In June 2022 Meta took over VidCon US with a large number of creator activations and discussion panels covering online security and well-being tools, making the best use of IG Reels, the metaverse and more. Influencers like video creator Luann Diez, comedian Daphnique Springs and the culture kid Markian Benhamou shared brand partnership tips & tricks for working with brands and monetizing Instagram and Facebook profiles. Here are 5 tips and tricks worth making a note of (smart tip: bookmark this page for future reference!):
Storytelling
Share or incorporate a story and the message you want to transmit will always have greater reach. When working with brands it is invaluable to take advantage of storytelling.
But be clear and concise, so that your audience can connect with your storytelling. You should be clear so that your audience can understand you, and be concise so that your audience does not get bored, be impactful. If you can connect with your audience using a few words, you’ve won. Every creator is on their own journey, everyone has their story, and tapping into storytelling on social media is invaluable when working with brands.
“I’m Mexican and I live in the US,” shared Diez. “I’ve lived in the US for half of my life and I feel like a lot of people can relate to that story. They have lived this story and they can relate to me, which creates kind of like a bond. And I think it can be very beneficial to brands to use my story.”
– Luann Diez
Deploy a multi-pronged approach
Your content should appear at multiple points of contact when collaborating on a brand campaign on Instagram. Post an Instagram Story version, Instagram Feed version, and Instagram Reel version to maximize content exposure.
“I use a lot of features when I’m doing brand partnerships: I use video to make the main piece of content, then Reels can be the one minute highlight of that content as a teaser. And then Stories really help with behind-the-scenes to inform viewers of what’s going on. I love having kind of a multidimensional approach when making content with brands.”
– Markian Benhamou
“I try to target all the different tools that Instagram has so that it’s a more beneficial campaign, more authentic and more long-term – people don’t just see it once and forget about it, but they have a more long lasting effect on what you’re trying to sell or the brand awareness that you want to create”
– Luann Diez
Make sure the values of the brands you partner with align with your values
When partnering with a brand, it’s important to know as much as possible about their brand identity — company mission, values, content, and nonprofits they support for instance.
The aesthetics of your social media pages is a very important job, because it generates identity. And if you work for that brand, you have to associate yourself with their brand identity in order to represent it in the best possible way.
Forming a connection with a brand and vice versa over shared values helps ensure that the body of work resonates with the target audience, and drives results.
“I want to work with brands where I feel like they’re trustworthy..They’re very clear on their message so that I can convey their message back to my audience. I love working with brands that are diverse, that are very fluid and just relate to me and my people.”
–Daphnique Springs
Surface brand-work to the top of your page (IG)
The new grid pinning feature on Instagram can take your brand partnerships to the next level if you’re not doing so already. You can highlight and get more eyeballs on branded posts you’re proud of at the top of your profile grid.
Tagging
For more post reach and a polished look, use the paid partnership tag feature, tag the client in the image or video, and/or caption.
Note: With a paid partnership tag you can include or exclude the brand or company name. To include the brand or company name you have to request permission from the brand or company’s social team with a simple button tap.