Is Working with brands for Free Worth It? The Red Flag Brand Deal to Avoid

Why You Should Never Do This Kind of Free Brand Deal

If you’re a creator or founder looking to land brand partnerships, you’ve probably been tempted by the gifted offer. A brand you love reaches out, offers a product, and then sends through a list of requests and deliverables “Can you make 1 reel and a minimum of two stories? Oh can we boost your post?” And before you’ve even considered it they then drop in that if you make this first video for free then it could lead to paid work later. But before you dust of your tripod, we need to talk about creator usage rights and why exposure doesn't pay the bills.

The Paid Work Later Trap

Even if you don't have experience, and even if you're just getting started, do not do this deal.

Using your content as paid media but not paying you is taking advantage of inexperienced creators who have no clue that content usage should always come with payment. When I sent a brand my creator rates after reading their list of deliverables, they suggested I make the first video for free to prove myself. 

So what’s going on here?

Option A: Is there a marketing budget but they’re just withholding? 

Option B: Or is there no budget and they’re just looking for free creator labor?

Gifted Collaborations vs. Unpaid Labor

It can be so tempting to devalue your content just to say you’ve had a partnership. But it’s a short-term win that makes it harder to monetise your personal brand in the long run. When you stop believing your work is worth paying for, you low ball yourself and you never ask for what you’re worth.

If you want to accept gifted products, (because come on, it Charlotte Tilbury) take them without strings. 

But remember: If there are deliverables the should also be a fee. Because if a brand has gone through the effort to reach out to you, then your content is worth the money.