Mjaka Mfine Narrates Worst Experience Dealing with Brand Marketing

Content creator and brand influencer Mjaka Mfine has shed light on the often-glamorous but challenging world of digital marketing. During a recent TikTok live session, she shared her worst experience dealing with brands, highlighting the financial and emotional toll that content creation can take on influencers.

The Hidden Costs of Content Creation

Many followers see the final, polished product on social media and assume the process is seamless. However, Mjaka Mfine explained that creators often invest significant personal funds before receiving any payment.

She revealed that it is common for a brand to request a specific number of videos—such as three or four per month—as part of a campaign. To meet these professional standards, she noted that a creator might spend upwards of KSh 50,000 to produce high-quality content for a single brand.

"Creators also go through a lot. It’s not always good. A brand gives you a task of creating a certain number of videos to push their brand. You know you are paid after the work is done. So you sacrifice yourself and invest heavily onthe project, then once you send the video, they don’t approve,” Mjaka Mfine stated, addressing her audience during the live stream.

The Frustration of Constant Revisions

Beyond the initial investment, Mfine described the frustration of the approval process. Even after spending money and time on production, brands may reject the content and request numerous repeats.

She shared a personal anecdote where she had to repeat a video three times due to minor errors or brand preferences.

In one instance, she mistakenly mentioned the wrong name; in another, she accidentally included a different brand in the shot. These small mistakes can lead to costly and time-consuming reshoots that the creator must manage themselves.

“So, after spending like Ksh 50K, they turn it down and ask you to repeat. There’s a time I repeated doing the content like three times. That’s the worst experience,” she added.

Delayed Payments and Financial Strain

Perhaps the most significant challenge mentioned was the issue of payment. Mjaka Mfine pointed out that even after the content is approved and posted, creators often face a long wait for their money.

Standard industry contracts frequently include a 30-day payment window. However, she noted that these delays can stretch out, leaving influencers in a difficult position after they have already fronted the costs for the production.

"The money delays... they tell you after 30 days, and you will wait. You have to wait those 30 days," she explained.