We have worked with brands on Steph & The Spaniel for a long time now, and it's a question that always comes up with new or smaller accounts. I wanted to share our tips on working with brands, helping to collaborate with companies you love and want to work with.
Working With Brands
Don't Wait For Them To Come To You
If you think you've got something to offer, it's a really good idea to reach out and pitch to a company that you'd like to work with. The dog Instagram world is over saturated, and unless you're highly known on many socials and internet platforms, it's fair to say that the brands may not know about you- even if you're a good fit for them.
It's a great idea to approach brands you want to work with, in the right way, and let them know about you and what you do.
Be Professional
I'd always recommended making contact via email, even if you first ask for an email address through Instagram, this way you can keep up with conversation easier and it comes across a lot more professional.
If you do talk through Instagram first, remember to mention that in your email, "Hi Sarah, thanks for the chat on Instagram earlier and sharing your email address with me..."
You can still be real, show your personality and share what you want to bring, however working with a business means you're going from fun and casual, to having a business partnership [however big or small] so it's important to realise that and want it.
Create a Media Kit
This is really important to show brands and companies that you're serious, and if they contact you, it's likely they'd ask to see this too.
You can make one yourself, or buy an affordable template on Etsy [which is what I did], edit it and then save as a PDF. Media kits should mention about you and your account, including stats, mention about your dogs, your achievements, other companies you've worked with before and what you're passionate about. It can be a way of showing you off, so be sure to do that, and share some of those gorgeous photos you've taken too.
Benefiting Both of You
It really is important, when working with brands, to remember that any collaboration needs to benefit both parties involved. This means that you need to sell yourself, let them know why you want to work with them and what you can bring them. Share your talents, like photography, and showcase how you've worked with other brands. "Sharing to your followers" isn't going to cut it here, you need depth, care and knowledge to what you want to do- remember loads of account can just share to their followers.
This also means that brands may come to you and it's important that this benefits you too, don't just take something because it's "free". You're putting time, effort & skills into your account, so make sure it's worth it, to take the item or collaboration.
Disclaim Properly
As someone who is working with brands, or wants to it's really important to disclaim properly for the ASA & cap rules. Another reason why working with brands isn't just for a freebie. The brand need to know you're professional enough and have done your research in how to disclaim properly, and if you're a brand this is really important to know and make sure the accounts you're working with this are doing it too, otherwise it can get both parties in trouble.
It's very very very likely that most accounts would work with brands, in someway, during their insta life- even if it is just for a bandana. So educating yourself and knowing these rules are really important, not only that but there is such a stigma around #ADs, so it's a great thing for us all to disclaim properly and help to fight that!
Create Gorgeous Content
Working with brands goes hand in hand with creating gorgeous content, it's what it's all about. Along with your ethos as a brand [because yes, you're a brand too!] and following, the company are working with you for stunning content. Have fun with it! I always love campaigns that actually have something about them [rather than, here's something for free, take a photo of it]. Having a story to tell or idea to use is really important. Even if the brand doesn't have a full campaign or idea, try and think of one yourself, you'll find the images you create have more substance and it will be more interesting to others.
Contracts Are Normal
Having a campaign brief and contract is totally normal, they're not trying to catch you out, it's just protecting both you and them. A brief is great and will outline the message the company want to show, as well as set content they're looking to see from you. A contract will go in to closer detail, and always check about exclusivity and use of your images, when reading through. These aren't bad things if you've spoken about them, but it's important to know where you stand. This is also a great time to mention things you're not happy with and make sure you're comfortable with what you're getting from the "deal".
Nothing is Free
I, personally, still take free of charge items for payment, when working with brands, and I certainly don't think it's wrong in doing so, however it's good to remember that it's not just a "freebie". Everything comes with time, effort, skill, equipment & expenses. Small priced items may not be worth a collaboration, however, that's a very personal thing to decide. When moving, working with a sofa company has benefited me, and I don't think a payment on top was needed, this may be the same with a harness you've lusting after, or a dog bed. However if you don't want that item [as in, it's not something you've been thinking about and saving for] then maybe it's less worth it and you'd want a payment.
Working out how much to charge is up to you, and it comes down to all those things I've just mentioned, how long will it take to create, how much did your equipment cost, what images are the brand expecting to use and what do they want you to post. I would always suggest asking the budget, and going from there with what you decide, but try not to change your mind if you would like payment just because you don't get the collaboration- this undermines everything you should be getting paid for. If the company can't offer what you'd like, thing about how to give them a different offer, rather than changing the price. If they have £100 for something you've priced at £200, would you be happy to do less content and less work for them- maybe 1 story instead of 3, or let them know they won't be able to
use your images after the partnership.
