The creator playbook.

How brand deals, pricing, management and creator income work, written by the team that negotiates them for more than 100 creators and athletes.

Management

What Does a Talent Manager Do for Influencers?

A talent manager runs the business side of a creator's career: brand deal terms, pricing, contracts, strategy and income. Here's what the job covers and costs.

November 3, 2026 · Sam Parham

Pricing & Contracts

Affiliate Commission vs Flat Fee: How to Structure a Brand Deal

A sponsorship pays a flat fee whether or not the post sells, and an affiliate deal pays per sale. Here's the break-even math, hybrid deals and the terms to check.

November 2, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

Influencer CPM: How to Price a Brand Deal by Views

Influencer CPM is the price per 1,000 views. Multiply your typical views by a CPM for your format, then check it against your costs and what brands measure.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

How Much Do Influencer Managers Take?

Most influencer managers take a commission, often 15% to 20% of the income they handle. Here's how it's calculated, what it covers and what to check before signing.

October 28, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

TikTok's Commercial Music Library: What You Can Use in Paid Posts

Use Commercial Sounds, your own audio or music you've licensed in a sponsored TikTok. TikTok's terms keep the general library for personal, non-commercial videos.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

How Much to Charge for Raw Footage in a Brand Deal

Price raw footage as its own line, often quoted at 30% to 50% of your base fee, and license exactly which new edits the brand can make, where and for how long.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

15 Questions to Ask a Talent Manager Before You Sign

Ask these 15 questions before you sign with a talent manager, from who runs your account to what the commission covers and how the contract ends.

October 21, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

YouTube BrandConnect: How Creators Join and Land Sponsorships

YouTube BrandConnect is now YouTube Creator Partnerships. See who qualifies, how brand inquiries and Open Call work, and how creators get paid for deals.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

How Much to Charge for a Speaking Engagement or Appearance

Set a speaking or appearance fee from your time, value and demand, then price travel, extra sessions, recordings and social posts as separate lines.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

How to Get a Talent Manager as an Influencer

To get a talent manager, show steady brand demand, a clear niche and an engaged audience, then contact managers who already represent creators like you.

October 15, 2026 · Sam Parham

Brand Deals

TikTok One Creator Marketplace: How It Works and Who Can Join

TikTok One is TikTok's marketplace for paid brand projects. See who can join, how invitations and applications work, how you're paid and what rights you grant.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

Podcast Sponsorship Rates: How to Price Host-Read Ads

Price a podcast ad read from your 30-day downloads per episode times a CPM, then add separate lines for video, social clips, usage and exclusivity.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

Talent Manager vs Agent: What Influencers Should Know

A talent manager runs the business of your career, and a talent agent centers on offers and bookings. Here's how the roles, fees and contracts differ.

October 9, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

How Do NIL Deals Work? A Guide for College Athletes and Parents

NIL deals pay athletes to promote products sold to the public. Division I athletes report deals of $600 or more in NIL Go within 5 business days for review.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

What Is a Kill Fee? How to Price a Canceled Brand Deal

A kill fee is what a brand pays if it cancels a deal after work starts. How to price it by stage, word the clause and protect your content rights.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

Influencer Management Contracts: Terms and Red Flags

An influencer management contract sets the commission, term, post-term pay, approvals and exit rights. What each term means, and the red flags to fix before you sign.

October 5, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Content & Growth

Instagram Trial Reels: How to Test Content on Non-Followers

Instagram trial reels show a new reel to non-followers first. Here are the requirements, how to post one, how to read the results and when to share it to everyone.

November 3, 2026 · Sam Parham

Creator Income

How to Start a Paid Community as a Creator, Step by Step

Pick 1 promise, presell founding spots, choose a platform by its fees and keep a weekly rhythm. How creators start a paid community members renew.

November 3, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Pricing & Contracts

How to Price a Brand Deal: Deliverables, Usage Rights and Exclusivity

Price a brand deal as line items: a creation fee from your average views, then usage rights, whitelisting, exclusivity and payment terms, each priced on its own.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

How Much to Charge for UGC: Videos, Photos and Usage Rights

Charge for UGC as a creation fee per video or photo set plus a usage license priced by channel and window. See published UGC rates and how to quote ad rights.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Content & Growth

How to Write a Hook for a YouTube Video That Holds Viewers

A YouTube hook confirms what the title promised and gets to the value fast. Here's how to write one, with original examples and how to check it in retention data.

