1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:10,120 Speaker 1: It's the Twelve Days of Big Business. Hello and happy holidays. 2 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to another episode of the Twelve Days of Big Business, 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: where every day until Christmas Eve you get a brand 4 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: new episode and a chance to win big Each episode 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: has a secret code word hidden inside, and when you 6 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: enter it on our website, you'll go into the draw 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: to win our Big Business Christmas Bundle, packed with goodies 8 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: from some of the brands you've heard directly from on 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: Big Business. We're talking Lush, Sunday Body, the Breakout, Hack 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: Booth Haircare, Russ Energy, Funday Natural Suites are Live Body, 11 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: and of course Fate. Collect every code word and stack 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: your chances. Head to the Nova Wind page online to enter, 13 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: or click the link in the show notes. Now, let's 14 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: dive into today's episode and listen out for that code word. 15 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: What do you do when an influencer ghosts you after 16 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: you have sent them products for them to create content? 17 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: In Juicy this has happened to us so many times 18 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 1: at Fate, not so much recently, but in our earlier years, 19 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: because I feel like that's when I was making all 20 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 1: the bloody mistakes. So I can definitely speak from experience, 21 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: but I've got a DM here from Jess, and I 22 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: thought I would answer it as part of the twelve 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: Days of Big Business. She says, Hey, Britt, I'm a 24 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: weekly potty listener and would love your advice. I have 25 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: a newly launched clothing brand and struggling with influencer marketing. 26 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: We have reached out to some micro influencers who have 27 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: agreed to create content for us. We normally request a 28 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: real or post and a story, which they get excited 29 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: and agree, but then just completely ghost us after receiving 30 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: We have followed up by email with no reply. Is 31 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: this something that needs to be in a contract? It 32 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: just feels so silly asking them to have one when 33 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: we are both just small creator and brand and they 34 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 1: seem so interested. We have also had a few influencers 35 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: where our brand but not tag us or follow, which 36 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: has also been frustrating because they have a large platform 37 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: that could reach so many new customers for us, but 38 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: they choose not to tag yet still accept the gifts. 39 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: Then some will post one story of the package and 40 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: never follow up with the real or feed posts. Is 41 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: there a better way for us as a brand to 42 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: approach these agreements or do we need to be more 43 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: strict in what we are asking for with time frames, etc. Yeah, 44 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 1: this is a tricky one. It's really sad that creators 45 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: and influencers do this, especially to show excitement to be like, yes, 46 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, I would love to receive a gift 47 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: from you and create some content for you and then 48 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: to have them completely ghost. But I think you do 49 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: have a very big reciponsibility here, and I think based 50 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: on your message, you're already thinking about how you can 51 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: make this more solid. I know what you mean regarding 52 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: it being a contract, that it feels silly because you're 53 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: a small brand and they're a small creator, so it 54 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 1: feels like kind of silly to have them sign a contract. 55 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: But I think you have to remind yourself you're running 56 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: a business here, Like this isn't some trial run for 57 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,679 Speaker 1: something you're doing for fun. You're running a proper business, 58 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: and a contract doesn't have to be some massive document. 59 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: You could quite literally make a very simple one page 60 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: collaboration agreement that you just kind of have as a 61 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: template and you just fill in the blanks every time, 62 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: Like I fate the label am sending this creator XYZ product. 63 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: They promise to make one real and one story, and 64 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: you said, here, do you need to like have stricter 65 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: time frames and stuff. Absolutely, just put a date on 66 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: their content must be sent back to us by x date. 67 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: You put your signature on the bottom, they put their 68 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: signature on the bottom. And you could do it through 69 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: like a online kind of signing application, whether it's like 70 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: a job form or something like that, or a Google 71 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: sign Google doc just so it's all digital and it's 72 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: not like print this out and sign it and scan it. 73 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: When people do that in twenty twenty five, I'm like, 74 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: what are you doing? You want me to actually print 75 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: this out and sign it and scan it back. I 76 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: don't think I even fucking have a scanner. But you 77 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: know something that someone can just electronically sign, so easy. 78 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: Keep it really simple, one page. It'll be easy for 79 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: the creator to understand. It doesn't have to be a 80 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: ten page document with all legal jargon on it, but 81 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: just a simple agreement that you're agreeing to work together 82 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: in whichever format it