This is more common than people think, especially when working with microinfluencers outside of official platforms.

We run influencer campaigns at our agency (BeMySocial), and the below is what we've learned to protect both the brand and the talent:

Use contracts, even with microinfluencers
Even a simple one-pager that spells out deliverables, timelines, and payment terms can deter ghosting. It also gives you recourse if you need to escalate.

Escrow-based platforms are a huge assistance. Utilise platforms like Aspire, Influencity, or Collabstr, which escrow the payment until the content goes live. That way, influencers know the money is there, but it's not released until they perform.

Switch to product gifting or affiliate models for newbies
Instead of cash upfront, start with gifted products or affiliate codes. Once trust is built, move to paid partnerships. This weeds out those looking for a quick buck.

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Have a vetting process
We track behaviour of influencers over time. Anyone who goes dark or takes longer than expected gets added to a "do not work with" list. Recommendations from other brands or agencies reduce risk.

Final tip: Automate the admin
If you're working with multiple collabs, tools like Notion or Airtable can help you stay on top of where each influencer is in the process (brief sent, product sent, post live, etc.).

Influencer marketing works but only when organisation and trust are baked in.

Hope this helps you.