How much should I charge for a YouTube brand deal?
YouTube brand deal rates typically start at $20–$50 per 1,000 views for dedicated video integrations. For a 100K subscriber channel with average engagement, a realistic range for a dedicated video is $1,500–$3,500. Finance and tech niches command significant premiums — sometimes 50–80% above lifestyle rates — because their audiences have higher purchase intent and CPM value to advertisers.
How much should I charge for an Instagram sponsorship?
Instagram sponsored post rates are typically $10–$20 per 1,000 followers for a dedicated post. For a 50K follower beauty creator, that's a baseline of $500–$1,000 per post before engagement and niche adjustments. Reels command slightly higher rates than static posts, while Stories command 30–50% less. High engagement (above 5%) can double your effective rate.
What factors affect my brand deal rate the most?
The four biggest factors: (1) Niche — finance and tech audiences are worth 1.5–1.8× more to advertisers than lifestyle or food. (2) Engagement rate — a 10% engagement creator can charge significantly more than a 1% engagement creator with the same follower count. (3) Platform — YouTube dedicated videos command the highest absolute rates. (4) Deliverable type — dedicated content (your whole video/post is the ad) is worth 50–80% more than an integration or mention.
Should I negotiate from the low or high end of my range?
Always open at the high end. Brands expect negotiation — starting at your midpoint means you'll end below your fair value. The high-end rate represents what well-paying clients in your niche actually pay. Know your floor (the low end) and don't go below it for standard deals. Reserve the low end for portfolio-building early-career work or brands with exceptional exposure value.
What's the difference between a dedicated post and an integration?
A dedicated post or video is entirely about the brand — your entire content is the advertisement. This commands a premium because the brand gets 100% of your audience's attention for the full duration. An integration or mention is a 30–90 second segment within your normal content. Integrations are typically 50–65% of dedicated rates. A bundle packages multiple deliverables (e.g., 1 dedicated + 2 stories + 1 short) at a slight discount to the sum of parts.
How does engagement rate affect my rates?
Engagement rate is how active and responsive your audience is — likes, comments, shares, and saves divided by reach. A high engagement rate signals to brands that your audience actually watches and acts on your content, which directly translates to better ROI for their sponsorship. Platform averages vary significantly: TikTok averages 5–12%, Instagram 2–5%, YouTube 2–4%, Twitch 3–7%, and X/Twitter 0.5–2.5%. Creators performing above their platform average can negotiate meaningfully higher rates.