Something that happens a lot in the influencer world are collaborations. Brands see all the fabulous work you are doing and they want in on it. A collaboration is when brands and blogs work together to create and publish a piece of content. The goal is typically to increase brand exposure (and sales) for the brand and boost revenue and exposure for the influencer.
When it comes to looking into a new brands, there are always some reservations and concerns. There are new small businesses formed every single day, and the majority of them are great businesses looking to make their mark in the industry.
However sometimes, a small brand that is unknown is not all it seems. Sadly many hackers will take the opportunity to create fake brands in order to phish for information or scam money, and it is important to know what you are looking at before you buy.
I want to take some time to talk through some of the things you need to look out for when looking into working with a new brand.
Check their social following
When you find a brand and see its products, the first thing you should do is look them up on social media. Every brand under the sun has social media these days, and if you can find them easily and are able to see real followers and engage this will put you at ease. Particularly when looking at followers it is important to check that they are real people and not bought followers. This will help you to ensure that the brand is legitimate.
Look out for fake reviews
There are many spam brands that will use fake reviews and testimonials either on their own website or through reviewers such as Amazon. The best way to recognize fake testimonials is to look at the phrasing they use – if they say ‘this is the best product I have ever bought’ it is likely a paid-for review. Although fake reviews are not strictly illegal, this will mislead customers and if you see these types of reviews it is best to steer clear. You want to protect your brand. If you associate yourself with a dishonest company that discredits your reputation.
Check they have contact info on hand
One of the biggest signs that a brand is sketchy is the lack of clear contact information or a business address. Check their website and make sure that they have a business premises and at least a phone number or an email for you to use. This is a sign that a brand is willing to talk to their customers and this is a good sign of credibility. If a brand is secretive about their contact information, that is a huge red flag.
Pick Your Collaborations Wisely
So many influencers are jaded by free products or paid collaborations. Although payment and products are nice, if you accept any and every brand deal you are losing all of your credibility. Your subscribers and followers are coming to you for honest reviews. If you love everything because you are getting paid to say that, your review isn’t credible anymore. Pick products and brands to work with because you actually use them. I seek out the brands I use to see if they would want to collaborate instead of letting brands come to me. However, I know brands seek out influencers sometimes too.
When shopping with an unknown brand for the first time it is always important for you to do your research and ensure you know what you are up against. Real people’s reviews and opinions are the best source for finding out credibility, and now is the time to get online and check before you buy.