November 3, 2026 · Sam Parham

Pricing & Contracts

How Much to Charge for Usage Rights as a Creator

Charge for usage rights as a share of your base fee for each month a brand holds them, scaled by paid or organic use, channels, territory and length of license.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

How Much to Charge for an Instagram Reel or Story

Price a sponsored Reel from your median Reel views times a CPM range, price Story frames by views, and quote partnership ads and usage as separate lines.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Content & Growth

What Is a Good CTR on YouTube? How to Read Your Click-Through Rate

YouTube says half of channels and videos have an impressions CTR between 2% and 10%. Here's how to judge yours by traffic source, impressions and watch time.

November 3, 2026 · Sam Parham

Pricing & Contracts

Whitelisting and Spark Ads: What Creators Should Charge

Charge for whitelisting, Spark Ads and partnership ads as a separate fee for ad access to your handle, priced by window, ad spend and the control a brand gets.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

How Much to Charge for a Sponsored TikTok Video, Line by Line

Charge for a sponsored TikTok line by line: a creation fee from your median views, then Spark Ads, paid usage, exclusivity, extras and payment terms.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Content & Growth

How to Use YouTube Test & Compare for Titles and Thumbnails

YouTube Test & Compare runs up to 3 titles or thumbnails at once and keeps the one with the highest watch time share. Here's how to set up and read a test.

November 3, 2026 · Sam Parham

Pricing & Contracts

Exclusivity Clauses in Brand Deals: How to Price Them

Price an exclusivity clause from the deals it blocks: name the competitors, limit the platforms, fix the dates, then charge a premium that grows with scope and time.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Pricing & Contracts

YouTube Sponsorship Rates: How to Price Integrations and Shorts

Price a YouTube sponsorship from your median 30-day views times a CPM range, then price dedicated videos, Shorts, usage and exclusivity as separate lines.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Brand Deals

Influencer Brand Trips: How They Work and When to Ask for a Fee

Brand trips trade travel and lodging for content. Ask for a fee once a trip comes with required posts, usage rights or exclusivity, and disclose each promo post.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Brand Deals

How to Turn a One-Off Brand Deal Into a Long-Term Partnership

Long-term brand partnerships start in the first campaign. How to deliver, send a recap, pitch the renewal and price a 3 or 12-month deal, with templates.

September 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

Should You Trademark Your YouTube Channel Name? Costs and Steps

Trademark your channel name once you sell merch or products under it. USPTO filing starts at $350 per class and takes about 10 months on average. Here are the steps.

November 3, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Management

NIL Agent Fees: What College Athletes Pay and What to Check First

NIL agents usually take a percentage of the deals they handle, often 15% to 20%. Here's what athletes pay, the rules on NIL deals and what to check before you sign.

November 3, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

What Brands Look for in Creators Before Offering a Partnership

Brands check audience fit, reputation, engagement quality, content fit and reliability before they pay a creator. Here's how each check works and how to pass it.

August 28, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Brand Deals

How to Negotiate a Brand Deal: Counteroffer Scripts From a Manager

How to negotiate a brand deal: get the full brief, counter with a line-item quote, trade scope before price and get every term in writing, with scripts.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Creator Income

Do Influencers Need an LLC? Setting Up Your Creator Business

You can take brand deals as a sole proprietor. An LLC starts to matter when contracts, products or staff add risk. What it changes, per the IRS and SBA.

August 25, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

How to Land Your First Paid Brand Partnership

How to get brand deals: build proof, join the platforms' creator marketplaces, pitch the right brands and check 8 terms before you accept a first paid offer.

August 24, 2026 · Sam Parham

Brand Deals

How to Get Sponsored as an Athlete: What Brands Need to See

How to get sponsored as an athlete: what brands check, the types of sponsorship, how to pitch, and the NCAA, Olympic and FTC rules to clear before you sign.

August 20, 2026 · Sam Parham

Creator Income

Do Influencers Pay Taxes on Gifts, PR Packages and Brand Trips?

Usually, yes. Products, trips and perks a brand gives you for content count as income at fair market value. What the IRS says and the records to keep.

August 19, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

How to Build a Creator Media Kit That Answers a Brand's Key Questions

A media kit answers the questions a brand asks before it pays you. What to include, which numbers to show, whether to list rates, plus a free template.

August 17, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Creator Income

Licensing Your Likeness to AI: What to Check Before You Sign

An AI likeness deal licenses your face or voice for set uses, a term and a fee. The laws, union terms and contract checks to settle before you sign.

