Negotiating influencer prices can feel tricky, especially on LinkedIn. But with the right approach, you can find a fair number without burning bridges. Here’s a simple guide 👇

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1. Don’t Quote First

A common mistake is giving your budget number too early. As Sarah Adam (Influencer Marketing Manager at Wix & Base44) explained in this post, pricing can vary widely from creator to creator.

If you put your number first, you risk undervaluing the creator or limiting yourself unnecessarily. Instead, ask them what they charge before you say anything.

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2. Ask Why That Number

Once you hear their price, don’t just react — ask:

• Why do you charge this amount?

• Is it backed by stats or benchmarks?

• Did you use a tool like a pricing calculator?

If their reasoning feels thought-through, you know they’ve put effort into valuing themselves.

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3. Check the Logic vs. Guesswork

Some creators will give you a clear breakdown of their worth. Others may quote a number simply because “everyone else is charging the same.”

To separate logic from guesswork, you can:

• Compare with other influencers in the same niche.

• Ask them to check their commercials with a tool like the LinkedIn Pricing Calculator by anchors, and share a quick screen recording.

This gives you confidence that their price isn’t inflated and makes the influencer feel assured that you’re keeping an open mind and being fair, instead of lowballing.

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4. Don’t Make It Purely Transactional

Remember: Influencer relationships are long-term.

If you haggle aggressively over a few thousands, it can sour the relationship and affect the content quality. Think of it like arguing with your cook before they prepare your meal — the food won’t be the same, no matter how skilled they are.

Instead, try to vary the deliverables.

Can you work out a bundle pricing maybe? Or throw a retainer in the mix? Or if it’s the 1st time, maybe present it like a trial with the assurance of long-term work if results are positive.

Some creators are flexible, some are firm. And sometimes you’re paying not just for reach, but for the credibility and leadership voice they bring to your campaign. Negotiate accordingly.

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5. Strengthen the Bond Over Time

If you see results, increase their commercials on your own in future collaborations. Small gestures like this go a long way — creators will go the extra mile for you, become a true advocate, and you’ll get better ROI than constant hard negotiations.

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Final Thoughts

Negotiating with creators isn’t about “winning” — it’s about finding a fair deal that respects both sides.

• Don’t quote first.

• Ask for reasoning behind numbers.

• Trust verified tools over guesswork.

• Value the relationship as much as the cost.

That said, there’s also a way to skip negotiations altogether. If you feel haggling over a few thousand doesn’t make much difference and only wastes time, anchors is built for you.

On anchors, pricing is set using a complex algorithm that factors in the uniqueness of each creator, industry standards, competition, and more variables than any marketer can manually track. You don’t overpay or underpay — you just pay what’s fair, backed by data you can trust.

This way, you can stop fretting over commercials and focus on what actually matters: maximizing ROI from your campaigns.