At Creator Match, we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the costly when it comes to sponsored LinkedIn posts. Many creators leave money on the table without even realizing it. Why? Because a few common mistakes keep them from maximizing their brand partnerships.
Today, we’re breaking down the seven biggest missteps creators make. If you want to keep brands coming back—and boost your income—avoid these mistakes.
Let’s get started.
1. Thinking Performance is All That Matters
Metrics like impressions and link clicks are valuable, but they’re only part of the story. Brands also care about how easy you are to work with.
Imagine two creators: one gets great metrics but is hard to reach, slow to respond, and makes edits at the last minute. The other creator has average numbers but is responsive, open to feedback, and communicates project updates without being asked.
Guess which creator the brand is more likely to work with again? The second one, definitely!
Good communication and a reliable attitude set you apart. Brands want consistency and professionalism. When they see you’re easy to collaborate with, you’re no longer just a one-time partner—you’re someone they’ll call back for future campaigns.
Don’t underestimate the power of great communication. It’s a direct way to build trust and become a go-to partner.
2. Doubting the Value of Your Niche Audience
Just because your audience is small doesn’t mean it’s not valuable. Brands increasingly seek creators with highly engaged, niche audiences—especially on LinkedIn, where professionals gather around specific industries and interests.
Imagine a creator with a modest following of 3,000 HR professionals versus one with 50,000 general followers. If the brand’s goal is to reach HR decision-makers, that smaller, niche audience is often worth more.
We’ve seen creators with just a few thousand followers land impressive deals simply because their audience is precisely who the brand wants to reach. Ultimately, it’s not about audience size but about connection, depth, and the trust you’ve built.
For example, who would believe that Gabby Rodriguez, a creator with under 4,000 followers (as of the time of writing), could create posts that generate significant engagement (like the one below)?
However, by closely examining the titles of the commenters, you’ll observe that many are professionals in the social media management space. That’s the power of a niche audience.
By showcasing the unique engagement and specific interests of your community, you can turn a small following into a huge asset for the right brand.
3. Overpromising and Underdelivering
Nothing turns off a brand faster than high expectations that don’t get met. It’s easy to show brands your most viral posts and promise impressive results, but doing so can create unrealistic expectations.
Instead, show brands a balanced view by using the median performance of your content—not just the standout posts. This helps them see what typical results look like, making your work feel consistent and reliable.
Brands appreciate transparency and reliability. Most would rather work with a creator who consistently delivers solid results than with one who occasionally hits a home run but often underdelivers.
Setting honest, achievable expectations builds a stronger foundation for partnership, making it easier to secure ongoing sponsorships.
4. Focusing on the Wrong Metrics
Total impressions over the last year might look impressive, but it doesn’t tell brands what they really need to know.
When brands see a high impression count, they can’t tell if you posted once a month or ten times a day to reach that number. It’s not helpful for predicting how their specific sponsored post will perform.
Brands want to know the immediate impact of a single post, so it’s important to shift your focus to post-level metrics.
Instead of sharing long-term engagement totals, show brands metrics like the average impressions, engagement rate, or click-through rate per post. These specifics give a clearer picture of the impact they can expect from their investment.
By focusing on relevant, post-by-post metrics, you’re giving brands the information they need to make confident decisions and see the value of working with you.
5. Not Selling Your Creative Vision
Simply agreeing to create content isn’t enough to get brands excited about a collaboration. To stand out, you need to pitch a creative vision that aligns with the brand’s goals and shows you’re invested in making the partnership unique.
Imagine a creator who just says, “I’ll make a post” versus one who shares a few unique content ideas tailored to the brand’s audience. The latter creator shows they’ve thought about the brand’s goals and how to make the content engaging.
Providing examples of past sponsorships that were successful can also help. When brands see that you’ve already nailed similar partnerships, it builds trust and makes it easier for them to envision working with you.
By bringing a well-thought-out creative concept to the table, you can show brands why you’re the right fit and make it easier for them to say yes.
6. Forgetting to Share Sample Sponsored Posts
Many creators hesitate to share examples of past sponsored posts, especially if they didn’t perform as well as their organic content. But for brands, seeing these examples helps set realistic expectations and shows that you understand how to create effective sponsored content.
Imagine a creator who shows only high-performing organic posts to a brand, versus one who transparently shares previous sponsored content. The second creator builds trust by showing they have experience with sponsorships and know how to handle branded messaging—even if engagement rates are a bit lower than their organic posts.
Fortunately, you don’t need to manually scroll through your past posts to pick out the sponsored ones. You can use a free tool like the Creator Match Chrome extension to quickly filter out your sponsored posts with just a few clicks.
Here’s a screenshot of Madelyn Machado’s profile showing the tool in action:
Being transparent with sample sponsored content helps brands understand the kind of results they can expect. This builds credibility and demonstrates that you’re experienced in balancing brand goals with audience engagement.
7. Not Following Up After the Sponsorship
The partnership shouldn’t end when the sponsored post goes live. Following up with the brand afterward shows you care about the campaign’s success and are invested in the relationship.
Imagine two creators: one who completes the post and moves on, and another who checks in, asks about the campaign’s performance, and shares ideas for potential future collaborations. The second creator leaves a lasting impression by showing genuine interest in the brand’s goals and metrics, such as link clicks, conversions, and overall satisfaction.
Brands appreciate creators who care about results and want to build long-term relationships. By following up and expressing an interest in future work, you make it easy for brands to consider you for additional campaigns.
Here’s a simple follow-up email template you can use:
Subject: Checking In on Our Recent Campaign
Hi [Brand Contact’s Name],
I hope all is well! I wanted to check in and see how the recent post performed from your perspective. Any insights on metrics like link clicks, engagement, or conversions would be incredibly helpful on my end.
If there’s anything more I can do to support the campaign, please let me know. I’d also love to brainstorm potential ideas for future collaborations whenever it’s convenient for you.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best,
[Your Name]
Strengthen Your Brand Partnerships on LinkedIn
Avoiding common pitfalls—like underestimating your niche audience or focusing on the wrong metrics—can set you up for more profitable collaborations.
By prioritizing clear communication, sharing realistic results, and presenting a unique creative vision, you position yourself as a reliable partner brands want to work with again.
But even with these best practices, it’s tough to know where you stand and what’s working for others on LinkedIn. That’s where the Creator Match Chrome extension comes in. Our free tool gives you access to performance data on organic and sponsored posts, insights into competitors’ sponsorships, and analytics to refine your content strategy.
With the right data, building effective partnerships becomes much simpler. Install the free Chrome extension today to make the most of every sponsorship opportunity.
