PART TWO: Red Flags You're About to Get Scammed as a Content-Creator
PART TWO: Red Flags You're About to Get Scammed as a Content-Creator
If you thought we covered it all in Part One… oh no, my friend. There’s wayyyyyy more to this shady brand collab game.
As the creator economy keeps exploding, so does the creativity (and sometimes sketchiness) of the brands sliding into your DMs and emails. Sure, some opportunities are legit. But others? They're designed to exploit your time, your content, and your community… oh and without giving you real value in return.
We’re gonna dive in even deeper into the next wave of red flags you need to watch out for complete with more real-world examples, tactical advice, and a few hard truths you have to hear if you’re serious about protecting your brand.
🚩 “We’d love to use your content in PERPETUITY”
If there’s one thing you get from this post, let it be this please: your content is intellectual property. If a brand wants to repost, reuse, or run ads with it, they should compensate you fairly. Granting perpetual (ie, unlimited usage rights until the end of civilization) without payment is like giving someone the keys to your house and saying “do whatever you want.”
Case Study: During one of my Breakthrough labs, a creator was telling me that they had agreed to a one-time Reel in exchange for a gifted dress. A year later, she saw her video used in the brand's IG campaigns with no credit, no additional payment, and hundreds of thousands of views. She was beyond frustrated asking me what she can do to take it down. Well, thank God she came to the right place (my Lab!)… we got this situation settled with my guidance.
What to do instead: I don’t even want you getting to that point. So what you need to do is always clarify usage terms upfront. If they want to use your content beyond your platform, include licensing fees in your rate sheet.
🚩 “You’ll earn commission through our affiliate program!”
Don’t get me wrong fam, affiliate deals can work, but only when they’re on your terms. If a brand offers only affiliate links as compensation, please please please be cautious. Unless you have an established audience that aligns perfectly with the product, you're taking on all the risk and none of the guarantee.
Example: During one of my LIVE Q+A SubStack sessions (for paid subscribers), a food content-creator was saying that they offered 20% commission to promote a new supplement. She posted three videos and even did a post on her website. Now let me be clear that she has a freakin’ solid engagement… and yet she only made $18 in total commissions.
What to do instead: Ask for a base rate plus affiliate. If the brand isn’t confident enough in their product to pay you upfront, that’s a sign.
So if you haven’t noticed by now, your influence isn’t just a “nice to have”… it’s valuable and deserves to be treated as such. So if brands want access to that value, it’s time they start paying for it.
But spotting the red flags is just the beginning. Building real influence… you know, the kind that converts, commands respect, and creates income… takes strategy.
That’s exactly why I created the Influencer Bootcamp:
✅ Learn how to position yourself like a brand, not just a creator
✅ Create a content strategy that actually grows and sells
✅ Land paid partnerships without selling yourself short
✅ Build a business foundation that outlasts platform trends
If you’re ready to move from underpaid to undeniable, let’s build it together fam!
👉 Enrollment is open now: Join the Influencer Bootcamp
Let’s make sure your brand, your partnerships, and your paycheck reflect that value.
Don't forget to subscribe to my FREE Substack for more in-depth strategy, free messaging (can't wait to connect with you), exclusive videos, online course discounts, andddddd live video sessions.
XX Idalia