# Joining a brand (/docs/creators/start/joining-a-brand)

The ways you can join a brand on Bloss, from an email invite or invite link to an application, and what happens after you accept.

You join a brand in one of three ways: an **email invitation**, an **invite link**, or an **application** on the brand's recruitment page. You can do all three with the same Bloss account and work with several brands at once.

## Accept an email invitation [#accept-an-email-invitation]

When a brand invites you by email, you get a link to the brand's invitation page. It shows the brand, the role (**Creator**), the invited email and the date the invite expires. Invitations last **7 days**.

<Steps>
<Step>

### Open the link in the email [#open-the-link-in-the-email]

The page says **You've been invited!** and shows the email address the invite was sent to.

</Step>
<Step>

### Sign in or create an account with that email [#sign-in-or-create-an-account-with-that-email]

Click **Sign In to Accept** if you already use Bloss, or **Create Account** if you're new. Use the **same email address** the invitation was sent to. The sign-in form fills it in for you.

</Step>
<Step>

### Finish onboarding [#finish-onboarding]

Bloss accepts the invite for you as soon as you're signed in. If it's your first time, you go through a short [onboarding](#onboarding-questions) first. After that you land in the brand's [creator portal](/docs/creators/start/brand-portal).

</Step>
</Steps>

<Screenshot name="creators/join-email-invite" alt={"\"You've been invited!\" card with invited email and expiry date"} />

<Callout type="warn" title="Signed in with a different email?">

  You'll see **Wrong account**. The invite only works for the address it was
  sent to. Sign out, then sign in with the invited email. If you no longer use
  that address, ask the brand to send a new invite to the right one.

</Callout>

## Join with an invite link [#join-with-an-invite-link]

Brands (and sometimes other creators) share **invite links** that anyone can use. A brand can share one in two forms:

- An **auto-join link**, like `bloss.app/<brand>/join/<code>`. You join as soon as you're signed in.
- An **application form link**, like `bloss.app/recruit/<brand>/apply?ref=<code>`. It opens the brand's application, and you join once the brand approves you. See [Apply through a recruitment page](#apply-through-a-recruitment-page).

To use an auto-join link:

1. Open the link. The page says **You're invited!** and **Join _Brand_ as a creator.**
2. Click **Sign In to Join** or **Create Account**. Any email works.
3. Once you're signed in, you join the brand automatically. New users finish onboarding first; everyone else goes straight to the creator portal.

If you're already a creator for that brand, the link takes you to your portal.

## Apply through a recruitment page [#apply-through-a-recruitment-page]

Some brands run a public recruitment page at `bloss.app/recruit/<brand>`. Click the button on that page (it says **Join** unless the brand chose different wording) to open the application.

<Steps>
<Step>

### Fill in the application [#fill-in-the-application]

The application has four short steps:

| Step                       | What it asks                                                                                                                                                     |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **About You**              | **Full Name**, **Email Address**, **Where are you based?**, **Languages you speak**                                                                              |
| **Your Content & Socials** | Your **Instagram** (required), TikTok, YouTube and Facebook usernames (without the `@`), a **Portfolio URL**, and **Best video showcasing your work** (required) |
| **Experience & Fit**       | **Where are you on your UGC journey?**, **Content niches** (up to 5), and **Why are you a good fit for brand campaigns?** (optional)                             |
| **Final Details**          | **What's your goal with UGC?**, **How did you hear about us?**, your **Discord username**, and any extra questions the brand added                               |

Some brands ask you to join their Discord server before you submit. Required fields are marked with `*`, and **Next** stays off until they're filled in. Your answers are saved as you go.

</Step>
<Step>

### Create your account and submit [#create-your-account-and-submit]

If you're not signed in yet, the last step creates your Bloss account: enter a name, email and password (at least 8 characters) and click **Create Account & Submit Application**, or use **Continue with Google**. If you're already signed in, click **Submit Application**.

Already have a Bloss creator profile? Sign in first. Bloss fills the application in from your profile and shows a summary (**You're all set to apply**). Click **Apply to _Brand_**, or **Edit my details for this application** to change something first.

