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Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes When Partnering with Brands

Want More Brand Deals? Don’t Make These Costly Mistakes

Influencer marketing can be a game-changer, but let’s be real—not all partnerships go smoothly. Some deals flop. Some kill engagement. Some even ruin credibility.

Most of the time, influencers don’t even realize they’re making these mistakes until it’s too late.

If you want more high-quality brand deals (and to actually keep them), avoid these five mistakes at all costs.

1. Turning Your Page Into a Billboard

📌 The Problem:
You say yes to too many sponsorships, and suddenly your content feels like one big ad.

📌 Why It Hurts:

  • Your audience stops trusting your recommendations.
  • Your engagement drops because people tune out sponsored posts.
  • Brands notice when your audience isn’t engaging—and stop working with you.

✅ The Fix:

  • Stick to brands that make sense for your audience.
  • Space out sponsored content with organic posts.
  • Follow the 1-in-4 rule: For every sponsored post, publish at least 3-4 organic ones.

💡 Example:
Fitness influencer Chloe Ting does this well—she weaves sponsorships into free fitness challenges so it never feels forced.

🚨 Hot Take: If all you post is ads, people will start treating you like one—and ignore you.

2. Ignoring the Brand’s Guidelines

📌 The Problem:
You deliver something different from what the brand asked for—or worse, miss key deliverables altogether.

📌 Why It Hurts:

  • Brands might refuse payment if content doesn’t meet expectations.
  • You get labeled as “difficult to work with” (trust me, brands talk).
  • A small mistake—like using the wrong messaging—can hurt the campaign.

✅ The Fix:

  • Clarify expectations upfront—ask for a detailed brief.
  • Match the brand’s voice while keeping your own personality.
  • Get content approval before posting to avoid having to redo it.

💡 Example:
A skincare brand might require you to highlight vegan ingredients in their product. If you forget, the brand won’t be happy—and neither will their audience.

🔑 Bottom line: Read the brief. Double-check the details. Make sure your content aligns.

3. Not Disclosing Sponsored Content (Big Mistake 🚨)

📌 The Problem:
You don’t clearly disclose that a post is an ad—whether by accident or because you think it might hurt engagement.

📌 Why It Hurts:

  • It violates FTC guidelines, which could get you fined.
  • It kills trust—your audience should never feel misled.
  • Brands will avoid influencers who don’t follow the rules.

✅ The Fix:

  • Use #Ad, #Sponsored, or #PaidPartnership in captions.
  • On Instagram & YouTube, use the platform’s disclosure tools.
  • Be upfront—honesty builds credibility.

💡 Example:
Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) clearly labels sponsorships in his videos, and his audience respects him for it. That’s why brands keep coming back to him.

🚨 Reminder: Trying to “sneak in” an ad will backfire. Transparency = Trust.

4. Promoting Brands That Don’t Fit Your Audience

📌 The Problem:
You promote random products that don’t match your content—and your followers know it.

📌 Why It Hurts:

  • Your audience gets confused (Why is this car guy suddenly selling skincare?)
  • Engagement tanks because no one cares about the product.
  • Brands see low conversions and won’t renew the deal.

✅ The Fix:

  • Only work with brands that actually make sense for your niche.
  • Test the product first—if you wouldn’t use it, don’t promote it.
  • If unsure, ask your audience—run a poll to see what they’d want.

💡 Example:
If an automotive YouTuber promotes skincare, their audience probably won’t care. But a high-quality car care product? That’s a perfect fit.

🚨 Hard Truth: Saying yes to bad brand deals might bring quick cash, but it’s a long-term credibility killer.

5. Not Negotiating Your Worth

📌 The Problem:
You accept lowball offers or free products instead of fair pay—which means you’re leaving serious money on the table.

📌 Why It Hurts:

  • You underprice yourself, making it harder to raise rates later.
  • Brands will keep offering low rates because they know you’ll accept.
  • It hurts the industry—low rates keep influencer pay down for everyone.

✅ The Fix:

  • Use tools like Social Bluebook or Influencer Marketing Hub’s Rate Calculator to estimate your value.
  • Charge based on engagement rates, not just follower count.
  • Negotiate deals that include a base rate + performance incentives (like commissions on sales).

💡 Example:
Instead of taking free sunglasses, a fashion influencer could negotiate a flat fee + affiliate commission, making money both upfront and long-term.

🚨 Pro Tip: If a brand says, “We don’t have a budget, but we’ll send free products”—ask them if their employees get paid in free products too (just kidding, please don’t do this).

Final Thoughts: Don’t Let These Mistakes Cost You Big

If you’re serious about making real money with influencer marketing, here’s what you need to do:

✅ Keep your content balanced—don’t overload on ads.
✅ Follow brand guidelines so you don’t lose deals.
✅ Always disclose sponsorships—transparency builds trust.
✅ Choose brands that make sense—don’t sell out for a paycheck.
✅ Negotiate your worth—stop working for free.

If you can avoid these mistakes, you won’t just land more deals—you’ll build long-term, high-paying partnerships that actually grow your brand.

Want more brand deals without the guesswork?

MainOne helps creators land high-value partnerships that make sense. Reach out today!