The number one thing we get asked the most is how to price ourselves as bloggers and influencers. While we have a few posts on how to price a sponsored post and how to price yourself as a blogger as a whole, we wanted a bit of a reality check to show you how much of a range there really is. Because just asking “how much should I charge for XYZ” won’t mean there’s one answer for it.
What to Consider When Pricing Yourself as an Influencer
The reality is, the pricing range you may offer will be a wide range, period. There may be times that you want to work with a brand just because you love them and any price will make you happy. Then there may be opportunities with large brands with massive budgets that you know you can get more out of. The range is wide, and that’s okay. There’s no one size fits all when it comes to pricing yourself and that’s why it’s important to negotiate and know your worth.
The reality is that there is no set number or price tag on your work. It’s 100% dependent on the brand, the circumstances, and your stats.
Have a Bottom Line Amount
The only thing you know for sure for yourself is the amount of money you know YOU will work for. We all have an absolute bottom-line amount that we’re willing to accept. And that’s fine! And that may range from person to person. But know your hard stop at what you’re willing to accept and stick to it. Your work, your content, your platform – it’s all valuable.
Is There a Benefit to Working with the Brand?
You also want to weigh the benefits. For me personally, at An Indigo Day, I am willing to do some things for free if it’s a brand I know and love. Plus, if I know my audience is going to enjoy it, and it’s no sweat off my back, why not? A great example for me and my brand is working with Madewell on gifted items.
While they may pay some influencers, I know they work with a very limited group of people. But I already am a Madewell shopper and buy their items, plus it converts well for me with my readers. So saying yes to mentioning their denim sale is fine for me considering they help supply me with items throughout the year. I probably was already going to mention the sale anyway. And for me, it works because I know it converts, I know I’ll make the content organically anyway, so why not build that relationship with the brand.
Consider Image Rights
I also keep in mind the fact that this means there will be NO image rights for the brand. READ THOSE CONTRACTS even for gifted products. And yes, those ambassador programs you join usually have terms & conditions. READ THEM. You may be giving away your image rights without realizing it. READ THE FINE PRINT.
By me telling them yes to a quick mention isn’t me selling myself short. It’s me building a relationship that’s mutually beneficial. It also keeps your name top of mind when the brand does finally want to work with influencers on paid partnerships. This is obviously something I would only recommend doing with brands you truly align yourself with and share already. Now I wouldn’t do this with let’s say Vineyard Vines. I have nothing against the brand, it’s just not my style. Not one I shop at and not one I’m already creating organic content for. So I would never say yes to this. And honestly, I may not say yes to this at all even if there was money associated with it because it doesn’t align with my brand.
However, if Madewell asked me to create content on a specific day, with image rights and all that jazz, I’d politely decline and let them know that I’d be looking for compensation for that. Eventually, this may turn into a paid partnership, but know your worth when you are asked for such deliverables! Speak up for yourself and for the asks these brands are inquiring about. The industry will never change if we let brands get whatever they want for free.
Manage Your Expectations
Manage your own expectations too. If you have received $15,000 for a campaign from a major brand, don’t expect that from a small local boutique or startup. Going around demanding X amount of money no matter what is not going to be a great way to land campaigns. But know your bare minimum so that you can negotiate confidently. And know that YES, you can earn $15,000 for a campaign. But know that won’t be every single time.
It’s up to you to negotiate for your brand, know your worth and find a rate that reflects the work you’re willing to do. Just know that there will always be a range and there is no set price. Always be advocating for yourself and your brand. And always, always be reading those contracts to ensure you are charging for everything from whitelisting, image rights, exclusivity, and more.
Ask for More Money
And lastly, never be afraid to ask for MORE money. Whatever is proposed, just ask for more. No one is offering you their top amount. Plus, ask to add on a blog post or TikTok to drive up your package price and provide a larger return on their investment in your content creation. This is all in the name of negotiating and knowing your worth. Do it with confidence and watch the money come in.
