When working with paid influencers, it’s imperative to have a detailed contract with line item deliverables. For example, it might look like: - x # of LinkedIn posts - x # of 500 word minimum guest blog posts - x # of brand campaigns - All deliverables must be completed with x period of time with $x payment on a monthly basis. It is upon the brand to then keep track of all deliverables, tracking with published links and associated metrics. Ongoing meetings over the contracted period of time and consistent. With so many folks having Slack these days, it’s also easy to stay connected that way as well.

In influencer marketing, ensuring clarity and mutual understanding is important to the success of the collaboration. This is a rapidly growing industry, and therefore you need to provide influencers with a legal contract. A well-written influencer agreement can help to ensure that both the influencer and the brand are on the same page and that their expectations are clearly outlined. Write a clear contract with all the terms. Number of posts, stories, and ask for the post impressions and analytics of these posts. Establish the content to be showcased and ask for a draft before the publication. My advice : be clear and transparent and look for a mutual relationship.

We need to make sure those terms are water tight and it's all about open and honest conversation with them. We need to all be on the same page on the expectations, this will make delivery and sticking to terms much easier.

Clarity is key. Ensure your expectations are listed in a statement of work or contract. The more specific you are, the better. So, if you have to list the number of posts or articles expected, their word counts, the number of videos, and the dates when you expect them to be published, then do it. Next, be sure to communicate regularly with the influencers. In the past, when working with large numbers of influencers, I would hold conference calls where I would walk through the campaign, key dates, the timing of content, and when we wanted it to be published. I also opened these calls to questions and fielded their questions and concerns. So much can be handled through a conference call that would take much longer via email.

List it all down. From brief to measure of success, and from do's to dont's. Use reference where things are subjective and need visualisilation. Finally, be collborative and keep things simple. The influncers may not breathe the brand daily, you do. Remember, you may not know the content nuances that work well with their followers as much as they do.

We usually send a written confirmation via Email which is detailed with the commercials, deliverables and other terms & conditions. We also make sure that the influencer/agency has acknowledged the same. The other way could be simply sending a Purchase Order.

To ensure Influencers stick to agreed upon terms you should layout a concrete contract for the same with said deadlines, so that you have everything in written format. Outline clearly the penalties for non-compliance of the contract and lastly release payment after verifying the content is delievered.

I really believe contracts aren’t enforceable for a one-off deal. Legal fees are worth more than the contracts. I think 50% to be paid post collaboration minimizes the risk. That’s why agencies come in the play, they take the risk as they have better relationships with creators/influencers than the brands.

As I nano-influencer on LinkedIn, the best way to ensure we as influencers stick to the pricing terms that were agreed upon is by doing the following: 1. Decide on what type of creator you are as an influencer. 2. What type of pricing will be followed - flat fee, outsourced social content, and then get paid for the amount of ROI generated, pay-per-post model or commission-based. 3. Be specific about your content and talk about brand exclusivity. PS: “Behind every piece of bad content is an executive who asked for it.” Michael Brenner.

To ensure influencers stick to agreed-upon terms, I always start by drafting a clear, concise contract outlining every deliverable, deadline, and payment detail. During negotiations, I emphasize open communication, making sure they’re comfortable with the terms to avoid misunderstandings later. Once the campaign begins, I check in periodically to offer support and confirm progress. This approach keeps expectations aligned and helps build trust, encouraging them to honor the agreement.