The Truth About BBQ Collaborations – Honesty, Transparency & Fairness

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a BBQ brand looking to work with content creators . . . or maybe you’re a fellow creator trying to figure out how to make collaborations work without selling your soul. Either way, welcome.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how I want to approach brand partnerships, sponsorships, and content creation, and one thing is clear: Honesty matters.

Too many companies expect creators to work for free or offer exposure as payment, while some genuinely want to support and grow the BBQ community but don’t know how to approach collaborations fairly. On the flip side, there are also creators who slap their name on anything just for some quick cash, making it harder for the people who actually care about what they promote.

That’s why I’ve decided to lay it all out in the open, how I approach collaborations, what’s fair, what’s not, and how we can all work together in a way that benefits both brands and content creators without any dodgy dealings.

If you’re a company looking to partner with me (or any creator, really), this will help you understand what’s fair and what isn’t.
If you’re a creator trying to navigate the BBQ world, this might help you set some boundaries and avoid being taken for a ride.

Either way, let’s talk transparency, honesty, and supporting the BBQ community the right way.

Why Transparency in BBQ Collaborations Matters

The BBQ community is built on trust—whether it’s recommending the best lumpwood charcoal, sharing cooking techniques, or giving an honest review of the latest bit of kit. If people can’t trust what you say, then what’s the point?

But when it comes to brand partnerships, things can get murky. Some companies expect creators to promote products they’ve never even used, while some influencers push anything for a quick payday, regardless of quality. Neither of these things help the BBQ world move forward.

So, let’s get real:

✔ Brands deserve fair exposure—If a company is investing in a collaboration, they should get genuine engagement, not just a forced sales pitch.

✔ Content creators deserve fair compensation—Quality content takes time, skill, and effort. Exposure doesn’t pay the bills.

✔ The BBQ community deserves honesty—People trust recommendations when they know they’re real. Fake hype helps no one.

That’s why I’ve set clear guidelines for how I work with brands. Whether it’s affiliate partnerships, ambassadorships, or content creation, the rules are simple: I only work with brands I believe in, and I’m upfront about how I do things.

So, how does that work in practice? Let’s break it down.

How I Work – My Fee Structure & What You Get

Let’s keep it simple. I don’t work for “exposure,” I don’t do forced promotions, and I won’t hype up something I don’t actually rate.

If I create content or promote a product, it’s because I genuinely believe in it—and because we’ve agreed on a fair deal that respects both my time and your brand’s investment.

Here’s how we can work together:

1. Content Creation – Bespoke BBQ Content for Your Brand

Need BBQ content that grabs attention and actually connects with the community? I create everything from scroll-stopping reels to full recipe write-ups.

Rates:

Social Post (Facebook & Instagram): £200

Reel (Facebook, Instagram & TikTok): £300

Step-by-Step Recipe (Full Guide): £400

Full Promo Package (Posts + Website Review): £500

• You’ll get high-quality, honest content that matches your brand
• I keep the rights to the content, but you’re free to use it—just credit Smoke & Sear
• If you send premium products or high-value gear, that can offset some of the cost—we’ll always talk it through first

2. Brand Ambassadorship – Long-Term Collab with Monthly Content Credit

Want regular exposure with flexibility? This is a partnership where we work together consistently, and you get content each month.

How it works:

As part of the ambassadorship, your brand automatically gets £200 credit each month towards my content creation services

You can use that credit however you like, based on my rates above

If you’ve sent a high-value product upfront, you’ll be in credit and can request more content to match the value

If you send extra products or a monthly care package, the retail value of those items can be used towards content too

Example: You send a care package worth £100? That, plus your £200 monthly credit = £300 worth of content you can request

• Reviewed every 6 months to make sure it’s still working for both of us
• No surprises—I’ll always be upfront about what’s included and what’s not
• If I try your product and it’s not for me, I won’t post about it. No fake praise here.

3. Affiliate Partnership – Promote & Earn Together

Want to get your product in front of a new audience without upfront costs? This one’s for you.

Minimum 7.5% commission per sale via my affiliate links.

• Low-risk: You only pay when you make a sale
• I’ll only promote products I use, rate, and actually believe in
• No exclusivity—I’m free to work with other brands too
• I won’t promote anything I haven’t tested personally. No BS.

4. Event Attendance, On-Site Training & Live Demos

If you want me at an event—whether it’s to run a demo, support your stand, or deliver training—this is how it works.

Day rate: £500
Plus travel and accommodation (if needed)

• Ideal for: Store launches, live demos, training days, private events
• I’ll only take part if I know I can add genuine value to your event
• Multiple days? No problem—we’ll agree a fair rate in advance

Why I charge: I’m self-employed and have a 20+ year career in digital marketing, web, and branding. A full day out means stepping away from my own business—so this helps me keep doing what I love, fairly.

Let’s Talk!

If you’re a BBQ brand looking for real, authentic collaboration, I’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s an affiliate deal, brand ambassadorship, or content creation, we can work together in a way that’s fair, transparent, and actually benefits both of us.

At the very least, I hope this post has been helpful to other content creators out there. Too many brands expect people to work for free, and too many creators undervalue their work—but by being open and transparent, we can all set better standards, support the community, and build something real.

Let’s keep BBQ content honest, fair, and worth doing.

A Quick Note…

90% of what I cook, share, and post is purely off my own back—and that will never change. BBQ is my hobby, my passion, and I get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that hundreds of people visit my website daily, engaging with my content and probably firing up their grills using my recipes.

But for the brands that want to collaborate, that’s a different conversation.

I’ll continue to cook, experiment, and share my BBQ journey regardless—because at the end of the day, this is what I love doing.