How to Not Work for Free & Grow Brand Relationships

The first step I’m extremely, extremely passionate about.

In fact, I find it’s the key determiner if a creator goes on to monetising their account and receiving consistent work.

Stop doing work for free.

Setting the standard and value of your profile is up to you. It always has been!

If you’ve said yes to a contra agreement like mentioned before, it doesn’t mean you can’t start implementing the tips in this article now.

Also- this is important. The brands aren’t bad for offering creators these opportunities. It is a win/win often, even if a contra or “gifted” collaboration is in the interest of long term relationship building, I strongly believe the methods in this article give both creators and brands the best of both worlds.

Furthermore, it sets a new standard for brands and creators.

Brands will engage genuine creators that enjoy organically sharing what they love.

Reputation and Branding

This is partly on a trust system. It has to do with your reputation as a creator.

I hope it goes without saying- but do not accept press samples you suspect you won’t enjoy.

Don’t accept fake tan if you don’t tan, don’t accept vitamin C products if you’re allergic.

Brands will notice and it can damage your reputation as a creator and your relationship with them.

Accept products (without obligations) that there’s a decent chance you’ll get to try and enjoy, and perhaps organically share!

When you do share, tag the brand and the PR agency that sent you the product.

Brands are more likely to engage creators in a paid capacity because they aren’t getting content for free.

Email template to politely decline contra or “gifted” product for work

Hi XXX,

Thank you for your email

While I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate, I don’t accept locked in work for product.

I happily accept press samples for organic consideration for my blog without obligations to post. If you are able to accommodate this, my delivery details are;

[DELIVERY ADDRESS HERE]

Alternatively, if you have specific deliverables you’d like to explore in a specific time frame- I can send through my rates and media kit- I’d be excited to discuss a dedicated trial and content creation for [brand name].

Thank you

Kindest,

XXXXXX

Did you know?

If you accept product for work with obligations, you’re obligated to pay tax on the product…

The $10 setting mist from Woolworths that came with a obligated reel is probably looking a lot less enticing.

Entitled or what?!

So. What’s the deal? Have content creators become soooo entitled? Only ever show products you’ve been paid to show! No- no. That’s not what I mean at all.

In fact, I think you should go out of your way to showcase and engage with brands you love for free!

Just don’t tie yourself down with obligations or contracts or briefs (oh my gosh, the briefs for a literal $10 single use face mask!!!)

More and more I have talented, amazing women slide into my DMs saying they’ve signed a 5 page contract to a brand that will own their creation forever (something you can charge for)…

..have paid boosting usage forever (something you can charge for), usage on their website forever (you guessed it, something you can charge for)…and to top it all off, a strict, complicated multi page brief- then the brand will have the nerve to ask for a reshoot!

All for a $10 product!

While I’m appalled at the brand for asking this- might I add usually from POC creators, whilst they pay their white peers…I need to give you some of your power back here.

There is a point where you can stop this happening, and it’s ok to learn the hard way after getting burnt a few times (I sure did!)

Creators have their own personal power to set their standards. Please set them high. Brands will treat you better, brands will pay you- and they’ll pay you better.

In my 4 years of content creation this has always been the deciding factor for a long term creator wanting to be paid for their work- how well they can set their own standards.

In a industry where there is still a stark imbalance, do not let someone else set your standard and brief you in, practically for free.

Protect yourself from being taken advantage of. You are so, so worth it.

Any questions? Any blocks or disagreements? Let’s chat them out below!