FALSE.ย
Tagging brands is a very smart way to grab their attention. Contrary to popular belief, tagging brands in non-sponsored content does not set the expectation that youโre willing to work for free. In fact, organically tagging brands is beneficial for a number of reasons:
Tagging brands in your posts builds a relationship based on recognition, which could lead to future paid opportunities. When you tag a brand, Instagram sends them a notification through DM. Your post will also show up on their โtaggedโ tab on their profile (and possibly on their stories or main feed if they choose to repost your content). Check to see if the brand youโre tagging has specific hashtags and use those too! Pitching yourself for partnerships is going to be a lot easier if you already have a positive rapport with the brand. If youโve got a management team (shameless plug for #TeamCookIt), make sure to let them know when an organic post with brand tags performs well. They will be able to use those metrics to create reports and pitch to the tagged brands on your behalf.
As an influencer, working with brands that you actually like not only makes your life easier, but it also makes any future paid posts likely to be more accepted by your audience. Case in point: SPAM Brandโs partnership with Jess of Plays Well With Butter. Jess is widely known to be a big fan of SPAM due to her Hawaiian heritage, so when she announced that she would be partnering with them, her followers already knew how much she loved the brand. As a result, they embraced the partnership instead of scrolling through the sponsored content. They were actually excited for her!
If you love a brand, tell them! Brands want to work with influencers who legitimately love their product. Your audience wants to know what products youโre reaching for on a daily basis, not just what products you get paid to promote. HubSpot says if you tag a brand and engage with your audience by responding to comments about the product, โthe brand will soon see you’ve proven yourself a suitable sales partnerโ.
Our advice? Start tagging brands in your non-sponsored posts! Be strategic about it though โ donโt tag a million brands in one post, and donโt tag brands that are competitors (especially if you are already working with one of those competitors!). Tag with intent, keep it classy, and keep it consistent.
Weโve said it before, and weโll say it againโyeah, thereโs a game on Sunday, but letโs be realโฆ itโs all about the food. ๐ Here are some top-notch recipes from our roster that have to be at your game day watch party! ๐
In-N-Out Animal Style Sliders by @noflakeysalt
Spicy Buffalo Snack Mix by @kasimjhardaway x @hormelfoods
Crab Rangoon Dip by @yessidothecookingg
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken on Texas Toast by @cookinginthemidwest
BLT Dip by @aldentediva
Italian Sushi by @thecookingmawma
Fresh from @specialtyfoodassociationโs Fancy Food Show in Las Vegas! โ๏ธ We had an incredible time exploring the latest and greatest in food innovation. Here are the top trends we spotted that are set to take over 2025!
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ: Beans and legumes are stepping up as protein powerhouses! Shoutout to @beanvivo for their innovative salad toppers.
๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ-๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: From seafood to dairy, plant-based alternatives are booming for all diets! We loved the vegetarian pรขtรฉ from @alexian_pate.
๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฎ: Yuzu is everywhere! Think chips, popcorn, mayo, and even @celebrity_goatโs Yuzu Citrus flavor.
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ: Monk fruit, stevia, and allulose are redefining sweet treats! Weโre loving @lakantoโs selection.
๐๐จ๐ฐ & ๐๐จ-๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ: The sober-curious movement is thriving, with sophisticated non-alcoholic wines, spirits, and beers.
๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ฌ: Protein-packed crisps, plant-based jerkyโฆ snacks are getting a serious upgrade to fit busy lifestyles!
๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐: Big-name spots like @masala.pizza are making their way onto store shelves!
๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: Ready-to-eat meal kits are on the rise! @mycookingbox_na caught our eye.
๐
๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง: Butter, step aside! Kraftโs Mac & Cheese popcorn is shaking up the snack aisle.
๐๐๐๐ค๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Eye-catching designs are stealing the spotlight, with brands like La Narval redefining the tinned fish category.
Weโre counting down the days to the Winter Fancy Food Show by @specialtyfoodassociation in Las Vegas! โ๏ธ In addition to connecting with our favorite brands, @lauriebuck (CEO & Founder) and @molls.benton (EVP) will be trend-hunting and, of course, product tasting!
Weโll hit the ground running on Sunday, 1/19, and be back bright and early on Monday, 1/20.
Laurie will also be joining her classmates from the Maker Prep courseโa program sponsored by the Specialty Food Association. ๐ป Their goal: to learn how to create, finance, distribute, and market a proprietary food business.
Will you be there? Letโs catch up! Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. ๐ฌ Hope to see you soon!
CookIt has been nominated for the 2024 Creator Agency Award in the Top Creator Agency category, presented by BTI & @withjulyhq! ๐
This recognition means the world to us, and we couldnโt have made it this far without the support of our brand and agency partners, as well as our exclusive talent roster. โค๏ธ
As a women-owned, service-focused agency, we pride ourselves on bringing together brands and influencers who share a passion for food and lifestyle. Our deep niche expertise continues to fuel our growth, and weโre incredibly proud to see our roster of 30+ talented creators continue to thrive.
Voting is LIVE and ends on January 31, 2025! Click the link in our bio to cast your vote.
#CreatorAgencyAwards
If youโve ever wondered what the journey from print media editor-in-chief to influencer marketing/talent agency CEO looks like, our founder Laurie Buckle joined the Next in Creator Media podcast to share her story. ๐๏ธ
Tune in for insights on empowering food creators, building brand/influencer collaborations and diversifying revenue streams, along with her thinking on why food content is increasingly becoming intertwined with lifestyle content (hint: food is no longer just sustenance itโs a reflection of personal values and lifestyle choices).
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