Hey! In this post I’m revealing the truth about brand deals, influencer opportunities and (more specifically) what you should look out for when brands approach YOU…plus how to politely decline brand deals if a brand approaches you with an offer you’re just NOT interested in.
The Truth About Brand Deals
So…as an influencer, I’m sure you receive a LOT of brand collaboration pitches in your inbox, some that you’d love to know more about and…some that you 100% are NOT interested in.
So, let’s chat about those. Because there are a lot of times when it’s OK to decline brand collabs — whether it is because the brand doesn’t appeal to you personally, or because your schedules clash, or because the product is simply not a good fit for your audience, or an entirely different reason all together. Occasionally, you will need to turn brands down. And that’s to be expected. SO, what should you do? Ignore them? Or… reply no, thanks? Well, let’s chat about it!
Keep reading, or watch more about influencer opportunities on YouTube!
By the way, if you’re new here — welcome! My name is Jaye and I’m the creator of 11 St. Studio influencer agency. If you’d like to learn more tips for influencers, make sure to join our private influencer community. And if you’d like to gain access to all of our eCourses for influencers, live webinars, member’s lounge and Q&A forum, click the link to check out our Member’s Area.
So, here are 5 tips to help you politely decline a brand collaboration that you’re JUST not interested in without burning any bridges within the industry.
The Truth About Influencer Opportunities
Tip #1: Always Reply
OK so like I just mentioned, never ignore or delete any emails if you’re not interested in an opportunity that a brand’s pitched you — especially if the email is personalized to you specifically.
Instead, I recommend responding back to let them know you received their email so they know to stop contacting you about the opportunity.
Trust me, it’s much worse to ignore their emails and questions, then to simply reply back saying you’re not interested. This is especially important when it’s super clear they’ve put a lot of effort into pitching their idea to you.
So, whenever possible, reply back and thank them for reaching out, but let them know that you’re not interested.
Tip #2: Give Them a Reason
Also, I suggest giving them a reason as to WHY you don’t wish to collaborate. Now, you don’t have to go into a ton of detail, just simply state that you’re unable to commit at this point in time, or don’t think the brand is a good fit with your brand and audience.
This is important because by providing their marketing team or PR reps the reason you’re declining allows them to pitch you with BETTER opportunities in the future, and will also give you a good industry reputation. Because, the truth about brand deals is that they’re not all going to be a good fit for YOU. But…by explaining this you can open up opportunities for future brand deals that ARE a good fit for you and your brand.
Tip #3: Be Polite
OK, the next tip is…and this should go without saying, but…I’ll say it anyways, be polite when you reply! The #1 rule of declining a collaboration is to do so politely. SO, if the product or service isn’t a good fit, or your schedule is too busy to take on another collab, be honest — YES, but in a polite way.
What you don’t want to do is send them abrupt messages telling them they didn’t research you or your brand well enough (even though we know that may sometimes be the truth). Remember, as an influencer you have a public image to maintain, so by all means, keep your composure because answering politely may open up doors for future opportunities…because you never know what brand and budget the person on the receiving end of that email will be working with next!
Tip #4: Send Your Media Kit
Ok onto the next tip about influencer opportunities. If the brand requested your media kit, send it over — if you feel comfortable doing so. Many times marketing and PR agencies work with a TONS of clients and their list changes regularly, so it’s important to not only be open and honest with them, but to send over your media kit too so that they can view it and add you to their list for future campaigns with all of their other clients.
Tip #5: Negotiate Influencer Opportunities
OK, now onto my favorite tip! So, depending on the original pitch and the brand the sender is representing, you may want to consider a counter offer to negotiate the collaboration before accepting or declining. This is very common in this industry, so if you DO want to consider the collaboration, don’t be afraid to reply back indicating what would need to change in order for the collab to work for you.
The truth is, brand deals work out a lot better when both parties communicate openly about expectations and what is required on both ends! So, never be afraid to reply back requesting more info, or with your own creative ideas regarding the brand collaboration. Negotiating with brands is especially important if the collaboration will take up a chunk of your time and creativity, or if you need more resources to complete the collaboration. SO, don’t be shy!
Unique Influencer Opportunities
OK, that sums everything up. Remember, not all brand deals that find their way to your inbox will be a good opportunity for you, that’s the simple truth about brand deals. But, it’s important to always reply, because (again) you never know who is on the receiving end, and a quick reply can open up a LOT of future brand opportunities for you!
Plus, doing so will help you to start building strong networks and relationships, which will improve your chances of working with some amazing brands that DO align with your vision and brand in the future!
SO, I’m curious….Have you ever personally declined a brand collaboration? What did you say and do, and what was their response? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Links Mentioned in this Post
- Private Influencer Community — Join Here
- Private Member’s Area — Learn More
- The YouTube Channel — Subscribe Here
Read More
- What Brands Look For In Influencers — Read more here.
- Influencer vs Content Creator: What No One Tells You — Read more here.
- Influencer Tips & Tricks — Read more here.
- Influencer Opportunities: The Truth About Brand Deals — Read more here.
- Become a Paid Influencer: 6 Tips — Read more here.
- How To Make Money Creating Content For Brands — Read more here.
- How To Approach Brands As An Influencer: Quick Guide — Read more here.
- Influencer Brand Deals: An Ultimate Breakdown — Read more here.
- How To Negotiate As An Influencer — Read more here.
- How To Get Brand Deals — Read more here.
- How Much To Charge For A Sponsored Post — Read more here.
- The Brand Pitch Email Templates (That Brands Can’t Refuse) — Read more here.
- Get More Brand Deals With This Engagement Rate Formula — Read more here.
- How To Work With Brands As An Infliuencer — Read more here.
- What (Exactly) To Include In Your Media Kit — Read more here.
- How Much To Charge For A Sponsored Post — Read more here.
- Influencer Marketing Terms You Need To Know To Work With Brands — Read more here.
