Top 10 Things Chronic Illness Content Creators Should Do Before Working with a Brand
Working with brands can be a rewarding way to grow your platform, especially if they align with your values and community. This blog will empower you to prioritize clear communication, fair compensation, and transparency around your health and workload to help ensure smooth collaborations, set clear expectations, and help you protect your image and values.
1. Research the Brand’s Values
Ensure the brand aligns with your values and the needs of your community: Look for past campaigns, feedback, and customer reviews to understand its reputation.
Check for Inclusivity: Look for brands that prioritize inclusivity and diversity in their messaging and campaigns. This alignment can strengthen your partnership and show your audience that you’re working with a brand that respects and understands different perspectives.
2. Understand Their Target Audience
Make sure the brand’s target audience aligns with your followers: This alignment helps boost engagement, making the partnership more effective.
Analyze Engagement Metrics: Review the brand’s social media engagement metrics to see how they resonate with their audience. A brand with a highly engaged following may enhance the effectiveness of your collaboration.
3. Set Clear Boundaries Around Your Health
As a chronic illness creator, it’s crucial to communicate your availability and any health-related limitations upfront: Setting boundaries ensures you’re able to deliver quality content without compromising your well-being.
Establish Check-in Points: Set specific times for check-ins about your workload and health status. This practice helps maintain open communication and ensures both you and the brand are on the same page.
4. Review Brand’s Policies on Content Use and Rights
Know how and where the brand plans to use your content: Make sure usage policies are clear in the contract, including if they will repurpose your content for other channels.
Clarify Credit and Attribution: Ensure that the brand agrees to credit you appropriately for your work. This recognition is essential for maintaining your personal brand and building your portfolio.
5. Discuss Deliverables and Deadlines
Clarify exactly what content is expected from you and when: Establish a realistic timeline, factoring in the possibility of health-related delays. A brand that respects your needs will be open to flexibility.
Include Contingency Plans: Discuss what will happen if unforeseen health issues arise, such as extending deadlines or adjusting deliverables. This preparation can alleviate stress and promote a smoother working relationship.
6. Negotiate Compensation Fairly
Ensure you’re compensated for the time, effort, and value you bring to the partnership: Chronic illness influencers bring unique perspectives and authenticity, so don’t undervalue your worth.
Consider Additional Value: When discussing compensation, factor in any additional value you bring, such as your unique audience insights or the potential for long-term partnerships. This perspective can strengthen your negotiating position.
7. Verify Brand Compliance and Industry Regulations
If you’re working with a healthcare brand, understand their compliance requirements and your obligations: Transparency here prevents any unexpected issues in a regulated field like healthcare and there are several nuances between medical device, pharmaceutical, and other healthcare sectors.
Have the Brand Provide Legal Guidance if Necessary: If you’re uncertain about the compliance aspects, consider asking the brand to seek a legal professional or someone knowledgeable in healthcare regulations. This step ensures you fully understand your responsibilities and that the content you create won’t result in a company audit or worse.
8. Request Clear Communication Channels
Establish the best methods for communicating with the brand (e.g., email, phone, project management tool): Open communication helps clarify expectations and allows you to voice any concerns as they arise.
Set Response Time Expectations: Agree on how quickly you expect responses to your inquiries and how that aligns with your health schedule. Establishing these expectations helps streamline communication and keeps the partnership running smoothly.
9. Understand Content Review and Approval Processes
Ask about the review process and approval timeline: This helps you understand how to submit content and allows you to plan for feedback rounds if necessary.
Ask for Feedback Guidelines: Request guidance on how feedback will be given and what specific aspects the brand will focus on during the review process. This clarity can help you create content that meets their expectations from the start.
10. Stay Authentic to Your Message and Community
Remember, your community follows you for your genuine voice and experiences: Ensure that the brand doesn’t ask you to alter your message in ways that feel inauthentic, as staying true to yourself is key to maintaining trust with your audience.
Share Your Non-Negotiables: Before beginning the partnership, share what aspects of your messaging are non-negotiable. These can be cultural, personal, or private. You don’t need to justify, you just need to have the conversation to ensure that you feel comfortable while aligning with the brand’s goals.
Bonus Tip: Hire a Pro to Fight for You
If you're a chronic illness content creator looking to expand your opportunities and connect with your dream brands, the Chronic Creator Club is here to help. We specialize in facilitating partnerships that prioritize your health and authenticity while streamlining the collaboration process. Our network connects you with brands that align with your values, allowing you to spend more time creating content for companies you genuinely love rather than navigating through red tape or dealing with gift-only arrangements.
By joining our community, you can access valuable resources, guidance, and opportunities that empower you to thrive as a creator, making a real impact with your storytelling. Together, we can amplify your voice and connect you with brands that resonate with your unique experiences and insights.
