Best Practices

Not Every Collab Is Worth It

If you’ve been creating content for a while, you know how the inbox gets. “Hey, want to collab?” DMs. Random emails from Gmail accounts. Vibes all over the place. But here’s what changed everything for me: I stopped jumping in. Instead, I started screening every brand pitch with a simple gut-check system. Sometimes it’s a quick phone call. Other times, it’s just reading between the lines. Either way, how they show up in that first convo tells you everything.

Persona Team

Apr 29, 2025

A Quick Chat Can Save You Hours

Whenever possible, I’ll suggest a short 10–15 minute call. Not every brand says yes. Not every creator feels comfortable asking. But if they’re open to it? It's the fastest way to get clarity.

On a call, people reveal more than they realize, not just in what they say, but how they say it.

You’ll catch things like:

Are they rushed, distracted, or fully present?
Do they answer questions clearly, or dodge them?
Do they sound excited to work with you, or like you’re just another name?

It’s wild how much insight you can get from a short conversation.

No Call? No Problem, Red Flags Still Show Up

If you can’t hop on a call, that’s okay. Most red flags wave proudly through email or DMs too. Here's what I look out for:

Vague contact details: If there’s no brand name, no website, and the email’s coming from a generic address, that’s a hard pass.

Off-niche offers: You post fashion content, and they’re pitching you pet food? Yeah, no thanks. That tells you they didn’t even look.

Zero structure or context: “Hey let’s collab!” with no project info, no deliverables, no rate. And bonus points if it’s riddled with bad grammar.

Awkward payment convos: If the phrase “we’ll see how it performs” comes up before compensation is discussed, run. Exposure doesn’t pay bills.

Weird energy: Follow-ups within hours, ghosting when you ask about rates, or getting annoyed when you want a contract? That energy won’t get better once you’re mid-project.

What Great Brands Do Instead

Good brand partners make it easy to say yes.

They introduce themselves properly, with real names and links that actually work.
They reference something specific about your content — not just “we love your page!”
They explain the campaign clearly or tell you when more info is coming.
They reply respectfully and professionally — no pressure, no weird vibes.

In short, they treat you like a business. Because you are one.

A Final Note: You’re Not Just Saying Yes, You’re Choosing

This part’s important. You’re not lucky to be contacted. You’re deciding if this brand aligns with your work, your audience, and your values.

It’s not about landing any collab. It’s about building the right partnerships, ones that feel good from the first message to the final post.

So slow it down. Ask the questions. Protect your time and energy. Because when you’re intentional about who you work with, the results (and the experience) are always better.