Creator & brand collaboration questions

Practical guides for the problems that come up around influencer collaborations in India: checking whether a brand, agency, or creator is genuine before you commit, what to do when a payment is late or never comes, and what to put in writing so it doesn’t happen again.

• How do I know if a brand collaboration offer is a scam?

  Fake brand collab DMs, WhatsApp messages and emails follow a script. Learn the red flags, quick checks, what to reply and where to report a scam in India.

• Is it legit if a brand asks me to buy the product first?

  Brand asking you to buy the product before a collab? See when reimbursement deals are genuine, how the scam works, what to get in writing and how much to risk.

• What is a reimbursement collab scam and how do you avoid it?

  Asked to order first and get reimbursed after posting? Learn how the reimbursement collab scam works, how real deals differ, and what to do if you already paid.

• What can I do if a brand is not paying me after a collaboration?

  Brand not paying after a collab? Use this escalation ladder: reminder, firm deadline, legal notice, MSME Samadhaan if Udyam-registered. Templates included.

• How long do brands take to pay influencers in India?

  There is no single deadline. See how advance, NET 30 and NET 60 terms work, when the MSME 45-day rule applies, and how to get brands to pay you faster.

• Why do brands delay paying creators, and what can you do about it?

  Missing POs, invoice errors, vendor onboarding and agencies waiting on brands all hold up creator payments. Find the cause, fix it, and chase with templates.

• Is a barter collaboration worth it for creators?

  Is a barter collab worth it? Learn to put a rupee value on a free-product offer, when to counter with a paid rate, how to disclose it and how to say no.

• What should an influencer contract include in India?

  An influencer contract checklist for India: deliverables, payment and advance, TDS and GST, usage rights, exclusivity, kill fee and more, with sample wording.

• How do you verify an influencer before paying them?

  Check identity, native analytics, audience fit, fake followers and past brand work, then pay part advance. A pre-payment checklist for Indian brands.

• How do you check if an influencer has fake followers on Instagram?

  Check an influencer for fake followers on Instagram without paid tools: growth, engagement rate, comments, audience location and native analytics.

• Influencer took payment and didn’t post: what should a brand do?

  Influencer ghosted after payment? Check it’s really ghosting, use these follow-up templates, set a final deadline, ask for a refund and know when to escalate.

• How do I check if an influencer marketing agency is real?

  Spot a fake influencer marketing agency in India: verify its CIN and GSTIN, email domain, clients and payment terms, and know the red flags before you agree.

• Is there a Trustpilot or Glassdoor for influencers and brands?

  General review sites don’t fit creator collabs. See what an influencer review website needs, how verified two-way reviews work and how to read them well.