Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
The Truth About Working With Brands As A Content Creator
152 Plays2 years ago
Are you an aspiring content creator or the one who is self-managed? Then this is the episode for you. Unlike many other professions out there being a content creator doesn't really come with a manual. Not to say other professions are easy, but like going on a route like becoming a lawyer or a doctor, you know exactly what to expect and how you will make money. However, being a content creator has so many moving parts and one of the biggest ones is brand deals. There are obviously many ways creators can make money, but the majority of them have their income by working with brands either directly or through agencies, 3rd party apps, and PR companies.
Athletic Greens is giving our listeners a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with the first purchase at athleticgreens.com/EMERGING
Please subscribe and leave a review on audio platforms as well :)
Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2TF3VnS
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2AfNQia
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3pmXw09
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FKeu5X
Follow the podcast: @wildandbasic on IG or "Wild & Basic Podcast" on YouTube
Recommended![Here's Why You Need To Stop Romanticizing Things [ARCHIVE] image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=112,quality=85/image-files/5f91ebfac8563f066ccd6ff7/40d37721-effc-46c6-a3ac-379b065090cd.jpeg)
![The Reality Of Owning A Business With Jennifer Walsh [ARCHIVE] image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=112,quality=85/image-files/5f91ebfac8563f066ccd6ff7/ee915752-be92-4445-8572-81c9dc55b801.jpg)
Transcript
The Reality of Influencer Culture
00:00:14
Speaker
Hey guys, so welcome back to the pod and today's episode, we are going to be mentioning another thing, uh, was being a creator and truth about working with brands. I just think, uh, there's definitely a lot to talk about this. There's definitely like so much to talk about this, but I'm just gonna mention, um, some experience.
00:00:41
Speaker
that I have been going through and I have gone through over the years. I feel like I have always mentioned it here and there a little bit but I feel like there are some things that are always come and go so we can talk about it in a bit and
00:00:56
Speaker
Yeah, I feel like this is a continuation of the other episode that I've met, well, I've met, I did, about, you know, influencer culture and everything and how it's changing towards, and it's going towards a different direction.
00:01:12
Speaker
This is not necessarily connected with that, but I feel like it is the way that brands work and how it is a bit needs to be changed in a different way. And I feel like there are some things to address and some of the experiences that I just have gone through that I want to be super honest and talk about it.
00:01:33
Speaker
because I feel like everyone wants to be influencers these days and but truth is like do you want to do the work and I not even doing this to discourage people but I just want to share my experience with the brands certain brands and I don't I'm not saying just like saying that all the brands are all brands are terrible they're not
00:01:52
Speaker
But just like every client, you might have a good client, you might have a bad client, and it really depends. And I feel like we should talk about it, and the more we talk about it, maybe it will get better. That's my thoughts. Anyway, so before that, let's talk a little update.
Instagram-Facebook Business Complications
00:02:10
Speaker
Honestly, this also update is connected to this whole topic anyways. So one thing I want to mention is that this is something that still confuses me to this day.
00:02:22
Speaker
like i let me say it in a real quote like i don't know how to say it in the right way to be honest so in case you guys don't know but most like you guys don't write so instagram is owned by facebook
00:02:35
Speaker
And unless you are using, what is it, just just Instagram for personal purposes, maybe you don't you have never come across that like, oh, you have to connect your Facebook to it or whatever. But when you're using it for business, nine out of 10, you always have to connect Facebook to something so you can get analytics or apply for a campaign or do some shit.
00:03:02
Speaker
I realized this from the very beginning of it or halfway through it I would say because I refused to have Facebook account and I was just like I remember I had a personal one years ago then I deleted because I was like I don't want it I don't use it but these days and even for the past I don't know four or five years that I have been using
00:03:23
Speaker
I have been a creator. Ever since Instagram became so popular, Facebook was like, oh, let's just connect it to it. I don't know what is up with it because I feel like there's so many ways that Facebook can just create another platform, analytics platform for just Instagram or just use it the base of Instagram. It doesn't have to be connected to Facebook.
00:03:45
Speaker
So whenever let's just say agency wants to work with you or a client or I mean a brand is like asking you for analytics or they sometimes want to white label, you know, promote on your behalf. I have mentioned my issue before.
