TransformerCreators get free products from brands in three main ways: joining a brand's gifting or "seeding" program, signing up to creator platforms where brands look for people to send products to, and pitching brands they already use with a short, specific note about their audience. A gifted product is still a material connection, so a post about it must be disclosed: the FTC says it doesn't matter whether the brand ships it, gives you a code or pays you to buy it. Free product is a good start for a new creator; once your posts show results, ask for a fee.
How does brand gifting work?
Gifting, also called product seeding, is when a brand sends free product to creators in exchange for content, or in the hope of it. Sprout Social's 2026 guide describes gifted product as sending "free merchandise or providing complimentary services in exchange for content", and notes it's often used with nano creators and seeding campaigns. Some brands ask for a specific post; others send product with no obligation and hope you'll like it.
How can creators get free products from brands?
- Pick brands you already use. A genuine recommendation is the only kind worth posting, and it's the easiest pitch.
- Look for a creator, ambassador or affiliate program on the brand's website; many have a sign-up form.
- Join creator platforms where brands look for creators, with a clear profile: your niche, who follows you, and examples of your posts.
- Pitch directly, briefly: who your audience is, why the product fits them, what you'd post, and a link to two or three recent posts. See How to reach out to influencers for templates (they work in both directions).
- Post well about what you already own. Brands notice creators who make good content about their products unprompted.
Never pay to "unlock" gifting opportunities or to join a list of brands: being asked to send money is one of the FTC's red flags for a scam. See Is this sponsorship offer legit?
Do gifted products need to be disclosed?
Yes. The FTC treats a free product as a material connection, so disclose it in every post that endorses the brand. "Gifted by [brand]" should be enough when all you received was a free product; "#ad" also works. On X, a post made because a brand gave you something counts as a paid partnership under X's policy, which covers posts where a third party "compensates or incentivizes" you, so turn on X's Paid partnership label too. See Paid partnership rules on X.
Should new creators accept free products instead of payment?
Sometimes. A free product is worth it when:
- you'd genuinely use or buy it anyway;
- there's no fixed obligation, or a light one (one post, in your own words);
- it helps you build a portfolio or a track record with a brand you want to work with.
Ask for a fee instead when:
- the brand wants specific deliverables, deadlines, usage rights or approval of your post: that's work, and it should be paid;
- the product's value is small next to the time the content takes;
- you already have results to show from past posts.
A common middle ground: accept the product for an honest, no-obligation post, and quote a fee for anything the brand specifies.
How do you move from free products to paid deals?
- Track results: clicks, replies, sales codes and what the brand said afterwards. Results are your case for a fee.
- Publish a rate card with prices per format; see How to make an influencer rate card for X.
- Make yourself findable on a marketplace where brands send paid offers.
- Don't wait for a big following: paid deals start with small, focused audiences. See How many followers do you need for brand deals?
Where Transformer fits
Transformer is the agentic influencer marketplace: real creators, paid on verified posts. Run it from the dashboard or from your agent. It's for paid posts on X, not gifting: brands send you an offer with a price for one post; once you accept, the brand pays before you post, and you keep 80% when the post is verified with the Paid partnership label. Payouts are by PayPal or USDC. See How to get paid to post about developer tools on X. Sign up with X.
FAQ
How can creators get free products from brands?
Join brands' creator or seeding programs, sign up to creator platforms brands use, and pitch brands you already use with a short note about your audience and examples of your posts. Never pay to access gifting opportunities.
Do you have to disclose free products from brands?
Yes. The FTC treats a free product as a material connection; disclose it in every post that endorses the brand, for example "Gifted by [brand]" or #ad. On X, also turn on the Paid partnership label.
Should new UGC creators accept free products instead of payment?
Only when you'd use the product anyway and the obligation is light. If the brand asks for specific deliverables, deadlines, usage rights or approval, quote a fee.
How many followers do you need to get free products?
There's no fixed number. Brands seed products with small, focused creators because their audiences trust them; a clear niche and good posts matter more than size.
How do you go from gifted products to paid brand deals?
Track the results of your gifted posts, publish a rate card, make yourself findable on marketplaces with paid offers, and quote a fee whenever a brand specifies the content.