Creator's Guide to Pricing

Just began creating content for clients? Start charging them with your current rate as a baseline. Add 20% for each new brand inquiry. Here’s why

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    Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are taking the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) without a paycheck. Elon Musk fired back at Senator Elizabeth Warren's retort about “split leadership” in a department about “efficiency”, highlighting their unpaid commitment as the ultimate efficiency. DOGE's mission? To supercharge Trump's "Save America" initiative by trimming bureaucracy, axing needless regulations, and revamping federal agencies.

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Better End of the Bargain

Katie Steckly's journey from making Harry Potter fan videos in her bedroom to founding Creatorly Media shows how far passion can take you. After launching her content creation business in 2018, she faced a common creator's dilemma: how to price her services.

Should it be hourly rates? Equipment costs? Audience reach? With 294,000 YouTube subscribers and 25,000 newsletter readers today, Katie's message is clear: don't wait to "make it" before valuing your work. New to content creation? Here's your pricing guide.

LET’S DIVE IN 👇️ 

1) The 20% increment rule

Successful creators suggest not lowballing your way through those initial brand partnerships. Living with a perpetual fear of losing out on a client is real, but you must rise above the fears. Start with your current rate as a baseline. Add 20% for each new brand inquiry. Here’s why:

  • When you underprice, it’s not just money you’re losing— it’s also your energy. 

  • You end up taking more deals to meet income goals. 

  • Quality suffers as you juggle with one too many commitments. 

  • Your audience senses inauthenticity. 

When is the ‘right time’ to increase rates? 

  • Your calendar is consistently full. 

  • You’re rushing through deliverables. 

  • You feel resentful about project work. 

  • Your creative energy is depleting. 

💡 Pro Tip: Maintain a ‘value journal’ documenting positive feedback from a brand along with campaign results and audience engagement. Use these metrics to confidently justify increasing rates. 

2) Brand-to-audience fit matters

In 2024, follow-count alone cannot determine your market value. 

  • Picking a niche multiplies value: A tech-focused creator with 10K followers might command higher rates from B2B SaaS companies than a lifestyle creator with 100K followers. Why? Conversion potential trumps reach

  • Example: A cyber security expert with 5K followers charging $2,000 per video because their audience consists of IT decision-makers.

💡Pro Tip: Present a snapshot of your audience demographics to make a compelling case. Screenshot positive audience responses. Track CTR on affiliate links.

3) Be prepared to be discovered 

  • Brand Partnership Pipeline: Regularly engage with brand content in your niche. Create content that references (but does not pitch) brands you want to work with. Comment thoughtfully on posts from brand marketing managers. 

  • Dominate a sub-niche: Specificity will capture a brand’s attention and then help them stay invested in your story. 

  • For example, Instead of 'social media tips,' become 'the LinkedIn carousel design expert' • Rather than general 'tech reviews,' become 'the remote work setup specialist. 

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