Influencer Marketing
Influencer Tiers
| Tier | Followers | Engagement Rate | Cost Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nano | 1K-10K | 4-8% | $50-500/post | Niche communities, authenticity |
| Micro | 10K-100K | 2-5% | $500-5K/post | Targeted reach, high trust |
| Mid | 100K-500K | 1.5-3% | $5K-25K/post | Scale + engagement balance |
| Macro | 500K-1M | 1-2% | $25K-75K/post | Brand awareness campaigns |
| Mega | 1M+ | 0.5-1.5% | $75K-500K+/post | Mass reach, cultural moments |
Rule of thumb: Micro/nano influencers deliver 60% higher engagement per dollar than macro. Start there.
Identification & Vetting
Discovery sources:
- Platform native search (hashtags, explore, creator marketplaces)
- Tools: CreatorIQ, Grin, Upfluence, Modash, HypeAuditor
- Your own followers and customers (best ambassadors)
- Competitor mentions and tags
Vetting checklist:
- Engagement rate within tier norms (use HypeAuditor to check)
- Audience demographics match your target (location, age, gender)
- Fake follower check (<15% suspicious accounts)
- Content quality and brand alignment review (last 20 posts)
- No brand-damaging controversy (search name + "controversy"/"cancel")
- Previous sponsored content performance and disclosure compliance
- Audience overlap with your existing following (<30% ideal)
See references/vetting-scorecard.md for the full evaluation template.
Outreach
Cold DM/email template:
Subject: Collab idea — [specific thing you liked about their content]
Hi [Name],
Loved your [specific post/video] about [topic] — especially [detail].
I'm [Name] from [Brand]. We [one-line what you do].
We'd love to partner on [specific idea, not vague]. Thinking:
- [Deliverable 1]
- [Deliverable 2]
Compensation: [range or "happy to discuss"]. Would you be open to a quick chat?
[Name]
Key principles:
- Reference specific content (proves you actually follow them)
- Lead with the creative idea, not your brand deck
- Be upfront about compensation — don't waste anyone's time
- Follow up once after 5-7 days, then move on
Contract Essentials
Every influencer agreement must cover:
| Clause | What to Specify |
|---|---|
| Deliverables | Exact formats, quantities, platforms |
| Timeline | Draft due, revision window, publish dates |
| Usage rights | Where you can repost, for how long (6-12 months typical) |
| Exclusivity | Category exclusivity period and scope |
| Payment terms | Amount, schedule (50/50 or net-30), kill fee |
| Content approval | Number of revision rounds, turnaround time |
| FTC/disclosure | Required disclosure language and placement |
| Performance bonus | Optional: bonus for exceeding KPI thresholds |
| Termination | Exit conditions for both parties |
See references/influencer-contract-template.md for a starter agreement.
Content Approval Workflow
Brief sent → Creator drafts (5-7 days) → Brand reviews (48h) →
Revisions if needed (1-2 rounds max) → Final approval → Publish on agreed date
Approval guidelines:
- Provide clear brief upfront, not vague direction
- Max 2 revision rounds (more kills authenticity)
- Review for: disclosure compliance, factual accuracy, brand safety
- Do NOT rewrite their voice — trust the creator's style
Influencer Brief Template
- Campaign overview: Goal, key message, target audience
- Deliverables: Format, platform, quantity, length
- Key talking points: 3-4 max (not a script)
- Must-include: Product name, CTA, discount code, link
- Must-avoid: Competitor mentions, claims you can't substantiate
- Disclosure: "#ad" or "#sponsored" — visible, not buried
- Creative references: Examples of tone/style you like (from THEIR feed)
- Timeline: Draft due, publish window, reporting period
See references/creative-brief-template.md for the full document.
Compliance: FTC & EU Requirements
FTC (US):
- Disclosure must be clear and conspicuous — "#ad" at the START of captions
- "Thank you [Brand]" is NOT sufficient disclosure
- Video: verbal disclosure within first 30 seconds
- Stories: text overlay on EACH story frame, not just the first
EU (GDPR + national laws):
- Similar transparency requirements; varies by country
- Germany: strict — must label as "Werbung" (advertising)
- UK ASA: "#ad" required, must be immediately obvious
Platform-specific:
- Instagram/TikTok: use built-in "Paid Partnership" tag AND text disclosure
- YouTube: check "contains paid promotion" box AND verbal disclosure
ROI Tracking Setup
For every campaign, set up:
UTM link: ?utm_source=influencer&utm_medium=[platform]&utm_campaign=[creator-name]
Promo code: [CREATORNAME15] — unique per influencer
Affiliate: Platform-specific tracking link (Impact, PartnerStack, etc.)
Attribution tracking:
- Direct: UTM clicks, promo code redemptions, affiliate conversions
- Indirect: Brand search lift, social mentions, follower growth during campaign
- Assisted: Multi-touch attribution if your stack supports it
Platform Strategies
| Platform | Content Type | Best Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Reels, Stories, carousels | Visual storytelling, lifestyle integration | |
| TikTok | Short-form video | Trend-native, authentic, less polished |
| YouTube | Long-form, Shorts | Deep reviews, tutorials, integrations |
| Posts, articles, video | Thought leadership, B2B credibility |
Campaign Measurement Framework
| Metric | Awareness | Consideration | Conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impressions/reach | ✓ | ||
| Engagement rate | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Saves/shares | ✓ | ||
| Link clicks | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Promo code uses | ✓ | ||
| Revenue attributed | ✓ | ||
| CAC vs other channels | ✓ | ||
| Brand lift (survey) | ✓ | ✓ |
Ambassador Programs vs One-Off Campaigns
| Factor | One-Off | Ambassador (3-12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Trust built | Low — feels like an ad | High — repeated endorsement |
| Cost efficiency | Higher per-post CPM | Lower CPM, volume discounts |
| Content quality | Variable | Improves over time |
| Best for | Product launches, testing | Brand building, sustained growth |
Ambassador program structure:
- 3-6 month minimum commitment
- Monthly content cadence (2-4 posts)
- Exclusive perks: early access, product input, events
- Performance reviews quarterly with option to renew
See references/ambassador-program-framework.md for the full playbook.