00:04:00
Speaker
It all essentially goes through Facebook. That's the, like, messed up part to me because I'm like, like, why does it have to go through Facebook? Because, like, I don't use Facebook. It's a why. Why? Because it's under your Instagram account and your Instagram is essentially connected to Facebook page and they're using that Facebook page connected to your personal Instagram, personal Facebook or whatever their Facebook account is.
00:04:25
Speaker
It's like you cannot just even have a Facebook page account. In order to have a Facebook page, you have to have a Facebook account. So it's like this. It's very complicated, but this is what I'm for. In order to apply for a campaign, you have to have an Instagram account and Facebook page and a Facebook account.
00:04:40
Speaker
You see how ridiculous this is, right? Like, that makes no sense. Why can't you just, why can't I just have Instagram account and connect my Instagram to it? Just like any other app like Pinterest or TikTok does. Like, why do I have to go through like three loopholes?
00:04:56
Speaker
Because like it's not like I can just have a Facebook page and connect that page to it It's like no you make me to in order to have a Facebook page. I have to have a Facebook account like fuck that Why do I want that and the trick part is like there are some agencies that are so like I mean, they're Super big agencies. I have to be honest like they're big they work with like big brands
00:05:18
Speaker
They legit forced you, forced down your throat to connect your Facebook.
The Role of Instagram in Marketing's Evolution
00:05:24
Speaker
It's like, I'm so confused. Like, I don't know why this is the thing. Like, why can't I just, like, link my Instagram? Like, I would be happy to link my Instagram or just not just put my username. I would be happy to do that. I would be happy to send my analytics.
00:05:39
Speaker
i just get so annoyed and this has been what i have been dealing with and it's not just me i have seen people going through with this experience too it's like it is absolutely horrendous experience like i don't understand that like why these two platforms have to be connected in the first place to be honest
00:05:56
Speaker
I get like they're losing so much share from Facebook but just like leave me out of it like I am done with this I don't want to deal with this like just be over it like I'm just so annoyed and honestly makes me so scared sometimes that like oh my god like in case if something happened and like what if I never connected my Facebook is like
00:06:18
Speaker
I couldn't use some, I couldn't apply to some campaigns and shit like that because everything is connected to Facebook. It's just so ridiculous to me. And I feel like I know Instagram is kind of like dying down some days, but like it's still the big moneymaker for a lot of people. Yes, there's TikTok out there, but I think there's still a big market that is using Facebook, I mean in Instagram. So I think
00:06:43
Speaker
there's just so much potential there still and I don't know this is just my experience so far and I just want to share a little bit about what I have been going through that's literally the update because like I literally have been ever since I got back I have been working and doing shit while like working making content sending to the brands wait for approval that's the worst part but
00:07:09
Speaker
That's what I have been doing and I thought that's why we should talk about it and it's kind of connected to today's topic. So let's get started on today's topic.
Promotional Spotlight: Athletic Greens
00:07:18
Speaker
Today's episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. So I started taking AG1 because I never really liked taking pills or vitamins and I just really wanted to take a supplement that tastes great and also it's just not pills or vitamins, maybe something in all in one. And that's what AG1 is.
00:07:39
Speaker
So AG1 consists of 75 high quality vitamins, minerals, whole foods source, superfoods, probiotics and adoptogens. So I have been using it for a while now and I love it. It doesn't taste like super healthy. It has kind of a mild tropical taste that you can drink every day and won't get tired of.
00:08:00
Speaker
It costs you less than $3 a day and you're investing in your health. It is cheaper than your cold brew habits. Trust me, I know. I spend probably way too much money for coffee. It is cheaper than getting all the different supplements yourself and you're investing all in one nutritional insurance, essentially. Right now, it is time to reclaim your health and arm your immune system with the convenient daily nutrition. It's just one scoop in a cup of water every day. That's it.
00:08:30
Speaker
No need for a million of different pills and supplements to look out for your help. To make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you free one-year supply of immune-supporting vitamin D and five free travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com slash emerging. Again, that is athleticgreens.com slash emerging to take ownership over your health and pick up the ultimate daily nutritional insurance.
