Navigating content creation as a means of creating income, requires the ability to negotiate properly. Many brands in today’s digital age are looking to work with content creators and influencers on social media so they can promote their products to new audiences. This begs the question: how do you communicate your monetary worth to such brands? This is where a rate card comes in. 

A rate card is a document sharing the services a content creator or influencer has to offer and the rates attached to these services. Rate cards facilitate the process of communicating your price when engaging with brands. With one, you don’t have to come up with different prices each time or overexplain yourself. Instead, you can simply send your rate card with all the information they need to know, saving you time and stress and projecting an air of professionalism around you. 

In this article, we’ll discuss how to create a rate card, and what should be in your rate card. We will also provide rate card templates to guide you while creating yours.  

Ready? Let’s dive in! 

Things to keep in mind before creating your rate card

Before creating your rate card, there are some important things you need to keep in mind. These rules will guide and shield you in certain situations you encounter as a content creator or influencer. They boil down to two things: know your worth, and do not set your prices based on metrics alone.

1. Know your worth

Knowing your worth as a content creator is so important as it determines how much you earn. Whether or not a brand can afford your services should not matter. Instead, you should focus on communicating appreciation for your work and the value you place on the time and effort you spend creating content. At the end of the day, you are better off walking away from a bad deal than accepting one that does not favour you in any tangible way.

Another reason why knowing your worth is important is that it affords you protection from exploitative working relationships. Some brands are looking to get as much content from you at the lowest price possible. A solid understanding of your content’s value will save you from such deals.

You may wonder how to determine your value as a content creator or influencer, and what metrics to consider when pricing. We have written a comprehensive guide on how to set your price as a creator. 

Read: How to Price Your Work As A Content Creator

2. Shun metric-based pricing

While metrics like the number of followers are great indicators of the value you provide to a brand, sometimes looking only at metrics means you ignore other important areas that capture the true value of your content. This may lead to you severely underpricing your work.

How then, can you truly determine your content’s value? Easy, you consider other implicit markers that connote value. For example, how aligned is the brand to your content? Do you both exist in the same industry? That’s valuable. How much does it cost you to create such content? Factor in the amount of money and time you will spend. This should be reflected in your pricing too. 

From there, take these costs into account when setting your prices, using them as a baseline upon which other things can be added. For example, if you’re a food content creator, this could be your cooking utensils, electricity bill, ingredients, cameras, editing software, and other such potential costs that may go into making content. 

By knowing your worth, and noting the right metrics, you will be in a much better position to create a rate card that favours you and your content creation journey. 

Read: How To Be A Successful Food Content Creator

What to put in a Rate Card

Now you know what you should be thinking about when creating your rate card, it’s time to create it. Depending on your preference, you can use graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop or websites/apps like Canva or Figma to create and design your card.

A standard rate card has the following features: 

1. Header

The header of your rate card is where you’ll write the title of your rate card. This could be anything, but you generally want to start with something along the lines of “Let’s Collaborate,” or “Let’s Work Together.” Some people opt for nothing at all. 

If you have a brand colour, this is a good place to use it, not just on the header, but also on the general layout of your rate card. A good title that goes straight to the point and the usage of your brand colours will make you seem more professional and may even improve your chances of working with the brand. So, don’t slack on these seemingly minor details!

2. Bio or About me section. 

For your bio, you want to include a picture of yourself, your name, along with the work that you do, and a short description of your work. For example: Michael Jackson, Fashion Model/Influencer. 

You can also add an ‘About Me’ section, where you talk about yourself, interests, prior work experience, and brand deals. Feel free to tailor your ‘About Me’ section to brands, subtly explaining why you think you’d be a good fit for them and them for you. If handled well, this could lead to a long-term relationship with the brand, so look into the values the brand upholds and present yourself as their ideal partner. You’ll thank yourself for this later!

3. Data

Why should any company deem you worthy of a deal if they have no idea how much you’re worth? Some metrics are very easy to locate, like number of followers, shares, likes, etc. However you can supply brands with a lot more information that is only accessible to you. 

For example, you can communicate the percentage of your audience comprised of a certain demographic through your rate card. Typically brands that cater to women would want to work with influencers or content creators that have more women in their audience, as it means they can reach a larger amount of people. This is information that can be added to a rate card. Other things include engagement rate, weekly reach, etc. Data is life, and in the world of content creation, using it properly can help you communicate your worth. 

4. Services

In this section, you should include a list of the services you can perform for a brand and the rates attached to them. Services may include, content creation, product reviews, live appearances, etc. Be sure to add fees commensurate to the service. Depending on the layout of your rate card, you can also organise your services based on different social media platforms. This gives the brand a lot more insight into how they can work with you.

You also want to specify the currency you’ll be accepting payments. This is important because you may find yourself working with international brands that may pay in a currency not usable in your location. 

By specifying the currency your rates will be in, brands can convert to that currency, saving you from the stress of having to convert locally. A good example of specifying your desired currency could be something like, “All rates will be in ₦NGN.” or “All rates will be in $USD.”

5. Contact Information

Lastly, you want to leave your contact information somewhere around the footer of the rate card. You could put your phone number, email, or link to your website for them to contact or learn more about you as a content creator. 

Brands may reach out to several content creators, so you want to leave the door open in case other dealings don’t work out for them. It’ll make things easier for you and the brand whenever you want to re-engage, so ensure you include your contact information at the end.

Examples of Rate Cards

So you have read this article, and you are ready to create your rate card, here are two rate card templates that you can consider before delving into the journey of creating your own. 

Consider Adebola’s rate card. As a Fashion and lifestyle influencer, his rate card gives a good definition of who he is and his work as a creator: 

Adebola is known for his impeccable style and creative flair. With a passion for fashion that blends classic elegance with modern trends, he inspires his followers to embrace their unique sense of style. His curated content showcases everything from high-end designer pieces to affordable everyday wear, proving that great fashion is accessible to all.

He also highlights that his audience is comprised of 87% men, which for a menswear brand seeking to work with him is a very good metric. His services have rates attached to them, and he also shares extra pictures for brands to see. 

Nkechi’s influencer rate card has a different layout from Adebola’s, but the same type of information is shared: an about section, contact details at the footer, and important metrics like number of followers, reach, engagement rate and impressions. 

Additionally, she segments out a portion for demographics exclusively highlighting their age, location and interests, which would give a lot more context to brands seeking to work with her. She also includes notable brands and businesses she has worked with in the past. This is another great way of communicating value. 

From both Adebola and Nkechi’s rate cards, we have been able to see how a standard rate card should look. As a creator starting, it’s important to implement these details when creating your rate card, as they would put you in a better position to negotiate with brands. 

Get predesigned rate card templates here

The Perfect Rate Card Template

Rate Card Template For Content Creators

Final Thoughts

Content creation presents individuals from different walks of life with the opportunity to make a living doing what they love. It could be your lifestyle, interests, hobbies, or passions. Whatever your form of art, it always proves to be a special moment when you get recognised for your talents. 

Perhaps a brand just reached out to you, and you feel on top of the world! In such situations, your preparedness is key, as you wouldn’t want to meet those opportunities lacking. This preparation comes in many different forms, but a rate card remains one of the best investments you can make. 

With a rate card, you not only come across as professional to the brands you may potentially end up dealing with but also save time that can be used more productively. It outlines your deliverables, presents your rates, and is a valuable asset to your content creation toolkit!

If you get really good at creating rate cards, you can sell your own templates on Selar, an eccommerce platform that helps creators in Africa sell their digital products. Also, as a creator you can use Selar to recieve payment from your customers.