The Brief: A UGC Campaign for a Major TV Network

Welcome to Behind The Brand Partnership!

For this first installment, I wanted to share a real-life example of a mistake I made recently. Yes, even with 8+ years as a full-time content creator under my belt, I still make mistakes. It happens to all of us – even those who have been at it for a while.

This story isn’t here to scare you. Instead, I want you to walk away with a few key takeaways from my experience:

Key Takeaways ⬇️

• Clarify the scope of work
• Set maximum number of edits
• Define timelines & due dates
• Amend contracts as needed

Blinded By An Exciting Opportunity for One of 2025’s Most Anticipated Shows

This one’s on me.

In late 2024, I received a proposal in my inbox for a UGC campaign. It was an exciting opportunity for one of 2025’s most anticipated shows. While I can’t divulge the specifics of the network/show ( an NDA was signed), I let excitement get the better of my experience.

At face value, the campaign seemed like a dream – getting paid well to create content for a huge show? Without having to post anything on my account?

So I signed on the dotted line.

What looked like a dream partnership turned out to be a bit of a nightmare. 😬

Here’s what the timeline looked like:

September 28th: First contract came in and negotiations began

November 7th: Idea of concept was sent for first approval

January 17th: Final approval signed off

That’s about 5 months for a partnership. Because I overlooked the parameters of the project dates and revisions, there was endless back and forth conversation, resulting in 10+ rounds of edits and reviews.

👉 The lesson: triple-check your contracts and have things set in stone.

Don’t be afraid to put your foot down on the number of rounds of edits permitted, the project end date, and the date of final payment. It makes things easier for everyone.

Coming Up: Are You “Brand Deal” Material?

Next week, I’m sharing insights straight from the source. After many discussions with the brands and PR agencies I’ve worked with, I’ve gained firsthand insight into what brands really look for before hiring content creators and influencers for campaigns.

Hint: The number of followers you have is on the a low-priority for them 👀

Chat soon!

Catarina