00:08:57
Speaker
Okay, so let's talk about the good scenario of how it works.
Direct vs. Agency Brand Collaborations
00:09:04
Speaker
So the way it works, working with brands is this. Either they contact you directly, and this is generally the fun scenario, I would say. That's why I'm starting with a good case, is that like, because when they contact you directly, it's like, it's easier, you can negotiate better. That like, you know, you are always ahead because there's no middle man.
00:09:27
Speaker
So there's definitely much more possibility and there is more way for you to make obviously more money but also just like better communication I would say because I have to be honest in this kind of stuff and this applies probably to consulting and marketing overall too like when you have like clients and
00:09:45
Speaker
is that like communication is so important and when you have a direct communication with your client, it's much better versus like an agency going back and forth between the other person and like there's two, three more people in the middle. It becomes more complicated. So it's always good that aspect and that things just move more smooth.
00:10:06
Speaker
in that sense. And the other sense is that, like, you work with an agency, so what happens, like, either agency is representing the brand and they are offering you the, you know, the deal and the package and stuff like that, then you either accept it or not, then you have to sign a contract with the agency and shit like that. This process is a bit more complicated because sometimes they have to go talk to the brand and, like, approve the budget and everything.
00:10:33
Speaker
sometimes they already have everything planned and they can just say yes or no but sometimes they don't, they have to ask the brand
00:10:41
Speaker
Then there's other scenario is that like you are applying through agency yourself and there's another agency or that same agency representing the brand. So there's like back and forth a lot and this is generally through the social like the platform itself of the agency. Not like you're contacting someone through the agency and you have like essentially it's like a self service that you are applying for the campaign.
00:11:06
Speaker
that someone is chatting with you and you don't even know who this person is. It's very self-service-ish. These are actually like the, I would say like the good ones too. Like it's not bad overall, but I think the trick what happens is that like there are brands that are very picky when it comes to their content.
00:11:28
Speaker
And this thing is I understand this to a certain extent, because at the end of the day, this is advertising, this is marketing, things needs to be up to a part of what they are looking for. But there's also other aspects to it. This is not just the content that I am. If it is just the content that you're creating for the brand and you're not posting on your social, that's fine. You have to please the brand and you have to make whatever they want you to make.
00:11:57
Speaker
I get that part. But if it is a post that you have to post on social, that means it's not just a brand, it's also you as well. So they also have to respect your style. There are times that brands don't do that. I have to be very honest. They literally pick apart your entire content. They're like, can you add this here? Add this, this, this.
00:12:20
Speaker
And the thing is, don't get me wrong, I understand there has to be sometimes call to action, there has to be a message, there has to be more information. I get that part. But then you add more stuff to it, like when you add more text, when you add more captioning, it's like, especially like some of these stories, I have to be honest, like especially like the
00:12:38
Speaker
uh paid stories like the IG like the IG stories that you see that are paid or like paid partnership it becomes a bit more extreme because like they ask you to make a ad a paid partnership you know it's like a feature on Instagram and on top of it they ask you to put whatever partner or hashtag ad and on top of it they ask you to tag them and on top of it they ask you to use their own
00:13:02
Speaker
hashtag, and on top of it, they also asked you to put your closed captioning and shit like that. Like, I get it, but I just feel like there's always so much text to it. Is that like, do you think you don't, I don't know my audience? Of course I do. I know what's going to do well. So when I present you something, it's not like I am half-assing it. I clearly worked on it.
00:13:25
Speaker
and I'm showing you what's good. Again, this is not every brand, but I'm just saying is that like nine out of 10 influencers knows what to present and how it works. Again, if you want to, if the brand wants to use it for their own purpose, that's a different story. And I'm sure every influencer would be happy to just send a blank content that you can add to text or whatever you want. But if it is something they are posting on their content, they're trying to make sure
00:13:53
Speaker
Trust me, no influencer wants to be like, I want to get zero views, or I want to get zero likes, I want to get zero clicks. No influencer want that. I'm being 100% serious. Like, no one ever be like, Oh my God, let me just like make a content that's so shitty, but get paid. Trust me, no one wants that ever, especially when you're working with a big brand or brand with a big budget, you want to really impress them so they can work with you again and again and again. So you never want to compromise that.