may be. Now in saying that, though, 83 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,239 Speaker 1: you still might get people sign it and then still 84 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: ghost you, but I think having their signature on that 85 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: document it just gives you that little bit extra security, 86 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: so that you know, if they do get to the 87 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: stage of not replying to you for whatever reason, like 88 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: we've heard it all back in the day, like oh 89 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: I went overseas or something happened or whatever. But if 90 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: you've got their signature, you then can look, I don't 91 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: want to say threaten legal action because that sounds horrible 92 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: and you don't want to do that over like address, 93 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, But you do then have 94 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: their signature where you're like, hey, can you just let 95 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: me know, like if you can't make the content, I 96 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: really wouldn't want to escalate this further. You know, you 97 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: can kind of threaten is a really strong word, but 98 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, You can kind of hint 99 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: that you would hate to escalate things further and that 100 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: you hope that you can just come to an agreement, 101 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: or maybe if they're not wanting to work together anymore, 102 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: you can arrange to have the item sent back to you. 103 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: But I I think just having that signature on that 104 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: one simple agreement, the one page agreement, it's going to 105 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: save you a lot of heartache and upset because I 106 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: know it can be really upsetting when you think someone 107 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: genuinely is excited to collaborate with you, and then they 108 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: ghost you. Influencers and micro creators and everyone in between 109 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: have been ghosting businesses and brands for as long as 110 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: I've been around on the Internet, which I feel like 111 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: I've been around since the beginning of influencers, and every 112 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: time it happens, it's like, come on, sugar plum. Surely 113 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: not sugar plum. But I think one thing that I've 114 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: also noticed is, like with the rise of TikTok and 115 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff, is brands have kind of 116 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 1: gone more public with this, and that's always an option 117 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: as well, But for me, I wouldn't want to do 118 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: that in fear of it painting your business or brand 119 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: in a poor light. But I have seen a lot 120 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: of people over the years, you know, especially in more 121 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: recent years, make videos on TikTok, either saying influencer has 122 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: ghosted me, and maybe they do that in hopes it'll 123 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: scare the influencer and then they'll go, okay, okay, I'll 124 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: do the content or whatever. But I feel like doing that, 125 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: Whilst it can be powerful, it can have a lot 126 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: of downfalls, especially the brands that don't name who the 127 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: person is. It then creates so much speculation someone did 128 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: it recently. I don't know if I spoke about it 129 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: on here or maybe on my other podcast, someone like 130 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: gifted a necklace and then she came on socials to 131 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: be like, we've been ghosted or whatever it was, I 132 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: can't remember now, and then the whole comment section was 133 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: just everyone trying to guess which influencer it was. So 134 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: I don't think that's like overly productive really at the 135 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: end of the day. But I mean, you do have 136 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: that as an option, taking it public. But I'd be 137 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: so careful with doing something like that, and I would 138 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: definitely explore every other avenue possible before even thinking of 139 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: doing something like that. And I don't think even for me, 140 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: I would ever do something like that where I'm publicly 141 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: shaming someone or not even publicly shaming someone but talking 142 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: about it and not saying their name. I feel like 143 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: that's even worse because it just creates so much drama. 144 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: And you know what people are like on the internet, 145 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: they love going, oh, who was it? Was it? This person? 146 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: I bet it was this person, Like it just creates 147 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: a wave of women basically dragging other women down, which 148 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: we hate to see. But yeah, I think at the 149 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: end of the day, you have a responsibility here to 150 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: put some stronger practices in place. Yes, your business is small, 151 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: but you've got to remind yourself this is a real business. 152 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: It is your real product. It is costing you money 153 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: to send these parcels out, So the least that you 154 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: can do is make up a simple one page contract 155 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: or agreement that you can send to these influences. Keep 156 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: it super simple, written in your own words. You know, 157 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: it doesn't have to be boring legal jug and then 158 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 1: I think it'll just save you a lot of heartache. 159 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: So I hope this answers your question. These things do, 160 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: unfortunately happen, but it's up to us as business owners 161 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: to try and avoid these things happening. I hope you've 162 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: enjoyed this episode. In the twelve Days of Big Business, 163 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: I'm on an absolute role and guess what I'll be 164 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: back tomorrow.