands is no longer intimidating; I know what value I bring and communicate it clearly. I also aim to create win-win-win scenarios for myself, the brand (a.k.a my client), and my listeners.

I feel empowered to walk away from partnerships that don’t serve me, and at times, strategically think like a consultant vs. a creator.

I was also introduced to new-to-me concepts like whitelisting and usage rights, all things I can negotiate more for.

If you’re wondering how to get podcast sponsors, enrolling in Brand Deal Wizard helped me create a system that leads to predictable income; something I thought I could never do. Talk about life (and business) changing!