Not all “free collabs” are bad – but knowing when to say yes (and when to walk away) will define your growth as a creator

A few months ago, I was offered a free, luxury press trip to Taiwan worth over $6,000. Five-star hotels, Michelin-starred dinners, private tours, and even business-class flights were included. 

It was the kind of email that would make any creator’s heart skip a beat. But I turned it down.

Not because I didn’t want to visit Taiwan (trust me, I’d love to explore its food scene). I declined because the partnership wasn’t the right business decision at the time — and that made it the wrong kind of “free.” Although it wasn’t the case for this one specifically, I often decline partnerships because they don’t align with my brand, my audience, or my values.

I know how hard it is to say no to opportunities that look glamorous on the outside. Especially when you’re still building your portfolio and trying to get your foot in the creator door. 

My past self would call me crazy if she saw me declining a fully paid-for luxury trip, but after 8 years in this industry, signing both 6-figure contracts and turning down plenty of unpaid ones, I’ve learned that how you handle “free” offers early on shapes the kind of opportunities you attract later.

In this issue of Creator Confidential, we’re going to break down exactly how to evaluate these kinds of offers, when it’s smart to say yes, and when walking away is the best business decision you can make.

Let’s dive in!

The “Would-You-Do-This-For-Free Test

Here’s a truth that might surprise you, especially after reading that introduction: not all unpaid partnerships are bad.

In fact, under the right conditions, they can open doors to future paid work, continue to nurture your audience, build impressive portfolio pieces, or even unlock experiences that money can’t buy.

But if you’re not strategic, they can also turn into free labor for brands that know exactly how to take advantage of eager creators.

To help you navigate that fine line, here’s the test I use — and recommend every creator apply before saying yes.

All-Expenses-Paid Press Trips: Why This is Worth Saying Yes To (and When to Skip)

I turned down that Taiwan trip because it didn’t align with where I am in my career as a creator. Yes, it was luxurious, but at this stage, I prioritize partnerships and trips that give me creative freedom and make sense from a business standpoint.

For me, that means trips that are flexible, where I can customize the itinerary to include experiences my audience will actually be interested in, and where I can capture content that fits my brand and storytelling style. When an itinerary is rigid or overly structured, it limits my ability to create the kind of content that performs well for my community.

There’s also the opportunity cost. Time is money, and when I’m away on a trip, I’m not working on other paid projects, campaigns, or launches. So even if a trip is “all expenses paid,” it still needs to make financial sense overall. As much as I would’ve loved to visit Taiwan, I had to weigh the creative limitations and missed opportunities, and ultimately, it wasn’t the right fit.

For newer creators, though, all-expenses-paid trips can be a great opportunity if you evaluate them carefully.

Ask yourself:

1️⃣ Does this trip fit your brand?

If a destination or experience doesn’t align with your brand, saying yes can actually dilute your message. For example, if you’re a budget traveler known for affordable adventures, a luxury resort collaboration might feel off-brand. And if your audience follows you for slow, mindful travel, a jam-packed luxury itinerary might not resonate.

The goal is to stay consistent with your values, your niche, and what your community expects from you. Every trip you say yes to should help you tell stories that feel authentic—not just look impressive on paper.

2️⃣ Is it a unique experience?

Would you and your audience find genuine value in this opportunity? Does it give you an opportunity to create unique content? Sometimes, rare or bucket-list experiences, such as exploring an untouched island or attending an exclusive event, are worth it even without compensation because they help you create high-performing content. 

3️⃣ Do the deliverables exceed the value of the trip?

If you’re expected to deliver a multi-post campaign, produce edited videos, or provide full content rights in exchange for a trip that would otherwise cost less than your rate, it’s not a fair trade.

Always calculate your time and output, and compare it against the value of the trip!

Is It a Gifted Product with No Strings Attached?

This is one of the few cases where an unpaid partnership can truly be a win-win, but only if you approach it intentionally.

Many brands use gifting as a marketing strategy to get free promotion. They’ll send products to hundreds of creators hoping for organic posts, and lie to creators saying that if they post for free, they’ll be considered for paid opportunities down the line – then that never happens. That’s why it’s important to be selective. Don’t feel pressured to share everything you receive.

If a brand sends you something you genuinely love, and you’d naturally use or talk about it even if you’d bought it yourself, then great – share it on your own terms. Authentic enthusiasm always performs best, and it can absolutely lead to a paid opportunity. But remember: your time, effort, and audience access have value. Share selectively, and save your creative energy for the partnerships that truly align and compensate you fairly.

Is the Brand a Non-Profit or Charitable Cause?

If the opportunity supports a mission you believe in, absolutely say yes. This is one of the most powerful ways to use your platform for good. Just make sure the organization’s ethics align with yours and that you disclose any gifting elements. Transparency always builds trust with your audience.

