We’ve said it before, our creator community is the core of what we do. It is a top priority of ours to keep our ears open to your main concerns and adjust our processes and product accordingly.
Based on creator conversations, a major frustration of our community is the charging fee process and confusion around what to include in your campaign application. The hard part about this is that campaigns come in all shapes and sizes. There is no one size fits all answer to improving your acceptance rate, but there are a few steps you can take to put your best foot forward.
photo credit: @jasminedustin for el Jimador Tequila
1. Read every detail of the brief closely
First things first. When checking out if a campaign is right for you, read the brief closely before applying to a gig. Too often we have to decline applications based on creator eligibility. Carefully review the location, age, and gender preferences for a campaign to determine if you’re the right fit.
The brief tells you everything you need to know about a project: the requirements, do’s and don’ts, a style guide, and much more. Make sure that you’re ready to agree to all the project details, the requirements, project timeline, and that your profile matches the “Gig Availability” section before you apply.
Not interested in a gig based on the brief? You can remove the gig from your Latest Gigs page by selecting “Not Interested.” Then, let us know why you’re passing on the gig. This will give us more information on how to match you with the right brands moving forward.
2. Ensure your aesthetic matches the brand’s
Successful collaborations are ones that seamlessly mesh your content aesthetic with the brand’s style. Brands sometimes include example content or style guides to convey their desired aesthetic, so look at those closely. If your content aesthetic or skills aren’t a match with the brand’s aesthetic, there’s a good chance you won’t be selected for the gig.
When applying for a campaign, brands will reference your Popular Pays profile and portfolio to get a sense of who you are and what you can do. If you’ve been on Popular Pays recently, you have been prompted to update your profile. We’re starting to make creator matching smarter. We’ve added new things to your profile like your gender, location, bio, creator type (content creator or influencer), specialties, and content type. Soon this will tie into the brief made by the brand and surface campaigns to you that are most relevant based on the campaign’s needs. Keeping your profile and portfolio updated will be the best way to improve your chances of surfacing to a brand.
3. Check out what fills your feed
Some brands are (understandably!) sensitive about seeing a recent post in a creator’s feed featuring a competitor brand. It’s not bad behavior on your part, they just want to make sure a post about their brand would feel authentic to your followers. Before you apply for a gig, make sure your feed won’t be telling contradicting stories. The brand will compare your whole feed with their brand, so make sure you do too. A brand is less likely to select you if your feed content (what you post about) doesn’t feel like a fit for their brand. Sometimes they also consider how many sponsored posts you have in a row versus personal content that you share.
4. Apply for the suggested rate (if there is one)
On some gigs, we’ll provide a suggested compensation rate to help you stay within the brand’s budget. To increase your chances of selection, it’s best to keep your fee within the suggested fee.
Unfortunately, the charging fee does not have a straightforward answer. It can vary greatly from campaign to campaign. Some things to take into consideration when charging fee: the format (video, pin, photo), the time commitment (travel, bigger asks for photo or video shoots), the product purchase (bake this into your fee as needed), your follower count and reach, the timeline, the number of assets, and so on. While there is no magic formula or answer for fees, we’ve found that once creators find their sweet spot, they may see their acceptance rate increase.
5. Triple-check your shipping address
If a brand selects you for a gig, we want to get you the product as soon as possible. The last thing anybody needs is gig product shipped to an old address by mistake. We know your info might have changed between gigs, so always, always confirm that your shipping address is correct to avoid shipping (and gig) delays.
6. Make your “Message to the Brand” memorable
The “Message to the Brand” section is like your cover letter for a job or your college application essay. Brands know you’re a creative authority, so explain your creative concept for the gig (that fits with their brief requirements). You can also explain to them why you’re a great fit for their brand. Do not include any information on pricing here, because you’ve already listed out your rate elsewhere.
7. Answer every application question
You wouldn’t leave a question incomplete on a job application, so we wouldn’t suggest that here either. Every question included in the brief is there because brands need that info to inform their decision.
8. Beef up your profile and portfolio
Your profile and portfolio are just as important as your application, showing who you are and the work you can do. You put a ton of effort into your application, so don’t let your profile let you down when it counts. Describe yourself in your bio, and check the boxes for the content formats where you really shine. Don’t forget to upload every content type you make into your portfolio, including photos, videos, and increasingly important Story posts.
Applying for gigs takes time and effort, and we appreciate all of it. Give yourself the best shot at being considered by following these tips. As always, if you have more questions, check out our Support Center or holler at help@popularpays.com
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