</Step>
<Step>

### Check your application status [#check-your-application-status]

After you submit, you'll see your status page at `bloss.app/recruit/<brand>/status`. The brand reviews your application, and Bloss emails you when there's an update.

</Step>
</Steps>

<Screenshot name="creators/recruit-apply" alt={"Application form on the \"Your Content & Socials\" step"} />

### What your status means [#what-your-status-means]

| Status page says                         | What it means                                                                                                                                                        |
| ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Application received**                 | The brand is reviewing it. Your Bloss creator profile is already live, so you can use your dashboard while you wait.                                                 |
| **You're in!**                           | You were accepted. Click **Go to dashboard** to open the brand's creator portal.                                                                                     |
| **Application not accepted**             | The brand isn't moving forward right now.                                                                                                                            |
| **This application can be re-submitted** | Your application was blocked earlier because you have a coach account. One account can hold both coaching and creator access, so click **Re-submit my application**. |
| **We couldn't find your application**    | Bloss couldn't match your account to an application for this brand. Click **Start an application**.                                                                  |

You can apply to each brand once. If you open the application again after submitting, Bloss shows your status instead. While an application is under review, your [dashboard](/docs/creators/start/your-dashboard) shows a banner with a **View status** button.

## The creator signup link [#the-creator-signup-link]

Bloss also has a general **creator signup link** (`bloss.app/creator-signup`) that isn't tied to a brand. It runs the onboarding questions first and creates your account at the end, so you can set up a [marketplace profile](/docs/creators/marketplace/your-profile) and get discovered by brands. You can skip ahead to the account step with **Skip to signup**.

If you're already signed in, the link sends you straight to your workspace.

## Onboarding questions [#onboarding-questions]

The first time you join, Bloss asks a few questions to build your creator profile. Each one is a single screen, and you can go back at any time.

| Question                                | Notes                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **What should we call you?**            | Your display name. Required.                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Where are you on your UGC journey?**  | **Brand new**, **Some experience** or **Pro**. Not asked when you join through a brand.                                                                                                                                  |
| **What niches are you into?**           | Pick up to 5. At least one is required.                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| **What type of content do you create?** | Select all that apply, at least one.                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| **Write a short bio**                   | Optional.                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| **Add a profile photo**                 | Optional. Not asked on the signup link; add one later.                                                                                                                                                                   |
| **Where are you based?**                | Optional.                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| **What languages do you speak?**        | At least one.                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| **Link your socials**                   | Enter only your username (for example `yourhandle`), without the `@` or the full profile URL. Facebook takes your page URL. When you join through a brand, **at least one handle is required**; otherwise it's optional. |
| **What's your goal with UGC?**          | Not asked when you join through a brand.                                                                                                                                                                                 |

When you join through a brand, onboarding uses the brand's colors and logo, and the socials step says **Link your _Brand_ socials**.

<Callout title="Already onboarded?">

  You only answer these once. If you join another brand later, you skip straight
  to its portal. That brand may still need your handles, so you'll see a
  **Finish your *Brand* creator setup** banner with an **Add handles** button.
  See [Connecting your social
  accounts](/docs/creators/start/connecting-your-socials).

</Callout>

## If something goes wrong [#if-something-goes-wrong]

| You see                                                                          | What to do                                                                                                        |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Invitation Expired** or **Invitation expired**                                 | Ask the brand for a new invitation.                                                                               |
| **Invitation Not Found**                                                         | The link is wrong or was already used. If you already accepted it, sign in and you'll go straight to your portal. |
| **Invite Link Expired**, **Invite link inactive** or **Invite Link Unavailable** | The brand turned the link off or it expired. Ask for a new one.                                                   |
| **Invite link full**                                                             | The link reached its limit of creators. Ask for a new one.                                                        |
| **You've already used this invite**                                              | You joined with this link before. If you were removed from the brand, ask them to send a new invitation.          |

## Related [#related]

- [Your creator dashboard](/docs/creators/start/your-dashboard)
- [Brand portal tour](/docs/creators/start/brand-portal)
- [Connecting your social accounts](/docs/creators/start/connecting-your-socials)