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Brands budget for marketing, they’re just hoping you don’t know that
Why Some Brands Don’t Pay
Brands are clever, and many try to score free advertising, and why wouldn’t they? We like free stuff too. Many brands don't have a budget to pay influencers, either because they haven't truly benefited from an influencer campaign to make budgeting a priority, or because they can easily obtain free content.
Many of us get emails or DMs from the same brands, and at the same time, with ambassador/affiliate opportunities, gifted collabs, or a message saying “We will 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 answers “Yes”, offering to do the same thing you are charging for, for free?
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 which is more valuable (meaning you won’t need to post the content you create, but give them the usage rights to use/post it)
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 negotiating here is important
You are being asked for an unreasonable amount of content
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 turning gifted into paid isn’t about “being greedy”, is about being smart and knowing how to do business in this industry. 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, check out our guide that teaches you that and more here.
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.
Join the real-time conversations, find more brand opportunities, tips, and connect with other mom creators.
