Tips for Our Creator Community

With new campaigns continuing to roll out, we compiled a list of tips to help the creator community navigate Meta’s Collaboration posts:

  • Editing rights for a post are exclusive to the original publisher. Should they make any changes, collaborators won’t receive notifications, underscoring the importance of carefully selecting collaborators for this feature.
  • Regardless of where viewers encounter the post, the original publisher’s handle will always appear first in the header.
  • The caption will display only the original publisher’s handle.
  • The post will populate both account feeds.
  • While both parties have access to post insights, only the original publisher “gets credit” for the overall Insights.
  • Profile insights—including metrics such as new follows, email button taps, and profile visits—will be confined to the original publisher’s profile.
  • If this feature will be used for a brand collaboration, it must adhere to FTC guidelines for disclosure and employ appropriate branded content partner tools.

Thank you to @simplysocialnm for compiling this guide on collabs! For more social media tips, click here to check out their Instagram.

Campaign Spotlight: Holiday Magic and Mixes at White Castl

Make this holiday season merrier by participating in White Castle’s latest paid partnership opportunity! 

On November 9th, 2023, White Castle teamed with up Coca-Cola to launch three Coca-Cola Holiday mixes in all White Castle restaurants: Coca-Cola Vanilla Swirl, Sprite Vanilla Frost, and Coca-Cola Cream Soda.

These holiday mixes pair perfectly with White Castle’s famous sliders and are offered for a limited time only so don’t miss out on the opportunity~

If this delicious pairing ended up on your wishlist, be sure to apply using this link.

Though we encourage everyone to apply, preference will be given to creators who have participated in previous White Castle campaigns or are in the following locations:

  • New York 
  • New Jersey 
  • Chicago, Illinois 
  • St. Louis, Missouri 
  • Louisville, Kentucky 
  • Detroit, Michigan 
  • Indianapolis, Indiana

Forget about chestnuts roasting on an open fire and hurry on over to your nearest White Castle!

Creator Tips: Maximize Your Meta Presence

In today’s digital world, where various social media platforms are interconnected, linking your accounts can create a more seamless and enhanced online experience. 

Here’s how you can connect your Instagram account with your Facebook account:

  1. Open Instagram on your mobile device and tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner to go to your profile.
  2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. 
  3. Select “Settings and privacy”.
  4. Under “Your account,” select “Accounts Center”.
  5. Scroll down and tap on “Accounts”.
  6. Here you can view the accounts that are currently linked to your Instagram account and add or remove accounts.
  7. To add your Facebook account, select “Add accounts”.
  8. Select “Add Facebook account” and grant the necessary permissions.
  9. Finally, confirm the linking.

Note: If you are linking your Instagram account to a new Facebook account, be sure to add a profile picture and any relevant information to your Facebook account. 

Here’s how you can connect your Facebook account with your Instagram account:

  1. Open Facebook on your mobile device and tap on your profile picture in the bottom right corner to go to your profile.
  2. Tap the Settings icon in the top right corner. 
  3. In “Settings and privacy,” select “See more in Under “Accounts Center”.
  4. Scroll down and tap on “Accounts”
  5. Here you can view the accounts that are currently linked to your Facebook account and add or remove accounts.
  6. To add your Instagram account, select “Add accounts”
  7. Select “Add Instagram account” and grant the necessary permissions.
  8. Finally, confirm the linking. 

Why should you link your Instagram and Facebook accounts?

Linking your Instagram account and Facebook accounts will unlock Meta’s Business Suite, a platform that allows for effortless content sharing and advanced ad targeting, houses notifications and insights for both applications, and potentially increases both engagement and reach.

Best Practices for People First’s Creators

Hey Creator Community~

Here at People First, we take pride in working with everyday social media users to bring a sense of authenticity and relatability back to marketing campaigns. That being said, many of our creators have never partnered with a brand or organization before nor have participated in a social media campaign.

