Why Would Brands Pay If They Can Get It for Free?

If you’ve ever had a brand ghost you after agreeing to pay... this might be why. Let’s talk about what’s really happening and how to stand up for your worth.

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Brands budget for marketing, they’re just hoping you don’t know that

Why Some Brands Don’t Pay

You wouldn’t walk into a store and expect to leave with products for free, right? So why are we letting brands do that with our work?

Brands are smart, and most like to play games with us trying to get free advertisement. I am not hating the game, I just want it to be a more even playing field, and for that to happen, we need to talk.

Many of us get emails or dms from the same brands, and at the same time, with ambassador opportunities (without pay), gifted collabs, or “let’s send you a free product in exchange for X amount of content and rights”. It’s mass outreach. They’re not just emailing you, they’re emailing 100+ other creators too.

So why would they pay…

…if someone else is offering to do the same thing for free?

I’ve had brands fully agree to a paid deal, then ghost or backtrack because “another creator offered the same content with no budget.” It’s real. And it’s hurting all of us. I completely understand we are all in a different part of our journey, but there are times when taking gifted collabs don’t make sense!

When Gifted Collabs Do & Don’t Make Sense

Before we go any further, let me be clear: I still take gifted deals sometimes. They can be amazing, for the right reasons.

Here’s when gifted collabs do make sense:

  • You are still new in the industry and are building your following and community

  • It's a high-value item, with a great commission, that you know your audience will love and will sell well with them.

  • You’re building a portfolio or need specific content pieces for it.

  • It’s a product you need, a brand you already love, and you have time/capacity

  • You’re just getting started, so you need experience, and testimonials/reviews from brands for your portfolio

  • They are not asking for anything in return, just to post it if you like the item, and if you want to (no strings attached)

But you should be getting paid if: 

  • You have 5K+ followers, great engagement rate, a portfolio, and other current paying clients

  • They are asking for UGC Content (meaning you won’t need to post, but they will) and you already have a good UGC portfolio

  • You are being told “we love your content, can you send it to us so we can post it”, which means they already see the value, so charge them

  • You are being asked for very specific deliverables (e.g., being given a script), or you don’t have creative freedom if it is an influencer collaboration.

Template: How to Turn a Gifted Deal Into Paid

Here’s my go-to template you can steal when a brand pitches a gifted collab:

Hello [Name], Thank you so much for reaching out! I’d really love to work together, your [product/brand] looks amazing. Currently, I don’t have the capacity to take on gifted campaigns, but I’d be happy to discuss a paid collaboration.

Does your team have a budget for that? You can view my portfolio here: [Insert Link]

Looking forward to hearing from you!

– [Your Name]

I still see creators with 20K+ followers giving away video ads with usage rights without pay. Most laugh it off when I ask and say “I don’t know what I am doing”

Please know this isn’t about “being greedy”, this is about being smart and knowing how to play the game. You’re running a business. And your content drives sales.

If you’re not sure how to price yourself, negotiate better, build a portfolio, or how to start with paid deals, this is the LAST DAY to grab my full guide to make money as a content creator by selling your content for less than $20 if you use this special link.

Let’s stop leaving money on the table and start getting what we’re worth. When one of us says yes to free work, it impacts all of us.

Let’s raise the standard, together.

This is How I Can Help You When You’re Ready

Get the free step-by-step action plan (with a free portfolio template) to start landing brand deals (no big following or posting the brand required).

Our Guide includes pitching templates, how to calculate your rates, find brands & their contact information, scripting, and more! - If you’re a mom who wants to make real money from content, without dancing on camera (unless you really want to), growing a following, or guessing what to charge, this guide is for you.

This is how I match mom creators with paid & gifted campaigns. Please fill it out so I can let you know if I have something that might interest you.

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