00:14:23
Speaker
So I feel like when you're presenting something, you obviously want the best content and you know what's going to perform well for your brand. And for your brand, I mean, like for your personal brand, like as an influencer, but also for the brand as well. I feel like there's a lot of compromises. It's almost like a marriage, to be honest, in the, I guess, more serious sense. But there's a lot goes back and forth.
00:14:49
Speaker
and there's also other times too that like some brands again can be very picky because I know there's even like description again I feel like there's so much that like goes into making it I understand like don't do this don't do that like there's always a list
00:15:04
Speaker
But again, you can only follow to a certain extent. Because if you follow all these, right, that afterwards there's more list comes on after you make the content is that you have to charge for it. This is where my issue comes up is that like influencer can fix the content. But like if you didn't mention it in the first place, then you're asking them to reshoot it or remake it. They have the right to charge you more.
00:15:32
Speaker
The influencer has the right to charge you more. Because then you make a new content that's automatically, I'm spending more time for it. In a real world, if the lawyer has to get back and forth to do something for you, they will charge you for their billable hours. That's the same shit for the influencer. If I'm going back and forth with you to make a new content,
00:15:53
Speaker
Make it completely new, I mean. I don't mean like, oh, I have to add a text or something simple. That's a different story. Like a caption or something. That's a different story. That's fine. But I mean like, oh, you want me to change the clip entirely or change the clip into different way or direction. And the biggest thing is that like, they don't want to pay you.
Balancing Workload in Influencer Marketing
00:16:12
Speaker
and they're not good with their timeline. This is not the every brand, but it's just like, there are times, and this is something I'm dealing with right now, there is a brand that I reached out to me, I think two months ago, they're like, oh, it's just a UGC content, meaning like user generated, you just created for the brand, and we will pay you for this, this, and that. I was like, okay, that sounds great, and it's a UGC content, so I don't have to worry about it, and it's gonna be so easy.
00:16:40
Speaker
And don't judge me in a way that like, oh, easy. I'm lazy or whatever. Trust me, there are times that you just want easy work. Not all the time you want to make a content that's like so hard. And I don't mean like content is so hard. It's like you make a content that like you need to edit a lot. You need to edit this, edit that. You don't want to do that all the time. It's good to accept some jobs and some opportunities that just like
00:17:04
Speaker
Easy and it doesn't cost you so much of your time because let's be real, everyone says this and this is the motto I want to go work. You don't want to work hard. You want to play smart like you want to like you don't want to work countless hours. If you work like smart, like you won't be working so many hours. There is a specific word for it. I just don't remember. So I am so embarrassed.
00:17:30
Speaker
for that. I can't believe I couldn't remember, but I just want to put it out there that like the whole point is that like you don't work as much. You just make more money, but you don't work as much as used to something like that. Anyways, back to the point. So yes, this brand was like, yeah, that's fine. So anyways, they were supposed to send me the what
Communication and Compensation Challenges
00:17:51
Speaker
is it? The product so I can make a content.
00:17:53
Speaker
So, I wait a week or so, you know, see like a WhatsApp date, if I get a shipping, tracking information, whatever, nothing. So I emailed them, right? I don't get a response. Then I emailed them like a week later or something. Again, no response. Then I emailed them again, no response. So I was like, okay, I guess they forgot whatever.
00:18:21
Speaker
Then two months later, I'm not fucking kidding, two fucking months later, they email me back and be like, oh, so sorry. Like, I never saw your. No, they didn't. So sorry. I'm not sure. I don't even remember if they said sorry.
00:18:40
Speaker
They're like, um, yeah, I didn't see your email or whatever. Um, I would like us to move forward. Um, apparently they send it, but the package was lost, but then why didn't you follow up if the package was lost? Like again, that's what I'm saying. Like not every brand is like this, of course, but I'm just saying like, imagine how shady this is that like, Oh, package was lost. Then why didn't you follow up? Like what happened to your email? Is there something going on with your email? Like,
00:19:06
Speaker
or you're just disorganized, I have no idea. Anyway, so I was like, okay, fine, you know, shit happens. Let me give it a chance. Now, it's not like same thing happening to me. It's like I am trying to get a response back from them because I had to like send them something back and then I will have to make the content. No response so far.
