Influencers get paid from brands in several ways depending on the type of collaboration, platform, and scope of work. Here's a breakdown of how payments typically work:

1. Flat Rate Payments

• Per Post/Package: The brand pays a set fee for a specific number of posts, stories, videos, or deliverables.

• Factors that determine rate: follower count, engagement, content quality, niche, exclusivity, and usage rights.

2. Affiliate Marketing

• Influencers earn a commission for every sale generated through a custom link or discount code.

• Often used with brands that want to track performance directly.

3. Product Exchange (Gifted Collabs)

• The brand sends free products in exchange for content or promotion. This is not paid in cash, though some creators add a content creation fee even with product-based collabs.

4. Usage & Licensing Fees

• Brands pay extra to use the influencer’s content in ads, on their website, or other platforms (separate from posting on the influencer’s page).

• This includes whitelisting, boosting, or ad rights.

5. UGC (User-Generated Content) Only Deals

• Influencer is hired strictly to create content (e.g., reels, photos, tutorials) that the brand will post. No need for the influencer to post it.

6. Monthly Retainers or Long-Term Partnerships

• A brand may hire an influencer on a monthly basis to deliver consistent content, posts, or event coverage.

7. Affiliate + Base Pay Hybrid

• Some brands offer a smaller flat fee plus commission, blending guaranteed income with performance-based bonuses.

8. Performance Bonuses or Tiers

• Influencers can get bonuses based on reach, sales milestones, or engagement metrics.

Influencers can—and often should—require a deposit, especially for paid collaborations that involve custom content creation or bookings in advance. Here’s how it usually works:

🔐 Why a Deposit Is Important:

• Secures the collaboration and date.

• Protects the influencer’s time and effort.

• Covers upfront costs (like filming, editing, or location fees).

• Helps filter out non-serious brands.

💰 Typical Deposit Terms:

• 50% upfront / 50% upon completion (most common).

• Some may require full payment upfront for smaller projects or when working with newer brands.

• For larger brand deals (especially with contracts), net 30 or 60 terms may apply—though this usually only happens with bigger companies.

✍️ How to Communicate It:

You can include something like this in your agreement or email:

“To secure this collaboration, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required before content production begins. The remaining balance will be due upon delivery or post date.”

Subject: Continued Use of Images & Updated Licensing Terms

Hi [Brand Name/Contact Name],

I hope you're doing well! I’ve loved seeing the content we created together still being used—thank you for continuing to showcase our work!

As part of my updated licensing and usage policy for all brand collaborations, any continued use of past content beyond the original agreed-upon terms now falls under extended licensing. Since your team is still actively using the photos, I wanted to kindly notify you that ongoing usage now requires a licensing fee.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the updated usage rates:

• Social media use (extended): $[insert price]/image per 6 months

• Website use: $[insert price]/image per year

• Paid ads or commercial use: Starting at $[insert price] depending on scope

If you'd like to continue using the content, I’d be happy to send over a usage agreement and invoice. Please let me know which images you plan to keep live and where they're being used so I can tailor the license accordingly.

I’ve truly enjoyed working with you and would love to collaborate again on future projects! Let’s definitely stay connected.

Warmly,
Denisha
@denishacombsofficial | Dlove Studios
[Insert your website if needed]