If you’re still managing influencer gifting in spreadsheets, you’re leaving ROI on the table.

For the holidays last year I launched an affiliate gifting program for Joyful Co. At first, it worked fine. A Google Sheet, a couple of Instagram DMs, and a shipping label or two. But within weeks, I found myself buried in half-finished conversations, forgotten follow-ups, and influencers posting without tagging Joyful Co — or worse, not posting at all. No tracking, no accountability, and no clue what was actually driving results.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many CPG brands start their influencer gifting programs manually. But what works at the beginning breaks fast. And when you’re sending out hundreds of samples each month, doing it all by hand becomes a full-time job — without full-time ROI.

Why Manual Gifting Doesn’t Scale

When gifting isn’t tracked or standardized, you run into:

• Duplicate outreach or missed follow-ups
• Products sent with no content returned
• Little to no visibility into what’s driving results

Without a system, it’s impossible to see which creators are moving the needle — and even harder to justify gifting as a growth channel.

Building a Gifting Program That Drives Results

A solid influencer program starts with clarity:

• Who are you targeting? (Micro vs. macro? Niche focus?)
• What do you want in return? (Content? Conversions? Reviews?)
• What’s the budget and product allotment?

Then, create a tiered structure:

• Tier 1: Creators you’ll gift in exchange for organic posts
• Tier 2: Creators you’ll pay based on performance or content value
• Tier 3: VIPs you want to nurture into long-term partners

The key is setting expectations early — and delivering an experience that feels thoughtful, not transactional.

Automating for Scale (Without Losing the Personal Touch)

Once you have a structure in place, automation is what lets you scale. Platforms like Endlss allow you to manage outreach, automate shipping products, and track results — all in one place. You can see who received what, and what the engagement looked like — no more guesswork or chasing down screenshots.

Wrap Up

Influencer gifting should be a growth channel — not a time sink. With the right strategy and tools, you can automate the busywork, identify your top creators, and build a system that scales with your brand.

If you’re ready to streamline your influencer gifting program, you can now access a free Endlss account to get started.

Need help getting set up or want a warm intro? Just reach out — we’re happy to connect you.