PR AGENCY DIARIES: DOS AND DON’TS FOR INFLUENCERS WORKING ON CAMPAIGNS
Getting the gig is just step one of the process and it’s important you play your cards right if you want the rest to run smoothly and the work to keep coming.
To ensure you don’t put a foot wrong, read on for our tips on how to nail working with an agency or brand as an influencer.
Yeah, nah
First things first, a brand or agency has reached out with a brief but you’re not sure if it’s your bag? You don’t like the brand or product it’s promoting? Or you don’t think you’ll have time to do the outputs justice?
Be upfront and politely decline. Brand managers will respect your professionalism and honesty - plus saying yes and then no (or yes, then not delivering) is a sure-fire way to get in the bad books real quick. And not responding at all is just rude, so make the call and stick to your guns. You’ll earn the respect either way.
Speak up
Following from the above, communication is key in the fast-paced world of digital so make sure you respond to emails, DMs, and phone calls promptly, especially if you encounter an issue mid-campaign.
We get it. Life happens and sometimes that gets in the way of work, but we can’t read your mind so always communicate if things are going awry.
Also, if you have questions about the brief or want to soundboard your creative concept, don’t be afraid to reach out – brand managers will always be happy to know you’re on track or help you get there if you’re not. And being the creator, you likely have some very cool ideas we haven’t thought of for how this should come to life.
Cross your I’s and dot your T’s
A good agency will provide everything you need to know in the brief – including tags, post timings, ASA requirements, key messages, content style, etc. but if you’re unsure about something just ask.
Once you have all the info make sure you’ve met the brief and ticked off every element when posting and don’t forget your ASA obligations. Both you and the brand are liable for not following the ASA rules so do us a solid – know your responsibilities and follow through!
Hot tip: If your content needs approval from the brand before posting, package it all up in one email to enable a speedy sign-off.
Avoid the drama llama!
Remember your actions have consequences not just for you but for the brands that work with you.
It’s a good rule of thumb to be upfront about any skeletons in your closet (where appropriate) and try not to get embroiled in a public drama mid-campaign. While most agencies are good at crisis comms, we’d rather avoid them if we can!
That’s a wrap!
Once your content is live it’s time for final housekeeping. If the job is paid send through any required insights and your invoice as soon as possible so the brand can put the job to bed and get you paid quick smart. And if you really enjoyed the campaign, make sure to say so and/or give some constructive feedback too! A friendly email never goes amiss and will put you top of the list for the next one.
So, there you have it, five simple steps to make you every brand manager’s favourite and see even better deals coming your way in no time. If you still need to secure the gig – check out of top tips on how to pitch yourself to brands as an influencer.
