As an influencer, blogger, or content creator, I know it can be tempting to jump at every opportunity that comes your way. Especially when you’re just starting out. However, I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t hop on every opportunity. There are several things to do BEFORE accepting a brand collaboration.
I remember when I first started to get serious about social media and decided that I wanted to begin building my personal brand. A number of companies contacted me about collaborations and my answer was most likely “yes”. I said “yes” without thinking about how the content I worked so hard to create would be used, payment, or if the brand truly aligned with what I was hoping to get out of the collaboration.
1. REsearch the brand
It’s important to research brands before accepting a collaboration. You may find that the company’s mission aligns perfectly with the message that you’d like to send to your audience. Or, you may find that it is the opposite.
Research can include looking up company history, information on the founder/CEO, ingredients used in their products, reviews or collaborations they’ve done with others, and browsing their social media pages. These days I typically take at least 24 hours to do some research on a brand before responding.
2. ask about expectations up front
It’s best to go into the collaboration knowing exactly what the brand wants from you. What type of content are they looking for? Will they use your content to post/repost on their social media outlets? Use it to generate sales? Are there plans to reuse your content for paid ads? These are all good question to ask.
They may additional things in mind, but knowing what their goals are will help you tremendously when creating the content. It will also help you to determine if the collaboration is something that you’d like to move forward with. More importantly, it helps you determine how much they will have to invest in order for you to agree.
3. know what you want out of the collaboration
A collaboration is called a collaboration for a reason. It is working WITH someone to produce or create something. That means that the collaboration is not JUST about the brand. It’s about you too.
It’s okay to give feedback on the details about the collaboration. If the brand comes to you with an idea but you know it won’t resonate with your audience, you can always suggest a direction that will be a better fit. Find a creative way to voice it. Be sure to tell them why. Back it up with insights.
4. Make sure you can meet the deadline before accepting
It’s ALWAYS important to know if the brand has a deadline. If you can’t meet it, it’s vital that you let them know up front. Some companies may be willing to extend it, while others have a set deadline.
This could be due to a launch or other time sensitive reason. Whatever the case, once the brand has set the deadline, MEET IT! Should something come up preventing you from doing so once you have signed the contract, communicate it to them immediately.
5. know how payment will be handled beforehand
This is probably the toughest part of brand collaborations but asking about payment is important. I’m not talking about just the budget in itself. I mean when payment(s) will be made and how.
There are several services that a brand can use to issue payment. PayPal, Lumanu, Bill, and the list goes on. Make sure that you have whatever payment system they use setup or you can ask if they are able to use your preferred method. Just know that it’s not always possible.
In addition to payment method, you want to be clear on payment terms. Do they run on a net Net30, Net60, Net90 schedule? That basically means the number of days after your post goes live that they’ll pay you. (FYI, Net60 is pushing it and Net90 is ridiculous. You can definitely negotiate these terms.)
6. get everything in writing
Before accepting a brand collaboration and agreeing to terms, always get it in writing. Some brands will already have a contract prepared. If this is the case, be sure to read it in full to make sure that everything that you all have discussed is included. If there is anything in the contract that you do not understand, do not hesitate to ask!
In the event that the brand does not provide you with a contract, there are a number of templates that you can find by searching Google. You can then use a service like HelloSign to send the contract out to be signed. With the free version you can send up to 3 documents per month.
7. be selective. be honest.
You have to be honest and true to yourself. You also have to be honest and true to your audience. Not every company deserves your time or is worth compromising your personal brand for.
It’s important to remain true to who you are and always be your authentic self. Be selective in who you choose to work with because at the end of the day, your audience is counting on you to be real with them. Your audience knows what’s up and I’m sure they will be able to tell when you’re feeding them crap.
If you collaborate with a brand but end up not liking the product, communicate that to the brand. Let them know that what you received doesn’t work for you.
I’ve done a number of reviews on my YouTube channel where some products were a miss. I always highlight the pros, but also mention the cons. In a tasteful manner of course. Transparency is key when maintaining real relationships with brands and your audience.
8. always be appreciative
When a brand reaches out for a collaboration, always show appreciation. Regardless of if you accept or deny the brand collaboration, a simple “thank you for reaching out” can go a long way.
I understand that some inbound requests aren’t even worth responding to. I’ve gotten several of those myself. However, if it’s a legit opportunity that you just would not like to move forward with at that time. Showing appreciation for being consider and keeping the door open for future opportunities will make a last impression.
If you found this post helpful, be sure to check out my other social media related posts for more tips!
2 Responses
GREAT post and information sis! Everything you said is on point and these are the steps I follow before accepting partnerships. I’m sure we all were excited in the beginning and said “yes” more than we should’ve, but ever since I become more selective, I feel much better. I decline more partnerships than I accept because I always keep my audience interests in mind. I can’t wait to see the contract template you put together because I’ve been trying to work on that!!
Thank you so much Maddy! I can admit that I said “yes” way more than I should have but it’s truly a learning process. Like you, I’ve been feeling better, and even happier, since becoming selective with the partnerships I agree to. I should have the template out within the next few weeks.