Create the accounts before the content calendar begins. Use a real profile photo, a plain bio, and a handle that a person could remember. Keep the login details and recovery information in one place owned by the brand.
Ask them to spend the first few days behaving like a normal user in the niche. Follow relevant accounts, watch videos, leave useful comments, and post a small amount of content that fits the format you plan to use. Don’t open a fresh account and publish ten branded videos in one burst.
Use the warm-up to check that the account, posting flow, and creator’s device all work before the campaign depends on them. Early views can be a useful signal, but there is no universal number that proves an account is ready.
Pay creators for this period. They are setting up accounts, learning the product, and doing work on your behalf even if the first branded video is not live yet.
Before launch, confirm the creator can post on every required platform, add the correct bio link, send a live URL after publishing, and access the place where briefs and feedback will be shared. It is easier to fix these gaps during onboarding than on the morning the first post is due.