What is the best way to negotiate with an influencer who won't disclose their rates?

1 Know your goals and budget

Before you reach out to an influencer, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your campaign and how much you can afford to spend. This will help you set realistic expectations and avoid wasting time on influencers who are out of your range. You should also do some research on the average rates for influencers in your niche, industry, and location, so you have a baseline to compare with.

2 Be transparent and respectful

When you contact an influencer, be honest and upfront about your goals, budget, and expectations. Don't try to lowball them or make unrealistic demands. Explain why you think they are a good fit for your brand and how you can offer them value in return. Respect their time and professionalism, and don't pressure them to give you a quote right away. If they don't disclose their rates, you can ask them politely what factors they consider when setting their prices, such as their audience size, engagement rate, content quality, and campaign duration.

3 Negotiate the deliverables and terms

If the influencer is interested in working with you, you can start negotiating the deliverables and terms of the collaboration. This includes the number and type of posts, stories, videos, or other content they will create, the platforms and channels they will use, the timeline and frequency of the campaign, the creative direction and guidelines, the performance metrics and reporting, and the payment method and schedule. You can also suggest some ways to add value to the influencer, such as providing them with free products, discounts, commissions, referrals, or exposure.

4 Be flexible and creative

Sometimes, you may not be able to reach an agreement with an influencer who won't disclose their rates, either because they are too high, too vague, or too inconsistent. In that case, you can either walk away and look for another influencer, or try to be flexible and creative. For example, you can propose a smaller or shorter campaign, a different type of content, a co-branded or sponsored giveaway, a product exchange, or a long-term partnership. You can also leverage your existing relationships with other influencers, customers, or partners to get referrals or testimonials.

5 Review and finalize the contract

Once you have reached a verbal or written agreement with an influencer, you should review and finalize the contract. This is a legal document that outlines the details of the collaboration, the rights and responsibilities of both parties, the payment terms and conditions, and the dispute resolution process. You should make sure that everything is clear and accurate, and that you have both signed and dated the contract. You should also keep a copy of the contract for your records and reference.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?