How to Land Brand Sponsorships Without a Massive Following

Taylor Hoekstra, founder of Popfly, joins Jon to discuss the future of creator marketing and a massive untapped opportunity in the running and outdoor industries.

Taylor explains why traditional influencer platforms are falling short, what brands get wrong about creator partnerships, and how Popfly is working to unlock billions in underutilized retail marketing dollars. They explore why authentic, long-term relationships outperform transactional sponsorships and how creators could play a much larger role in driving retail sales.

They also discuss Taylor's experience building Popfly, mortgaging his house to fund the business, using AI to accelerate development, and his perspective on raising venture capital.

Further Reading: Jon's A Guide to Raising Money as an Endurance Brand expands on the fundraising conversation with Taylor, exploring when founders should raise capital, how to find the right investors, and why the type of funding you accept can be just as important as the amount.

Support our Sponsors:

Halo transforms race-weekend hotels into branded clubhouses where athletes and communities can stay, connect, and experience your brand at a fraction of the typical activation cost. Visit poweredbyhalo.com before October 31st for a chance to brainstorm your activation with Jon and Aaron from Second Nature. Only three spots available!

Popfly: If you're a brand trying to reach outdoor, travel, and adventure audiences, Popfly is where to do it. It connects you with the largest communities of adventure creators and handles the entire process from start to finish. Creators click here: https://popf.ly/longrunlabscreators. Brands click here: https://popf.ly/longrunlabsbrands

San Francisco Running Company is now a partner of Long Run Labs. SFRC is bringing one of trail running’s most storied specialty shops to a national audience, online and in store. Shop here: https://store.sfrunco.com