When you’re just starting as an influencer, the rush of your first brand collaboration can feel like a dream come true. Someone’s finally paying attention to your content and willing to invest in your voice. It’s exciting, affirming, and opens a world of opportunities.
What’s more is that the opportunities will keep on coming for influencers. After all, as of 2023, the global influencer marketing industry is a $21.1 billion market. Moreover, 26 percent of marketing agencies and brands worldwide have allocated over 40 percent of their marketing budgets to influencer partnerships. So yes, the opportunities for influencers – including newcomers – are there.
All that being said, the early stages of promoting brands as an influencer are full of potential missteps. That’s why it’s critical to step back, think strategically, and make decisions with long-term integrity in mind.
As you step into the world of influencer marketing, here are a few mistakes you must avoid.
Don’t Rush Into Brand Deals
Getting your first offer from a brand can feel like winning the lottery. But jumping at every chance without careful thought can lead to regrets. As a beginner, your instinct might be to say yes quickly, thinking it’s your only shot. But not every deal is the right one.
Always ask yourself: Does this brand truly align with your values? Would your audience appreciate or benefit from the product? Are there any red flags in the company’s past?
Many successful creators learned early to build wisely. If you want to understand how they approached this stage, look at how big influencers started—most of them turned down partnerships that didn’t fit their voice and style.
It’s okay to walk away from a deal if it doesn’t feel right. In fact, it shows your audience that you’re selective, thoughtful, and trustworthy.
Know the Brand’s Track Record
As a public figure, what you promote becomes part of your image. That’s why it’s important to research each brand thoroughly before agreeing to work with them.
One example of this going wrong? Influencers unintentionally endorsing companies tied to toxic products, such as those involved in AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits. These companies are under fire for alleged links between their products and serious health issues. Promoting a brand like that, even unknowingly, can tarnish your reputation.
Always ask the right questions and read the fine print. Are there any lawsuits? Controversies? Industry watchdog reports? Check social media, forums, and news articles. If others have raised concerns, dig deeper.
You can avoid these mistakes by learning from others in your space. This is why understanding how to become an Instagram influencer is more than just about getting followers—it’s about building a brand you’re proud of.
Think About What Your Followers Expect
You know your audience better than anyone. If they follow you for fitness tips, don’t surprise them with ads for fast food. If you’re known for budget living, luxury products may not land well. Staying consistent helps your followers trust your voice and recommendations.
In fact, a lot of influencers prefer to be involved in the campaign’s creative process. They help shape the message in a way that feels true to their personal brand. And audiences love it—people can spot a genuine endorsement a mile away.
If a brand doesn’t let you add your voice, that’s a sign to pause. Your audience will engage more if it feels like you’re talking with them, not just at them.
Knowing the types of social media influencers that brands usually seek out can help you better position yourself and choose partnerships that actually resonate with your platform.
Be Honest About Sponsored Posts
It might be tempting to hide the fact that a post is sponsored, but transparency matters. It builds trust. In some countries, it’s also the law.
Always use clear labels like #ad or #sponsored. Your followers won’t mind. In fact, they’ll respect your honesty. And if your content is good, a sponsorship won’t hurt engagement—it might even boost it, especially if the partnership feels like a good fit.
Trying to “sneak in” promotions can backfire. People might feel tricked, and once trust is gone, it’s hard to get back.
Think Long-Term, Not Just the Next Paycheck
Many beginner influencers fall into the trap of chasing quick deals. They promote anything that pays. But that leads to a scattered brand image and often burns bridges with both audiences and future partners.
Instead, think about your long-term goals. Who do you want to work with a year from now? What do you want to be known for? Each deal should move you closer to that vision.
Brands are more likely to work with influencers who are thoughtful, reliable, and have built loyal communities. That only happens when you choose partnerships that reflect your mission—not just your bank balance.
Understanding how big influencers started can offer valuable lessons on how patience and the right branding choices pay off over time.
Saying Yes Too Quickly
Understandably, you want to build your portfolio and show that brands trust you. But in the eagerness to say yes, it’s easy to overlook whether a product aligns with your audience’s values or even your own.
Followers can usually sense when a promotion feels inauthentic, especially if it’s clear you’re endorsing a product you wouldn’t normally use. Saying yes to the wrong brand just to get ahead can hurt your image more than having fewer collaborations on your feed.
Time is your friend when you’re approached by a brand. Ask questions. Do your homework. What is the company’s track record? How do their values align with yours? Have they had recent controversies that might reflect poorly on you?
If something feels off, it probably is, and your audience will thank you for your honesty if you choose to walk away.
Partnering with Brands That Have a Bad Reputation
Influencers hold more power than they realize. When you promote a brand, you’re essentially vouching for the company’s values, ethics, and history. Promoting a brand with a poor track record can damage your reputation, even if the partnership pays well.
