How To Get Free Stuff

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to free stuff. I spend extra money to get free shipping. I go out…

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to free stuff. I spend extra money to get free shipping. I go out of my way to pick up things friends and neighbors are getting rid of for a future DIY project that usually never happens. And it’s basically a fact that free food just tastes better.

That being said, I have all the apps. I’ve joined all the mailing lists. I’ve optimized my chances to get the most bang for my buck. It’s all part of my quest to find alternative revenue streams.

But one thing I never thought I’d be qualified to do was be an influencer.

I cringe typing that word because it’s so tainted by negativity in the social media community. So many influencers feel entitled. I just want to game the system for free stuff. If that means I have to post a picture, I’ll do it. But I don’t go out of my way to seek out opportunities.

The size of my social media following makes me a micro-influencer. But as someone who works the company side of things, a lot of times there’s more value in working with smaller creators.

So if you’ve been wondering where to score products (and sometimes even get paid to post), I’m here to share where I get my free stuff.

makeup products

1. Influenster

Influenster is essentially a social network for products. Their app allows you to take surveys in different categories and leave product reviews. As you do this, you earn different badges and ranks. One thing they offer regularly are VoxBoxes, which are packed full of free products for you to test out, review and post about. I’ve gotten boxes that included products from Lancome, Kat Von D and Laura Mercier. A lot of times I receive products I would’ve never purchased because I’m cheap. But it’s nice to feel like you treated yo’ self to something fancy when all you really needed to do was snap a picture for your Instagram.

2. Heartbeat

Heartbeat is a platform brands come to to create campaigns. While you still get free stuff, some campaigns are even paid. Your pay rate is determined by your followers. So the more Instagram followers you’ve got, the better your Heartbeat revenue will be. While this structure might not be right for everyone influencer, it works for me for the time being. I like the fact that you apply to the campaigns you’re interested in and let the other ones slip by. Although I love free stuff, I don’t want to post about products that I haven’t actually tried out. While I don’t think I have that strong of an influence on my friends and followers, it’s nice to keep my credibility intact. I may be a sellout, but I’m a sellout with integrity.

3. Famebit

While I haven’t met the 5,000 follower threshold to be accepted, Famebit is a lucrative way I’ve seen many creators and influencers make a living. Like Heartbeat, companies create campaigns with Famebit and the members apply to said campaigns with pitches. This platform is more involved than just Instagram posts, but it also pays better. If you’re a video content creator, this might be something worth looking into if you meet their requirements to apply. I’m looking forward to the day when I hit the threshold so that I can make money off the things I love doing.

A lot of times you don’t even need a platform to apply for free stuff. Just having an email on your blog, YouTube channel or Instagram opens the doors to many opportunities. You can even seek out companies that make sense for your brand or your audience. If you’re going the independent route, you should check your worth on Social Bluebook. It even gives you the option to send your breakdown via email so that you can back your pay rates up with facts and data.

If you of any tips to get free stuff that I didn’t mention, feel free to share them in the comments!

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