How to go from 'no' to - 'heck yes'
What To Do When a Brand Says “No Budget” — And Why It’s Not the End of the Road
If you’ve ever pitched a brand for a podcast partnership and heard,
“We don’t have budget for this right now,”
you’re not alone.
But here’s the truth most creators don’t realize:
Not every “no” is final.
Some just need time, patience — and one well-placed line.
This is the story of how one simple shift helped a podcaster stay in the game after a polite rejection — and how another creator revived a cold opportunity using strategy, not desperation.
The Coffee Shop Reframe
At a coffee shop in NYC, I was mentoring a podcaster who’d just received that dreaded message from a brand:
“We don’t have budget for this right now, but we’ll keep you in mind.”
They were ready to reply with what many would send:
“No worries! Thanks anyway — let me know if that changes.”
It’s polite. It’s professional.
And it’s the fastest way to be forgotten.
Instead, I handed them this line:
“If your marketing budgets and timing align before this time, I’d love to help you build something meaningful together.”
Then we built a plan around it.
What We Did Next
This wasn’t about chasing. Or convincing. Or following up every two weeks until someone cracked.
It was about positioning. Relevance. Long game strategy.
Here’s what we mapped out:
🟡 Reframe the rejection: It’s not a hard no — it’s a “not yet.”
🟡 Add value to the wait: Track brand conversations, audience engagement, and signal points that show continued alignment.
🟡 Align to their calendar: Research meaningful cultural or industry moments (e.g. cause weeks, product launches, seasonal shifts) that create timely reasons to reconnect.
In short:
No fluff. No pressure.
Just a creator staying top of mind — with purpose.
Why Most Podcasters Miss This
Most creators think podcast brand partnerships are about pitching.
But podcast monetization isn’t a one-time play.
It’s about:
Patience (waiting for the right moment)
Positioning (why you, why now)
Relevance (what matters most to their audience, not yours)
The best creators aren’t the ones with the loudest pitch decks.
They’re the ones with timing, strategy, and curiosity — who know how to be remembered, not ignored.
A Second Example: The Hero Move
Another creator I worked with took this same mindset and saved a brand deal that was about to fall apart.
Instead of pushing for the brand to support her goals,
she showed them how they could be the hero in their own story.
She spotted a major shift in the industry — one that directly impacted the people the brand claimed to support.
Her pitch?
“This is your moment to show up for them. We’d love to build something together that proves it.”
Same podcast.
Same brand.
Totally different angle — and a much stronger yes.
So What Should You Do When a Brand Says “No Budget”?
Don’t archive the email.
Don’t let the thread die.
Instead, revisit it and ask:
→ Did I offer them something they couldn’t say no to?
→ Did I align with their timing, or just my own?
→ Did I leave the door open — or quietly close it myself?
Sometimes the only thing between a cold lead and a warm “yes” is a smarter follow-up.
This is the work I love most at Podcast Expert Lab.
The tiny shifts. The quiet confidence.
The real strategy that saves partnerships without sounding desperate or salesy.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you’re sitting on a rejection, don’t hit delete.
➡️ Draft a better follow-up.
➡️ Research an event, week, or milestone the brand cares about.
➡️ Watch for organic mentions or activity where you could offer value.
And if you’re stuck, DM me or reach out via LinkedIn — I’m happy to help you reframe it.
Partnership isn’t pitching.
It’s pattern recognition.
Let’s get yours moving again.
🔁 Missed Part 1 of the Series?
Read Part 1: “I Went to NYC to Level Up. Instead, I Had to Stop” — where I unpacked the retreat that didn’t go to plan… and why that might’ve been the point.
