Ask these 7 powerful questions before saying "YES" to a brand deal
Congratulations! You’ve been offered a brand sponsorship deal, and you’re thinking about going through with it.
Saying yes is exciting, but you want to make sure that the deal will positively impact your long-term success.
Here are 7 questions to help you land on a confident answer.
#1: How do you feel about promoting the brand/product?
Are you excited about it, or do you feel uncomfortable?
You’ll be doing yourself, your followers, and the brand a favor when you genuinely believe in the brand, and the collaboration matches your lifestyle. The content will turn out more authentic, and everyone will be happier!
#2: How do the brand’s values align with your own values?
There is no worse feeling than recommending something that doesn’t sit right with your morals. Ensure the brands you work with make you feel like you are creating a positive impact.
Ask yourself if you would be proud telling your best friend that you worked with ______ brand.
KNOW YOUR "NEVERS"
Stand up for your beliefs and get clear on the types of brands you would never feel comfortable working with.
Stay true to what you care about and set your boundaries. These could be avoiding environmentally unsustainable products, companies that aren’t committed to diversity and inclusion, or anything else that makes you feel uneasy.
Also, consider how you can help the brand tell its story. If the message of the campaign resonates with you, then the collaboration could be a great fit!
#3: How do you expect to be compensated?
At this point, you know the details of the deal. Does the compensation package feel fair?
Sometimes, it’s okay to accept deals that will pay you below your worth if they will benefit you in other ways.
For example, a well-executed free product collaboration could showcase your spectacular content creation skills and help you land a future paid partnership. Or maybe you’ll be getting a special product that you really love and want! That brings us to the next question…
#4: How badly do you want the compensation package?
Sometimes, a deal sounds cool at the surface, but deep down, you don’t really care about getting paid to promote something a few of your followers may be semi-interested in.
Will you be gaining something that you truly value through the partnership, or does it feel like a waste of energy you could be using for something else?
#5: What additional benefits might you gain from the collaboration?
Will the deal help you build your partnership portfolio?
Does it expand your network or open up other exciting opportunities?
Is there potential for a long term partnership?
Will you get to try something new or visit a cool place?
#6: Do you have the capacity to take on the partnership without sacrificing other priorities?
It’s ideal when you can give your full attention and energy to the collaboration. When you can bring your best self to the partnership and provide high-quality content, you’ll feel better about your work and build a better relationship with the brand.
Sometimes, it’s ok to stretch yourself thin to take advantage of truly great opportunities. Other times, it makes more sense to politely decline and save your energy for something different.
WHEN YOU SAY YES TO ONE THING, YOU SAY NO TO ANOTHER
Just be honest with yourself and stay true to your personal priorities. Your mental health and your energy to create great things are extremely important assets!
#7: Finally, how do you expect this collaboration to impact your personal brand?
Consider the deal from your audience’s point of view.
If the collaboration isn’t in line with who you want to be, it could negatively impact your personal brand.
However, if it will help you build your personal brand, it might be a great deal to go through with!
Setting boundaries and saying no is often a key aspect of being a purpose-driven influencer. Do it with grace and keep the door open for future opportunities.
Trust your intuition + own your influence.
When you feel confident a deal will help you reach your long-term goals, go for it!
Take the quiz below to see if a collaboration is a good fit!