00:19:29
Speaker
We will see where it goes. Honestly, I'm a bit frustrated on that. You can tell already. I don't know. It's honestly just sucks. It really sucks to be ghosted like this, like from a brand. And on top of it is that like some of these brands, they underpay, like insanely underpay you.
00:19:48
Speaker
This is the biggest reason sometimes I understand why some influencers or just like even bigger ones that they haven't made Management or just like agent that represent them because it really makes sense I have to be honest you have to have such a tough skin like you really do and
00:20:08
Speaker
Because not to mention like you already get so much hate comments or just like so much judgment online. Imagine on top of it like dealing with brands and some of them just like expecting you do things for you.
00:20:23
Speaker
by them just not doing so much for you in return. Like it just doesn't make sense. Like there's another brand and some of these brands, I have to be very honest, like I don't hate their product. I like their product. But the trick is the way they treat me or the way they treat influencers that I have heard
00:20:40
Speaker
It's just insanely rude. Rude, underpaid, just they think they just own this fucking world and they can do whatever the fuck they want and by just sending you some simple products.
00:20:54
Speaker
Again, I'm not saying the products are bad, it's just like, like there's some brands that are like, you have to like, because I remember there's another incident that I will say, like, uh, there's a brand that reached out to me, right? Again, I'm not saying that I'm a celebrity. I'm not, you know, I'm not saying that, oh my God, I'm the top shit, but I value my time and I value what I'm doing right now.
00:21:17
Speaker
Yes, if I had all the time in the world, maybe, and if I was so rich, maybe I would have said yes to all the PR packages, maybe. But I'm sure even at that time, no one says that, right? So this brand reached out to me and they were like, oh, we want to send you a package and stuff like that, right? I was like, oh, okay, cool. I can like put on my stores or something like that.
00:21:40
Speaker
No, at first they were like, oh, we want you to post on YouTube, we want you to post on TikTok, on Instagram real, I'm like, are you paying? I was like, oh, here's my rate. And they're like, no, this is just a collaboration. I was like, well, okay, I can post on my stories or something like that. Oh, so then they were like, oh, okay, that's fine, right? I was like, just one story, something like that.
00:22:03
Speaker
So they send me a package, right? Then afterwards, they send me a message because I tagged them in the stories one time. They send me an email. They're like, oh, so everyone check this if you received it. Again, this is not from the brand. This is the PR company. I think that's representing the brand.
00:22:22
Speaker
If you want to see if you can post like a before and after picture and also link sticker, you know, as in like the swipe up thing, you know, whenever you get a chance or whatever like that. Okay, I get it. Like, yeah, I can post it again, whatever. But first of all, I posted already technically, so I don't know why I need to post it. Technically, I don't. But I'm just saying on top of it, they're like, oh, link sticker.
00:22:46
Speaker
Why would I do that for free? Why would I drive a traffic to your website for free? Like I get like I got the product, but how much is even that product worth? Maybe $100 or less. I don't know. It could be even $200 though, or maybe $500 to be honest, or even $1,000. Doesn't matter. What we agreed on is what we agreed on.
00:23:09
Speaker
If I told you I'm gonna post one story, did I tell you if it was gonna be a link sticker? No. So why do you get this idea? No, I'm just trying to put it out here that's like, you really have to protect yourself as an influencer and don't give shit for free.
Valuing Time and Avoiding Exploitation
00:23:23
Speaker
Because that's what happens.
00:23:25
Speaker
It's almost like opening a portal to something that's gonna come back and bite you. It really will. And I think that one of the reasons this might be maybe even happening is like maybe there are some influencers are doing this. And again, I'm not trying to blame these people. Everyone has to start somewhere anywhere again, but you have to value yourself. That's what I'm trying to come at is that like,
00:23:49
Speaker
Again, you don't have to be like acting like, Oh my God, I am Beyonce. I can, I need to charge like 10 thousands of dollars or whatever, or a hundred thousand. That's not what I'm trying to say. But you really have to value your time because when you start giving free shit, I'm telling you these people, I don't know what happens. It's like opening a portal to gate of hell. Like they come, they come knocking on your door. They're like, can you do this? Can you post that? Can you post that? It's like,
00:24:19
Speaker
I get it to an extent, but you also have to understand me. Do I make money by just getting free products? No, maybe I could potentially sell them. But just like it's not like a direct route for me. And that also takes time.
