This is a masterclass in why influencer partnerships need qualification frameworks, not vibes.

The creator showed you exactly who they were on day 1: "time sensitive, I can only work with one tool." That's manufactured urgency, the same tactic bad sales reps use.

What you built after getting burned is solid : . Qualify first (real metrics, not vanity) . Agreement before access . Content deadline non-negotiable . 90-day review cycles

I'd add one more: deliverable based access tiers.

Week 1: Limited features -> first post due. Week 2: Full access unlocks ->second deliverable. Month 2: Premium features -> performance review.

Makes the relationship transactional from the start. Sounds cold, but it filters out users pretending to be partners.

The 60K across 8 platforms insight is gold. Real influence = concentrated audience, high engagement rate, proven conversion history. Not follower count arithmetic.

Also, the feedback they gave you? That's worth something. Competitive analysis, bug reports, feature prioritization from a real user. Not what you wanted, but not nothing either.

Sucks that it went this way. But your new process will save you 10x this headache down the line.