To help all of our creators, both new and experienced, we compiled a list of best practices to use when partaking in paid partnership opportunities:

  • Authenticity is key: with the oversaturation of social media content, the best way to stand out is to be authentic to yourself. Stay true to your personal brand and values. Choose campaigns that align with your story and resonate with your audience. 
  • Know your audience: at the heart of effective content creation is understanding your audience. Tailor your content so it seamlessly relates to both yourself and your audience.
  • Build relationships: many of our partners host multiple campaigns through People First. If you find a partner that you feel a genuine connection with, build a relationship with them, and People First, by applying to multiple campaigns. There are many benefits to establishing these connections, one of which is whitelisting. 
  • Quality over quantity: focus on creating high-quality content that is both well-thought-out and visually appealing. Make an impact with your content. 
  • Be transparent: honesty builds trust and credibility. 
  • Think outside the box: if the campaign you are working on requires the promotion of a product, think outside the box of product promotion. Try to make your content engaging by using creative storytelling, behind-the-scenes content, or unique ways of showcasing the brand’s values. 
  • Respect deadlines: be sure to meet deadlines when it comes to submitting content for approval or posting live content. If for some reason you are unable to meet a deadline, be sure to communicate with the DRO assigned to your campaign. 

These best practices are just a few suggestions aimed at ensuring smooth collaboration between you, as a creator, us at People First, and our partner. Remember to do what feels right for you and always reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

Creator Tips: Your Guide to Pre-cleared Sounds for TikTok and Meta

Are you looking for new ways to improve your social media content or to increase your engagement? Try adding sounds for your next post on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram! The simple act of adding background music, whether it be a trending song or popular audio intensifies the impact of the video and can lead to increased engagement. What’s more, is that using music that is already authorized by the platform will prevent any issues related to copyright infringement and minimize the likelihood of your post being removed or muted. This is super important for content creators — since sponsored content may not contain sounds that are ineligible for commercial use.

Here are some guidelines and useful tips for using authorized sounds for TikTok and Meta Platforms, Facebook and Instagram. 

For TikTok:

  • When uploading or recording a video on TikTok, you will have the option to add sounds to your videos.
    • If you’re recording a new video, you can add sounds by tapping the Music Note located at the right of your screen. 
    • If you’re uploading a saved video, click “Add Sounds” at the top of your screen to browse the audio collection. 
  • Note that some sounds displayed on this page may not be available for commercial use, so be sure to select “Commercial Sounds” in the dropdown menu. All of the sound options will be commercial sounds and therefore OK to use in sponsored content. 
  • You can also find viral sounds in the TikTok viral playlist.
  • Click here to access TikTok’s pre-cleared audio library.
    • In this audio library, you’ll be able to browse trending songs under the trending sounds, but stick to using songs marked “Approved for business use”

For Facebook/Instagram:

  • Click here to access Meta’s pre-cleared audio library.
    • Note: you will need a Facebook account.
  • You will have to manually search for the song on Instagram.
  • You will be able to filter search results based on various categories including genre, mood, duration, and more. 
  • Once you find a sound you’d like to use, input it into the app!
  • Although there is no direct way to view all trending sounds, these sounds will have an arrow pointing in the top right direction.

Sandy Hook Promise Needs Your Help!

Founded in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting that devasated the nation, Sandy Hook Promise, a national nonprofit organization, has fought to protect American children from gun violence and other harmful acts that hurt children. The organization centers on educating and empowering youth and adults to recognize, intervene, and get help for individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others. 

Even with the hard work and dedication from organizations like Sandy Hook Promise, there have been hundreds of school shootings since Sandy Hook, including 30 in the year 2023 alone. We can do more, we need to do more. 

Sandy Hook Promise has partnered with prominent comedians to encourage their viewers to take threats seriously, learn warning signs, and utilize the organizations resources to keep American children safe. Now, they are looking for precision microinfluencers to continue the spread of their message to all audiences, from any and every niche. 

If you believe in protecting America’s children from gun violence, help Sandy Hook Promise by sharing their posts on your social media channels!

Twitter/X

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Threads

If you’d like to do more, download and upload this video. In your post, be sure to…

  • Use the hashtags #SandyHookPromise & #ProtectOurKids
  • Tag @sandyhookpromise on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook; @sandyhook on Twitter/X 
  • Add a link to their campaign landing page: sandyhookpromise.org/justjoking

Creator Portal Updates Coming Soon!