August 14, 2026 · John Hyland

Management

Should You Join a TikTok LIVE Agency? Terms, Splits and Red Flags

A TikTok LIVE agency, which TikTok calls a Creator Network, coaches LIVE creators and earns TikTok bonuses. Here's what to check before you accept an invite.

August 13, 2026 · Sam Parham

Brand Deals

How to Pitch Brands: Email Templates That Get Replies

How to pitch brands by email or DM: who to contact, what to write, when to follow up, plus 5 copyable templates for cold pitches, follow-ups and inbound offers.

August 11, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Brand Deals

Brand Deal Scams: How to Spot a Fake Collaboration Offer

Brand deal scams use fake recruiters, fake checks, malware briefs and login traps. Learn the red flags, how to verify an offer and what to do if you're hit.

August 10, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

Someone Is Impersonating You on TikTok or Instagram: What to Do

Screenshot the fake account, report it in the app, use the platform's form if needed and warn your followers. Here's how to report impersonation on TikTok and Instagram.

August 6, 2026 · Sam Parham

Brand Deals

How Many Followers Do You Need for Brand Deals?

Instagram's brand marketplace opens at 1,000 followers and TikTok's at 1,000 to 10,000. Here's what each platform requires and what brands check beyond the count.

November 3, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Creator Income

How Influencers Get Paid for Brand Deals: Invoices, Terms and Timing

Brands pay creators by invoice, often on net 30 terms. The paperwork, payment terms and follow-ups that get your brand deal money in on time.

August 4, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Management

How to Build a Content Creator Team, Starting With Your First Hire

Hire for your biggest time drain first, which for many video creators is editing. Here are the team roles, the order to add them and how to pay and protect each hire.

July 31, 2026 · Sam Parham

Creator Income

How to Build Multiple Income Streams as a Content Creator

Brand deals carry most creator income. Here's the order to add affiliate, products, memberships, licensing and equity, and what each income stream costs to run.

July 30, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

FTC Guidelines for Influencers: How to Disclose a Brand Deal

The FTC's rules for influencers: when to disclose a brand deal, where the disclosure goes, which words work, how platform labels fit in and what's at stake.

July 28, 2026 · Heidi Curto

Management

What Is a 360 Deal? How It Splits a Creator's Income

A 360 deal gives one company a cut of nearly all your income, from brand deals to merch. Here's how the split works for creators and which clauses to check.

July 27, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Creator Income

Creator Equity Deals: When to Take Stock Over Cash

When should a creator take equity instead of cash? The principles for weighing stock against a fee, the terms to check, and how tax and disclosure rules apply.

November 3, 2026 · John Hyland

Management

Content Creator Burnout: Signs to Watch and How to Pace Your Output

Creator burnout can show up as dread before filming and posting on autopilot. Here are the signs to watch, how to pace your output and when to get professional help.

July 22, 2026 · Sam Parham

Content & Growth

How to Build a Personal Brand as an Athlete That Sponsors Notice

Build a personal brand as an athlete by picking a clear lane, posting on 3 or 4 pillars and keeping sponsor-ready proof. Plus the rules to check before you sign.

July 21, 2026 · Sam Parham

Creator Income

Which Platform Pays Creators the Most? A Manager's View

YouTube pays creators the most directly, with a 55% ad revenue share. See how TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat payouts compare, who qualifies, and what changes in 2027.

November 3, 2026 · Sam Parham

Management

What Is an MCN? How YouTube Networks Differ From Talent Management

An MCN is a company that partners with many YouTube channels and takes a cut of their revenue. Here's how networks work, how to leave one and how management differs.

July 16, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Brand Deals

Morals Clauses in Sponsorship Deals: What Creators Should Negotiate

A morals clause lets a brand end a sponsorship over your conduct. Learn what triggers one, what it can cost you and which terms to negotiate before you sign.

July 14, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Content & Growth

Content Distribution for Creators: How to Get More From Every Post

Repurpose content across TikTok, Reels, Shorts and Snapchat without losing reach: upload clean files, follow each platform's originality rules and check your contracts.

November 3, 2026 · Sam Parham

Management

Business Manager vs Talent Manager: Who Handles What for Creators

A talent manager grows a creator's income, and a business manager runs the money once it lands: bills, budgets and taxes. Here's who does what and what each costs.

July 9, 2026 · Scott Fidgett

Management

What Is 1DS Management? How We Work With Creators and Athletes

1DS Management is a US talent management company and part of the 1DS Collective, representing 107 creators, athletes and entrepreneurs. Here's how we work.

July 8, 2026 · John Hyland