A creator discusses how to work with brands on user-generated content while keeping creative control. The talk covers managing brand collaborations, staying authentic in sponsored videos, and practical tips for producing content that engages audiences without feeling like an ad.
So the first brand that hired me, that Captions app, I asked them on the call, I was like, so what do you want me to say in the videos? Like do you have anything specific you want to share with me to create these videos? And they were like, hey, we trust you as the content creator. We give you full creative freedom. And I was like, okay, great. It's a little bit nerve wracking, but it kind of pushed me and they ended up loving the content. So sometimes you'll come across brands that do like, totally are like, hey, we give you as the creator creative freedom. And then on the opposite side of that, you'll, you'll have brands that are like, hey, we want you to literally replicate this video. So I worked with the company that helped me form my LLC when I was getting started called Taylor Brands and they were like, yes, we want to work with you. After I pitched to them via email and I said, hey, I loved your, I love this service, loved working with you guys, would love to create content for you guys. So they were like, yes, we love to work with you. Here is the exact video we want you to replicate just in, like, just created again like in your own home, like at your desk or whatever. So I created the video based on that and it would took me 30 minutes because they gave me the whole creative aspect of it. I didn't have to use my brain power to come up with what shots am I going to get, what am I going to say in the video? Because they sent me a whole script, right? So you're going to have a mixture of brands who are going to send you nothing and you're gonna go with your creative skills and you'll be surprised. I think that, you know, the more you do this, the easier it'll get. It'll just happen that way. But you might surprise yourself even if people. Because I can, I could maybe like think that most people hearing this are like, I'm not creative. Like I can't. I just started making Instagram reels. I don't know what the heck I'm doing. You might surprise yourself. And you can also get inspiration from people doing the same thing, right? So knowing that that's going to happen and also knowing that some brands will do everything, like they'll send you a script, they'll send you a video, they will even edit the video for you sometimes if they have an in house editor. I don't recommend banking on that fact. Like I recommend learning editing and people freak out about editing.