People First is thrilled to announce the release of a new feature in our Creator Portal! Starting June 1st 2023, influencers can easily connect their Instagram and TikTok accounts to our application, making it simpler than ever to partner with brands and campaigns. Read on to learn more about how to make these connections today, as they will soon become a requirement in order to continue navigating campaigns People First. 

Why Social Connection?

As more social platforms are working to ensure both brand and creator safety on their platforms, credentialization services and functionality is becoming more important than ever. By connecting your Instagram and Tiktok accounts to People First, you’ll be helping us give you a wider access to opportunities for partnerships and collaborations with brands and campaigns. Linking your accounts to our platform will give you the ability to showcase your reach, engagement, and creativity to potential partners. 

How Does This Help Me?

The new required social connections are going to support you as a People First Creator in the following three ways:

  1. Access to More Campaign Opportunities → By connecting your Instagram and Tiktok accounts to People First, you’ll be able to access a wider range of opportunities to create with top brands and advocacy groups, like the ability to post stories! 
  2. Increased Accuracy for Campaign Rates → With your social media accounts linked to our platform, we will have more accurate data about your reach, engagement, and overall performance as an influencer. This means that we will be able to set more accurate rates for campaigns, helping you earn what you deserve for your hard work.
  3. More Secure Creator Portal and Community → By requiring social connections, we’re able to maintain a more secure Creator Portal and community. This helps ensure that only authentic, verified influencers are able to access the platform and engage with our brand partners.

Forever Loading

Are you having trouble connecting your Instagram or Tiktok account to People First? If you’re experiencing the dreaded “forever loading” error, don’t worry – there are a few easy steps you can take to fix the issue. First, make sure you’re logged into the correct account on both Instagram and Tiktok. Then, clear your browser’s cache and cookies and try again – here is a link to a quick way to do that on Google Chrome or Safari

Facebook Account Not Tied To Instagram Account

If your Facebook account isn’t tied to your Instagram account, you may run into some issues when trying to connect to People First. In this case, you’ll need to link your Facebook account to your Instagram account before proceeding. To do this, go to your Instagram profile, select “Edit Profile,” and then click “Page.” From there, you can link your Facebook account to your Instagram account and proceed with connecting to People First. For more information please refer to Meta’s documentation on how to do this connection correctly.

Don’t Have A TikTok Account

If you don’t have a Tiktok account yet, no problem! It’s easy to create one and start connecting with brands and campaigns through People First. Simply download the TikTok app and follow the prompts to create an account. Once you’ve done that, you can easily connect your TikTok account to People First through our Creator Portal.

Instagram Account Tied To Facebook Profile Isn’t Creator Account/Business Account

To use your Instagram account for partnerships through People First, it must be a Creator Account or Business Account. If your Instagram account is tied to your Facebook profile but is not a Creator or Business Account, you’ll need to convert it before proceeding. To do this, go to your Instagram profile, select “Edit Profile,” and then click “Account.” From there, you can switch to a Creator or Business Account and begin using your Instagram account for partnerships through People First. For more assistance, please refer to Meta’s documentation on how to turn your FB Profile into a Creator/Business Account

Instagram Account Tied To Facebook Profile Isn’t Going To Be Used For Partnerships:

If your Instagram account tied to your Facebook profile is not going to be used for partnerships through People First, you don’t need to worry about connecting it. You can simply skip this step and continue using People First by connecting your TikTok account. However, keep in mind that connecting your Instagram account can help you access more opportunities for partnerships and growth as an influencer. 

I’m still having trouble connecting my Instagram or TikTok account 

If you’re still having trouble, you can reach out to our support team for assistance. We’re online from 9am – 5pm ET at creators.peoplefirst.cc with the use of our chatbox. If you’re on mobile, you’re welcome to shoot us an email at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible. 

Creator Portal Version 2.0 Launch Coming Soon!

Great news, creators! You’ve asked and we’ve listened. Over the past several months the People First team has been working with our network of creators to review your feedback and bring about big changes to the Creator Portal. 

