What to check first
The most important brand deal terms decide how your content can be reused and when you get paid.
- Deliverables, formats, captions, links, posting dates, and approval process.
- Usage rights, duration, territory, paid ads, whitelisting, boosting, and editing rights.
- Exclusivity, competitor categories, conflicts, and blackout periods.
- Payment timing, kill fees, late payment, reshoots, and revision limits.
- Disclosure duties, morality clauses, takedown rights, and termination.
Common influencer red flags
A small campaign fee can become underpriced if the brand receives broad content rights.
- Perpetual usage rights for no extra fee.
- Paid media, whitelisting, or boosting rights without clear limits.
- Broad exclusivity that blocks future work in large categories.
- Unlimited revisions or reshoots until the brand is satisfied.
- Payment only after final approval with no kill fee.
Before you sign
Translate legal terms into the campaign economics.
- Price usage rights separately from organic posting where possible.
- Limit exclusivity by category, time, platform, and geography.
- Confirm FTC or local advertising disclosure obligations are clear.
Influencer contract FAQ
What are usage rights in an influencer contract?
Usage rights define how the brand can use your content beyond your own post, including ads, website use, editing, duration, territory, and platforms.
What is whitelisting or boosting?
It usually lets a brand run paid ads through or around a creator account. The duration, spend, platforms, and content control should be clear.
Is exclusivity normal in brand deals?
It can be normal, but broad exclusivity should be priced and limited by category, time, platform, and geography.
What is a kill fee?
A kill fee is payment owed if the brand cancels after work has started or content has been produced.
Can a morality clause remove payment?
Some morality clauses let a brand terminate or withhold payment after reputational concerns. Broad or vague clauses deserve careful review.