This is the story about the first time I said no to a brand😬👇🏽

A while back, a brand reached out with a collaboration that unpaid. I mean, no biggie! I had done plenty of “trade for post” type of partnerships before, but I was at the point in my creator journey where I was ready to be paid for partnerships with the experience I had gained.

So…I politely declined. I let them know that I was only doing sponsored opportunities and asked if they had a budget in place for a partnership like that?

Guess what?

They said no, and told me they were only doing gifted offers 😂

I stuck to my guns and replied with something like: “I totally understand. Thank you so much for thinking of me for this campaign, at this time I’m going to have to pass on this one but if a budget opens up for future partnerships, feel free to reach out. Here’s a link to my past partnership analytics and results. Hope you and your team have a successful launch😁”

I was ghosted…or so I thought.

A few weeks later, that same brand reached back out, this time with a budget ready and we signed a 3 month deal together.

Lessons learned?

👉🏽 It’s okay to say no
👉🏽 Know your worth (and stand up for yourself!)
👉🏽 Never burn bridges

You never know where a professional, kind, and clear response might lead. Brand deals are often about long-term relationships, not just one-time opportunities.

Want to learn how to pitch yourself to brands and land collaborations? Comment “SendPitch” and I’ll share free email pitch templates + tips to start building your brand contact list! ✨

#BrandCollabs #InfluencerMarketing