The time has come, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring to our community the newest version of the Creator Portal, coming out in just a few weeks… 

Here’s what you can expect to see:

Tell us your Passions & Interests:

  • This feature will allow new AND existing users to tell us about their Passions and Interests. Select up to 5 interests so that we can get a sense of which campaign opportunities would be a fit for you. We’ll use this information to tailor your notifications, so that you hear right away when a campaign that aligns with your interests is added to the Creator Portal.

Sign In with your Socials:

  • One of the largest changes coming to the Creator Portal will require ALL users to login with one their existing social media accounts (ex. Google, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) Why? This connection will allow for a more secure sign-in procedure. Additionally, the social connection integration provides People First with more insight into your social media’s profile analytics, which in turn allows People First to offer more competitive rates.

Applying to Campaigns Just Got Easier:

  • The newest version of the Creator Portal will help provide a seamless application experience. We will transition from separating campaign applications into “Image” and “Video.” Instead, users should select their desired campaign, toggle between their desired content type, and indicate the platform they intend to go live on. What’s more is that we’re offering more opportunities to create — beyond just Instagram and TikTok content. We’re encouraging all users to apply to campaigns with any of preferred social media platforms, whether that be Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Youtube, or Pinterest! 

Application Justification

  • Are you the perfect candidate for a campaign & would like us to know? Some campaigns on the Creator Portal will come equipped with an Application Justification section, so that you can briefly explain to us why your story will make for a great contribution to the campaign. Additionally, there may be additional fields to check-off before applying, so that our team can confirm aspects about your background before bringing you into the campaign.

Apply & Re-Apply!

  • Did you come across a campaign that you loved participating in? If so, we’re allowing users the ability to re-apply to campaigns. Here, you can make additional pieces of content, or submit your original post to go live on a different social media platform. Please note this feature may not be enabled across all campaigns. 

SMS notifications

  • Having trouble knowing when there’s an update regarding one of your campaigns? We know that emails get lost and that communication on different collaborations can be tricky. That’s why we’re dedicated to getting important information in front of you as soon as possible, which is why we’re turning on SMS notifications! Yes, users will receive a text message when there’s been an update regarding your application or submission. To update your notification settings, head over to your Profile to adjust your Settings to receive notifications via SMS. 

Questions about these changes? Feel free to speak to a People First Representative on the Creator Portal, using the chat feature on the bottom right corner! 

We appreciate your patience with us, as we value your honest feedback & our always at work to improve our user experience. 

Creator Tip: Stay in the Loop with People First

Hey Creators! Do you want to stay in the loop with People First? If so, be sure to follow our LinkedIn and other social channels — such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter — to hear news related to People First as a whole. In addition, don’t forget to check out our blog as well to read our newsletters or get the scoop on our campaigns and their impact. 

Links to People First’s Social Media Sites:

Social Media News: Music Rights in Branded Social Media Content

Hey creators, are you planning on using music in your branded social media content?

If so, please keep in mind that music labels regulate the use of unlicensed music in branded social media posts! In fact, many major labels have created teams to find and remove unlicensed use of copyrighted music. This is because brands are not allowed to use copyrighted music tracks in short-term videos without specific permissions. 

As such, if you have participated in a social media trend and have had content removed, especially on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, it could be a result of the music choice! 

To learn more, check out the full article here.

Creator Tip: Posting Frequency

Hey creators! We all know that it is important for you all to post frequently in order to engage with your audiences – the question is: how frequently should you be posting?

According to the Harvard Business Review, influencer posting frequency experiences a Goldilocks Effect, meaning audiences seek “just the right amount” of posts from creators. 

  • When influencers post too infrequently, their lack of posts, and thus presence on followers’ feeds, leads to an inability to build intimacy and trust.  
  • When influencers post too frequently, their excessive posts can clutter followers’ feeds, increasing audience disinterest and annoyance.

As such, People First recommends a medium level of posting frequency – which averages to around one to three posts a week. 

Also worth noting is that the brands, political advocacy groups, and nonprofit organizations that partner with People First often prefer to partner with everyday social media users, so often the best candidates for our campaigns tend to be those with a higher ratio of organic content. Too many paid partnerships can often be a turnoff, so don’t be afraid to be selective!

