🧙‍♂️ My terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad experience.

Hi there,

A few years back, an agency reached out to me about a collaboration with a juice brand. They wanted me to create and post three pieces of content on my IG account, and to create another two pieces of content that they’d post on their own account.

I looked at the material and said I thought it sounded like fun.

🚩Their initial offer was $2,000.

I told them that my current rates were closer to $10k for what they wanted.

⚠️They came back at $5,000.

I thought about it and decided that since I only had to post three pieces of content on my own handle that it was worth doing.

🚩The compensation was listed in the contract as $5,000 to be paid after the completion of services.

In the past, that was never a big deal.

BUT NOW, I always always always ask for at least 50% to be paid after execution of the agreement (at the net terms).

Go ahead, ask me how I know. 🙄

Back then, I wasn’t as experienced, and so I simply agreed.

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Now I know how crucial it is to negotiate an upfront payment to protect yourself and earn what you deserve.

I did the work. Posted the first piece and emailed the agency.

🚩No response.

Posted the second piece and emailed the agency.

🚩No response.

This was my second BIG mistake. When you’re not getting any feedback, it’s easy to think, “Oh, they’re just not very communicative.”

But when you’re not getting ANY communication, that’s when you need to OVER-COMMUNICATE and follow up MORE frequently.

Like...err on the side of being annoying.

Message as much as you can, and make it clear that you can’t continue unless you get a response.

I made the last post, and then I followed up by sending over the content for them to post, along with my invoice.

They confirmed receipt of the invoice, which was due on August 28.

🚩They didn’t pay the invoice on August 28...

🤦🏼... But I didn’t remember to follow up until October 2.

That was a MASSIVE mistake on my part, and it’s a great reminder of why you need solid systems in your business.

I’ll spare you the months-long saga and skip to the spoiler: The agency went bankrupt and never paid me. 😭

I lost $5k and countless hours of time spent trying to get paid.

You can learn from my mistakes, friend.

Join me in Brand Deal Wizard and I'll teach you how to negotiate sponsorships confidently so you can avoid situations like this.

Doors are closing soon to Brand Deal Wizard so if you were planning on waiting until the last minute to enroll...

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Cheers!

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