6 ways to tell if brand deals are legit

When you think about how content creators make an income, one of the first things that you think about is brand partnerships.

Personally, this is one of my biggest income streams each month and so regardless if you are a beginner or a seasoned content creator, when you see a brand partnership request come through your inbox, you can’t help but be a little excited. But one of the biggest mistakes I see beginner content creators doing is letting that excitement cloud their judgment and responding to, or accepting any and all brand requests.

We have all been there, most seasoned creators will probably tell you they were scammed at least once or twice. But the longer you do this, the more you can spot, not only scams but also brands that are disrespecting the creator with their lowball request. Today I’m going to share with you how to tell the difference between a legitimate brand partnership request, and how to avoid being scammed by the rest. Let’s do this!

As I mentioned in the intro, the longer you do this, you start to get this little bullshit detector - almost like a sixth sense. But, to help you avoid making the same mistakes I have and a lot of other contact creators have, I’m going to share with you a few things to look out for when receiving requests from brands.

Scam Detector #1: Receiving a “dm to collab” comment

When a brand wants to offer brand sponsorships, they will usually contact you via email, and maybe occasionally they’ll reach out via Instagram DM. But if you see a comment that is asking you to contact them instead of the other way around - then most likely these brands are using bot accounts to automate these comments every time you trigger any of their criteria. This might be using a specific hashtag, or commenting or following a specific account. There’s nothing legitimate about these “DM to collab” comments. So, trust me, just ignore them.

Scam Detector #2: Receiving messages that are not from their main account

If you didn’t know, using bots to automate likes, comments, DMs, and story responses is a big no-no according to Instagram's terms of use. Instagram is always shutting down those accounts. But some brands still use multiple bot accounts to find influencers to promote their products. This is because they want to make sure their account stays in Instagram's good books. If a brand keeps using automated methods to reach out to influencers offering collaborations, it means that the strategy is working for them. Plus, it shows that they're okay with taking the risk of sending influencer scams, even though it's against Instagram's rules.

This practice raises some red flags about the business ethics of these brands. Why would they resort to these tactics to market their products? Maybe they're not confident in the quality of their product or service, or they don't want to put in the time and effort to build real relationships with influencers. To be honest, it's better to avoid working with these brands and instead focus on companies that care about doing things the right way and building genuine influencer relationships.

Scam Detector #3: Being asked to “become an ambassador”

Being a brand ambassador isn’t always a bad thing, especially if you're just starting out with influencer sponsorships (been there, done that). With the right company, it is a great way to get some experience and exposure, and could even lead to bigger and better things in the future. But, you have to make sure you're doing it right so you don't get screwed.

I get emails like this all the time. When I pitch for brand partnerships, some brands offer ambassadorships or an affiliate program instead, and not all of them are sketchy. But, what I've noticed is that when brands hit you up via DM (or email), they usually offer ambassadorships right off the bat, without even checking out your social media or engagement. So, you have to be careful and do your research before you sign anything.

That being said, not all ambassadorships are trash. Some brands offer awesome opportunities for influencers to collaborate and create content that fits their brand. But, you have to think about the brand's values and whether they line up with yours before you agree to anything. Plus, you should negotiate and set some clear expectations before you sign on the dotted line or agree to anything in writing. Something I always make clear to brands who offer me free products or affiliate marketing programs over sponsorships is that I will not guarantee to share their product - but would happily try it out for free and if I genuinely enjoy it or find it useful, I will share it will my audience in my own way and time.

Long story short, if you see the word “ambassador” - especially right off the bat, do your due diligence.

Scam Detector #4: You have to buy something with a promo code to get your free product

When you're working with brands, it's key to remember that you don't want to fork over any cash in order to collaborate with them. Period. This is especially true if they're only giving you a code to make a purchase, but you still have to pay for shipping.

In fact, if a brand is actually legitimate, they’ll most likely send you the product for free - not require you to go through the purchasing process.

This is something a lot of beginners get sucked in by - so if that’s been you, don’t feel bad. The brand will say, “Hey, here is a free t-shirt we would you to have and share on your platform, here’s a promo code.” Once you start making the purchase, you will find that you’re still required to pay shipping, so you do. Days, weeks, and months go by and you never receive the product. This company instead tricked you into giving them free money, or the “shipping” of the product and they never even had a product to give you in the first place.

You’re better off just saying no and letting the brand know that you would be happy to receive a free product if they would like it to ship it to you directly, if it’s a scam - most likely they will not even respond.

Scam Detector #5: The brand contacts you from a free email account

When I get an email from someone claiming to be a brand, the first thing I do is check out their email address and signature. If they're using a free email account like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo, I get a little suspicious. There are exceptions to every rule, especially if it's a small business that operates on Etsy or Amazon - but if it’s a well-known brand and the email address is free, it’s a dead giveaway that it’s a scam.

To be safe, you should do some digging on the person or organization contacting you. Check out their website, social media presence, and any other info that can help you figure out if they're legit. Don't be afraid to do a little research before you respond or take any action. By taking these simple precautions, you can protect yourself from potential fraud and make sure you're working with only the best brands out there.

Scam Detector #6: The email is a mess

Beyond just the email address, the body of the email can sometimes be a giveaway too! The email might address you as your username or business name, instead of your first name. You might find robotic qualities in the email or very obvious errors in spelling, word structure, etc. These usually mean that this email was generated by a bot or sent from a non-regiment source. You can still do the digging and research the brand, I am not saying to just ignore a brand request based on a misspelled word - it’s still always good to research the brand to find more signs of it being fishy, but this is definitely a clue that it might not be worth pursuing!

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Regardless of how long you have been a content creator, getting brand partnerships is always exciting. It's a great way to monetize your content, gain exposure, and even build credibility.

However, it's important to remember that not all brand partnerships are created equal. As a content creator, it's essential that you vet each brand request you receive. Make sure that you only partner with brands that align with your values and your audience's interests.

While it's tempting to say yes to every brand that comes your way, it's important to be selective. Only partner with brands that you truly believe in and that you feel will add value to your content.

Brand partnerships can be an incredible opportunity for content creators. It's a chance to collaborate with like-minded brands, build your audience and monetize your content. Just remember to be careful and vet each brand request you receive to ensure that it's a good fit for you and your audience.