Hi I’ll tell you all a little story.
There’s this 22-year old guy named Hrittik, a micro influencer from Bangalore. He had just crossed 4,000 followers on Instagram, and when his very first brand collaboration email arrived, he felt on top of the world. For him, this was not just an email, it was validation that all the late-night edits and endless posting had been worth it.
But then came the twist. The brand sent him a product and just one line: “Make a reel. Make it viral.” That was it. No brief, no reference, no clarity. Arjun was confused but didn’t want to lose the chance. So he worked day and night, shot multiple takes, edited with care, and finally posted the reel with all his heart.
He waited eagerly. But after the post, silence. The brand didn’t respond, didn’t acknowledge, didn’t even say a “thank you.” For Arjun, it felt like shouting into an empty room.
That’s when he realized something many influencers go through but rarely talk about brands often forget that behind a 30-second reel are hours of thought, creativity, and effort. What hurt him the most wasn’t money but it was being treated like his work didn’t matter.
Later, a lot of them found out it’s not always the brands’ fault. Many startups don’t have a proper system for influencer collaborations. They don’t know how to guide, track, or even communicate properly. That’s where platforms like Trendly, Winkl, and Influenzo made sense to him. They give structure, clarity, and fairness to both sides so influencers don’t feel lost and brands don’t feel disappointed.
Hrittik’s confession is simple: that first experience almost made him quit. But it also taught him that collaborations don’t have to be messy. With respect and the right systems, both creators and brands can win together.
