Send useful gear. Agree the purpose.
Product seeding means sending a product to a creator to try, without booking a post. Influencer gifting can begin a relationship; it does not guarantee coverage.
Plan a placementWhat is product seeding?
In this guide, seeding means a brand offers gear for a creator to try and decide whether to discuss. Ask before you ship. Tell the creator whether the item is a gift or a loan, and whether you expect a return. Let them decline.
Is seeding the same as a paid placement?
No. If a brand requires a review, photo, deadline or social post, agree that work as a placement. Write down the scope, approval process, payment and disclosures. Do not call a required task a no-obligation gift.
A positive opinion is never part of the payment agreement.
Must creators disclose free gear?
The FTC says to disclose free or discounted products when you mention them, even if the brand did not ask for a mention. Put the disclosure with the endorsement, where it is hard to miss. For video endorsements, include it in the video itself.
Source: FTC Disclosures 101, read 2026-11-04. This is a summary, not legal advice.
How do you seed products to outdoor creators?
- Match the gear to a real activity: fishing, hunting, archery, knives or camping.
- Ask what the creator can use and when they can use it.
- Agree gift or loan status and any return arrangements before shipping.
- Supply specifications and sources. Do not supply a pre-written positive opinion.
- Keep a record of what was sent. Record coverage only when it exists.
A seasonal product needs a relevant use window. A supplied sample is not evidence that it has been tested.
Can closeout stock pay for a placement?
OI accepts inquiries about payment in cash, product or closeout stock. Stock offered as payment is separate from the sample needed for a review. Agree the scope and stock value first; no price is set by this page.
Turning accepted inventory into auction sales is planned. It is not a live OI auction service. Tell us what stock you have through the brand inquiry form.
What does content seeding mean?
It means putting content where a relevant audience can encounter it. Product seeding sends a physical item; content distribution shares an article, image or video. Agree the channels separately. OI does not promise a social mention just because gear was sent.
Your next step
Read the sources
Sources and read date
OI offer: our product record, checked 2026-11-04. Creator share: 80%; OI fee: 20%. Program pages can change. A public application is not an offer of acceptance.