When first starting out, I made a few mistakes when partnering with brands! I wanted to share them with you so you can learn from me and create healthy, successful brand partnerships that work for you and the brands you collaborate with!
Mistake Number 1: If the brand does not address you by name or if they use your IG handle (ex. Hi @helloemilyerin), delete their email or DM! You take the time to create awesome content for brands, they should at least send you a personalized message to get the ball rolling.
Mistake Number 2: If a brand comments on your post “dm @blankaccount” to collab, it’s likely not legit.
Mistake Number 3: If you have to pay for ANYTHING to partner with a brand…brands should NOT be charging you to do their marketing! I see a lot of boutiques doing this – ex. “We can offer you 25% off our product in exchange for photos and a try-on.” Another common one is “We can provide free product, just pay $15 for shipping!” NOPE. If they value your content, they will understand your worth!
Mistake Number 4: If a company reaches out over DM, try to move over to email! This helps me gather a strong understanding of the deliverables I’ve been asked to create in a place where I can refer back to easily. With this, also know that negotiating with brands is a heck of a lot easier over email!
I hope these tips help you! What is something you’ve learned the hard way when working with brands?