To learn more about influencer marketing, click here to read the full Harvard Business Review article.

Social Media News: Pinterest = the New Instagram?

The social media app Pinterest, which was founded in 2010, allows its users to create images, videos and digital scrapbook style collections. In the era of pinterest, other popular social media sites that existed were all text-based websites such as Twitter, Facebook and Reddit. Although Pinterest had launched a video feature back in 2016, it was far behind Facebook and Youtube in terms of monetizing their video and advertisements. However, the future is Pinterest! As of early August, Pinterest’s stock has raised over 21%, with the news of their new CEO Bill Randy. Randy has plans to grow Pinterest into a market leading advertiser, as it holds a unique position of growth in an image-based platform, as Instagram is moving forward with more video-based content.

See you all on Pinterest!

Creator Tip: Social Media 101

We at People First are fortunate to work with thousands of people from all over the country to join our campaigns and raise their voice. However, content creation looks different for everyone, which is why we’ve put together a list of tips for new and experienced content creators to make your social media pages better than ever ! 

These tips are a great way not only to build a bond with your community and increase engagement, but help make your experience working with People First as seamless as possible. Feel free to take what resonates with you!

  • Tip 1: Get With the Trends
    • Be in-touch with current trends and hashtags. Join the movement by contributing your own take, or putting a spin on someone else’s work. 
    • Being real is in! We want you to have fun with your content, so don’t be afraid to be yourself. Creating content that reflects your personality is what social media is all about!
    • Be careful that the trend you’re hopping onto isn’t something that’s going to be seen as harmful or offensive. People First, and many of the brands we work with, are reluctant to work with anyone that uses offensive language or imagery. 
  • Tip 2: Monitor Your Own Performance
    • Utilize engagement tracking services to see what works well for your audience and what does not. See if you can find any patterns about what’s working, and what pieces can be improved. 
    • Be transparent. Pivoting your approach to content creation is normal, and being transparent about this will allow for you to create trust between you and your community.
  • Tip 3: Post Consistently
    • If you’re in the process of growing your following, we recommend posting to Instagram at least 3x a week, along with regular stories highlighting smaller pieces.
    • For TikTok, we recommend posting twice a week and capitalizing off of existing trends and audios. These are most likely to be recognized and pick up more engagement!
  • Tip 4: Vary Your Content
    • Positing consistently is great for those looking to expand their audience, but failing to vary your content can lead to people following off. 
    • We encourage you to space out your sponsorship deals, to fill those gaps with organic pieces. This allows for your followers to see a more genuine and authentic side to you, without being bombarded with paid partnerships. 
  • Tip 5: Be Proud of Honest Engagement
    • When working on paid social media partnerships, it’s extremely important that your audience, and the engagements you receive, are from real social media users. 
    • Why? Fake followers, likes, and comments are not a true measure of success and they will make clients hesitant to work with you. And yes – they are very easy to spot. 
    • Believe in the power of the micro influencer! Content creators with smaller audiences tend to have better relationships with their following, which lends to better engagement rates overall. Here at People First, we take this into consideration when determining a suggested rate for partnerships, so that you can be compensated fairly in light of a smaller follower base, 

Creator Tip: Make Your Instagram Account Public!

Do you know that feeling when your friend DMs you a funny Instagram post, but you can’t see it because the account is private?

Getting around this can be such a hassle, which is why we suggest that you make your Instagram account public. Opening up your account to the public allows potential followers to scroll through your content, share it with their friends, or even be featured on the Explore page.

This leads to even more eyes and engagements with each of your posts!

Here at People First, did you know that it’s actually required to make your account public before partnering with us? Our team of organizers want to ensure that your account is a match for the partnership, which is why we ask that you turn this feature on before applying. 

Not sure if your Instagram account is public or not? No worries. 

  1. Open up the Instagram app.
  2. Go to your profile. In the top right corner, open your settings.
  3. Click on privacy settings.
  4. At the top, there’s a button that shows you whether or not your account is private. If it’s currently set to private, switch your account to public.

That’s all there is to it!