Is the Value Higher Than Your Current Rates?

If you’re early in your creator journey, sometimes a value exchange can make sense — if the opportunity offers something truly worthwhile, like a dream experience, high-quality portfolio content, or strong social proof that could help you land future paid deals.

For example, if you’re a beauty creator with under 1,000 followers and are offered an all-expenses-paid influencer trip to the Bahamas with Tarte, plus access to their new product launch, that might exceed your current content rate. Sharing that experience could position you as a trusted voice in your niche.

The same goes for high-end products: if you’re a fashion creator and a brand offers a $3,000 designer bag in exchange for a single post you’d normally charge $500 for — and it’s a brand you genuinely love or want to work with long-term — that could be a smart, strategic trade-off.

But here’s the key: value doesn’t pay your bills. Free trips and luxury gifts won’t necessarily translate into future paid work. So even when the “value” technically exceeds your rates, don’t automatically say yes. Be very selective.

Why Accepting Unpaid Work Can Hurt You Early On

I know it’s tempting to say yes to free collaborations when you’re just getting started. It feels validating, like someone finally recognizes your work. But here’s what most creators don’t realize: brands and agencies talk.

When one brand sees that you’ve accepted free or low-paying work, it sets a precedent. They share information across campaigns and agencies. Soon, you’ll be labeled as a “will work for free creator” or “cheap creator” and those labels stick. 

That’s why I always advise my students not to include rate sheets in their media kits or pitches.

Your value isn’t a flat number – it depends on timing, campaign brief, deliverables, usage rights, content format, exclusivity, and more. No two campaigns are the same, so your fees shouldn’t be, either. By listing your rates upfront and sharing a PDF that can be shared around, you’re giving away your negotiation power. If you are not yet my student and would like to learn more, join my free class here.

Instead, open with your value proposition, what results you can help them achieve, and discuss pricing once there’s genuine interest AND you understand exactly what they need from you. That’s where you regain control of the negotiation and set the tone for future paid work.

Why Some Brands Always Try Free First

Here’s a secret straight from years of experience in the Creator Economy — and something that was reinforced for me recently at CreatorIQ Connect, an event I participated recently where over 1,300 brands and agencies discussed their influencer marketing strategies.

During several panels, brands openly shared that they often choose a small group of creators to pay — say, 50 — and a much larger pool, sometimes 300 or more, for unpaid collaborations. The paid spots go to the creators who’ve proven their value through conversions, ROI, or content performance, either through past work, strong pitches, or by sharing relevant case studies or click/conversion data with the brand. Everyone else gets unpaid opportunities.

It’s not always malicious, it’s business. Many brands know newer creators often underestimate their worth, so they start with “free” to see who will say yes. Some will even say, “We don’t have a budget right now,” just to gauge your response.

But here’s the truth: if a brand is reaching out, there’s a marketing budget somewhere. I’ve had brands tell me they didn’t have funds, only to return months later offering full payment because they realized they couldn’t get the quality, creativity, or audience alignment they wanted for free.

When you politely decline unpaid offers, you signal confidence and professionalism, and brands remember that. Often, they circle back once they’re ready to pay.

You can keep the door open with a simple, professional response like:

“Thank you so much for thinking of me! I’m confident my audience would love [insert brand/product/service]. At this time, I’m only taking on paid partnerships, but I’d love to revisit this once there’s budget available.”

If you have any conversion data from previous campaigns or organic links, or even case studies to share, that’s the perfect opportunity to do so, and flip an unpaid campaign into a paid one. 

That boundary doesn’t just protect your time, it positions you as a professional who understands your value. And that’s exactly who brands want to work with when the real budgets open up.

A Word of Caution

Brands talk. And once you’ve built a reputation as someone who says yes to free deals, it can be very difficult to break out of that cycle and start commanding your worth.

Every creator should be compensated for their work. Simple as that. 

Unpaid collaborations should be the rare exception, not the rule.

If you do say yes to an unpaid opportunity, do it strategically. Ask yourself:

• Will this help me grow my portfolio or credibility?
• Will this lead to a potential paid partnership later?
• Will my audience actually care about this content?

If you can’t confidently say yes to at least one of those, then it’s a no.

The Bottom Line

The key to growing your income as a creator isn’t saying yes to every shiny opportunity that lands in your inbox, it’s learning to say yes to the right ones.

Turning down that $6,000 luxury trip to Taiwan was the best decision for my business. There was nothing wrong with the trip itself — it simply wasn’t flexible enough for me to create the kind of content my audience loves and that performs best for my brand. And by saying no, I freed up time to focus on another project that ended up bringing in five figures in revenue. That’s a powerful reminder that time is money.

Every “no” creates space for the right “yes.” When you treat your time and creativity like the valuable resources they are, brands start to see their worth too.

Chase those dreams,
Catarina