00:24:37
Speaker
even selling and depends on how expensive the product is. If it is not an expensive product, then I'm not even making money. I'm just saying there's a possibility, but it's essentially when you first say it is that like it's not a like it's not cash.
00:24:52
Speaker
So like you have to think about that. Just like, can I pay my bills with that free product that you just sent me? No. So stop pushing me. And there are some brands they will kind of twisting around. And this is why I become like so angry. And that's why I'm trying to say is that like, I don't think sometimes I feel like you have to be a bitch.
00:25:13
Speaker
I know this sucks. Honestly, I hate the way that we live in this society, and it's not just anything to do with influencers, to be honest, or brands, per se. This is just everywhere, to be honest. That like, when you give your finger to someone,
00:25:32
Speaker
They just take the whole hand. They really do. So there was another occasion that this brand were like, I don't know, they were sending me some of their bath salts or something. And honestly, I wasn't even like they came to me like I wasn't even like, oh my go knocking on their door.
00:25:51
Speaker
They were like, oh my god, we really love your content or whatever. This fake shit, right? Then they were like, oh, no strings attached. Literally says no strings attached. Like, it's like, do you not know what this means? We would love to send you this. I was like, okay, no strings attached, right? Sure.
00:26:11
Speaker
So I'm saying like so shady, like you literally tell me no string is attached, meaning no posting. So if I don't wanna post, I don't wanna post. So then they send me stuff and I think at the time I was traveling and stuff like that, I'd never tried it even. So they're like, they send me an email one day out of the blue, they're like, oh, like this, this, this, you should mention this about our product, you should post a YouTube video. I was like, since when did I say I'm gonna post about it in the first place? I never said that. So I said that, right?
00:26:41
Speaker
that the next day they, not the next day, I don't know, a week pass by or something like that, they send me an email again. So I was like very annoyed. So I was like, if I like it, maybe I will post it. But again, I'd never said I will post it. So it's like very ridiculous that you have this concept thinking that I'm going to post it.
00:26:59
Speaker
I get every brand, especially new small brands. I have a business or small business that I know. I understand. Yes, it is important to get your name out there from a business perspective. I completely, completely understand. But unless you have a direct confirmation from an influencer that like they will post about it or they will do it, don't force them.
00:27:24
Speaker
If they don't do it, they don't do it because it's not like you pay them. Free product doesn't necessarily mean that they're gonna do for you. Sometimes you could be like they didn't like your product or even if they did, do they have to? They don't because literally in my case right in here is like she literally and I even have the email for proof that like they cannot say anything is that like no strings attached.
00:27:47
Speaker
So do you not know what strings attach means or like you're just trying to guilt trip me into you posting about it? Like it just doesn't make sense.
00:27:58
Speaker
just some experiences that I'm putting it out there. I'm not trying to put these out there to make you guys feel like discouraged if you wanted to go into this career, but I just wanted to put this honest thoughts out there because I feel like this is not just in this industry and many industries too. So like when you try to be nice for a second or when you try to understand help someone out, someone else sees it and just tries to take full advantage. That's why I feel like it's so hard to be nice to people sometimes.
00:28:28
Speaker
or just like understand like oh okay I know where you're coming from and I'm trying to help but don't take my whole fucking hand and don't take with full advantage it's like that's not how life works that's what I'm trying to put out there that like you always have to watch your back and value yourself that's I think biggest thing I'm trying to come at here is that like value yourself
Closing Thoughts on Self-Valuation
00:28:51
Speaker
Valuing yourself is so important, especially in this industry is because more you value yourself, more people are going to see it. Again, don't act like a douchebag or like don't act like you're some superior or something.
00:29:06
Speaker
But value your time, things will come. I assure you, things will come for sure. So that's my takeaway from this episode. I hope you guys like this episode. If you do, please don't forget to rate us on Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. And I'll see you guys next week. Bye guys.