Woohoo, you got the deal and settled on terms! Now the crucial part: delivering quality work and being great to work with. This will determine if you get rehired or recommended. - Meet or beat expectations: Follow the brief closely. If you can, go a little above. For example, if the contract says 1 Instagram post and 3 Stories, maybe throw in a bonus fourth Story frame like a behind-the-scenes of you using the product. Little extras can delight the brand. But at minimum, be spot on with what’s required. - Professional communication: Keep the brand contact updated. Sent the draft? Confirm they got it. If they have edits, respond graciously and implement if reasonable. Sometimes brands give silly feedback that might not improve the content – you can politely push back or discuss (“I feel doing X might resonate better with my audience because...”), but often for small things it’s easier to just adjust. Pick your battles carefully. They usually know their brand voice/requirements better. - Be on time: I’ll reiterate – deadlines matter hugely. Mark them on a calendar, set alarms, whatever it takes. If you post even an hour late on a time-sensitive campaign, it could derail things (e.g., if it was coordinated with a product launch). - Authenticity in integration: When you actually share the sponsored content, try to make it as seamless and genuine as possible. Audiences are generally fine with sponsorships if they feel you really believe in what you’re promoting and if the content is still entertaining or useful. So put effort into creative integration. This not only pleases your audience (keeping them around for future deals) but impresses the brand because they see positive engagement instead of backlash or dismal performance. Many brand managers lurk in your comments to gauge sentiment. - Follow FTC guidelines: Always disclose clearly (e.g., #ad at the beginning of captions, or verbally in videos). Brands will appreciate you keeping things compliant – no one wants a legal issue. If a brand ever pressures you not to disclose, that’s a red flag; insist on transparency as it’s the law and it also maintains audience trust. - Provide post-campaign info: After you’ve posted, send a quick email with a performance recap: e.g., “Hi! The post went live yesterday, here are the stats so far: Reach X, Likes Y, Comments Z (I noticed many followers excited about the product!). Story got X views with Y swipe-ups. I’ve attached screenshots. Let me know if you need any other info!” This level of proactivity often blows brands away (because many influencers just take the money and ghost). By doing this, you position yourself as someone who cares about results. It also helps set the stage for a follow-up deal (“Given the positive response, I’d love to discuss a potential holiday campaign or ongoing partnership!”). - Maintain the relationship: Even after the campaign, keep them in your network. Engage with the brand on socials, send a friendly check-in a couple months later (“Hope the campaign results were strong! Let me know if you have any upcoming initiatives, I’d love to collaborate again.”). Sometimes budgets open up later or new projects arise – you want to be top of mind. If you switch to a new manager at that brand (common with agency staff changes), reach out and introduce yourself. - Case study for you: Use the experience to refine your media kit or pitch approach. If it went well, ask the brand for a short testimonial you can quote. And definitely record the outcome metrics – showing you can drive, say, “50K impressions and 500 clicks” can be leveraged to win future deals.
A note: not every sponsorship will be perfect. You might have one with poor communication or where the product wasn’t as good as you hoped. Learn from them – maybe you become more selective in choosing sponsors to ensure they truly fit your audience (which often leads to better results anyway). It’s okay to say no to deals that don’t feel right. Long-term, your credibility is worth more than a quick buck.
In conclusion, securing brand deals is part art, part science. It involves marketing yourself, negotiating mutually beneficial terms, and delivering value both to your audience and the sponsor. As influencer marketing matures, brands are not only looking at reach but professionalism and brand safety – the creators who can offer a great package (loyal audience, quality content, reliability) will stand out and command higher fees. By following the steps above, you set yourself up to be in that top tier that brands love to work with repeatedly.
Now go out there and snag those deals – you’ve got the pitch and pricing know-how, so it's time to turn those DMs into dollars and long-term partnerships. Good luck, and happy collaborating!