Your followers may not separate your content from your values. And associating with controversial companies can raise difficult questions about your intentions and judgment.
One increasingly visible example involves companies associated with PFAS chemicals. Many influencers have unknowingly promoted products or brands tied to harmful substances without realizing the backlash they could face.
PFAS has been linked to serious health risks, including cancer. One major issue under legal scrutiny is AFFF foam, used in firefighting. AFFF exposure has led to an explosion of litigation, as individuals suffering from cancer file AFFF lawsuits against manufacturers.
The AFFF firefighting foam lawsuit wave is gaining momentum, with victims seeking accountability for the toxic effects. As an influencer, if you promote a company referenced in a recent AFFF lawsuit update, you might find yourself facing public criticism.
Thus, knowing what’s behind the product you’re endorsing is vital. Otherwise, your reputation can be collateral damage in the wake of corporate misdeeds.
Ignoring Your Audience’s Interests
It’s tempting to focus on what brands want when you’re promoting something. However, the real power lies in remembering what your audience came to you for in the first place.
If your content is usually about minimalist living and you suddenly start promoting luxury handbags, it creates confusion. People follow you because they trust your taste and the lifestyle you represent. If you ignore that foundation in favor of one-off deals, you risk alienating the very community that made your platform worth something.
More than 60 percent of influencers prefer being involved in creative or product development conversations for this very reason. They don’t want to just follow a rigid brief for the campaign.
Beginner influencers often underestimate how quickly audiences can turn away if they feel like they’re being treated as commodities. You need to think of every post not just as a promotion but as a conversation. Would your audience genuinely find this useful? Does it enhance their experience of following you?
The most successful influencers understand their followers deeply and make branding decisions through that lens.
Forgetting to Disclose Sponsorships
Transparency is everything. One major mistake beginner influencers often make is not clearly disclosing paid partnerships.
Maybe you think the sponsorship is obvious, or you’re worried that an ad will make your content look less organic. But both your audience and the law care about honesty. Regulatory bodies like the FTC require that any paid collaboration be clearly labeled as such.
Beyond legal reasons, your followers deserve to know when you’re being compensated. Trust is built on openness, and disclosing sponsorships doesn’t weaken your content. It strengthens it. People are more likely to respect your hustle when they know you’re being upfront. The moment they feel misled, that trust becomes hard to rebuild.
Focusing Only on Short-Term Gains
When you’re starting out, the allure of a quick paycheck can overshadow the value of long-term relationships. It’s easy to jump from one brand to the next without thinking about how these deals build your overall identity.
But consistency matters in the influencer world. If every week you’re promoting a different skincare line or meal delivery service, your followers may stop taking your recommendations seriously.
Building a sustainable influencer career means thinking beyond one-off collaborations. Brands also notice when an influencer is loyal and aligned with their mission. Repeat partnerships with companies that genuinely reflect your values and lifestyle will create stronger audience engagement and more reliable income.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do some influencers struggle to attract brands in the early stages of their careers?
In the early stages, many influencers face difficulty attracting brands. That’s because they typically have a smaller following, limited engagement metrics, and little to no proven track record of driving conversions. Brands look for influencers who can demonstrate audience trust, consistent content quality, and a niche focus that aligns with the brand’s identity. Without that credibility or data, newcomers often struggle to stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
Is an influencer liable for promoting a defective or ineffective product?
Yes, in certain cases, influencers can be held liable, especially if they make false claims or omit disclaimers required by law. Regulatory agencies like the FTC in the US require influencers to disclose sponsorships and avoid misleading advertising. If an influencer knowingly promotes a product with false claims or without proper testing, they could face legal consequences or public backlash.
What makes people think that an influencer isn’t being honest with their product or brand suggestions?
Audiences often sense dishonesty when an influencer promotes too many unrelated products, constantly switches brand loyalties, or lacks transparency about sponsorships. Over-polished content or overuse of marketing buzzwords without personal experience can also signal insincerity. Authenticity matters as followers tend to trust influencers who genuinely use and review the products they recommend.
Influencer marketing might look effortless on the outside. However, those who thrive in it know it takes discernment, strategy, and a strong sense of self.
Almost 50 percent of B2B marketers are predicting that influencer content will trend this year. B2C marketers will say the same in many cases. Hence, beginners will have their chance at this line of work, but they need to be cautious.
As a beginner, you might often fall into traps that can be avoided with a bit of patience and perspective. Promoting brands is not just a business move; it’s a reflection of your judgment, values, and connection to your community.
Whether it’s avoiding problematic companies or building lasting brand relationships, every choice you make shapes your personal brand. Choose wisely, stay authentic, and always remember that your influence is only as strong as the trust behind it.
