Question #1: Do I Have to Give Brands Usage Rights?

Yes. If a brand wants to repurpose your content—even just for organic social—you absolutely need to ask for permission and negotiate usage rights. This isn’t something you can leave to chance or assume it’s covered in the fine print.

Here’s the thing: Most brands will try to take advantage of your content without paying for usage rights upfront. That’s because many influencer contracts often include a clause that allows brands to reuse content for free. The issue? Many influencers (especially those who are newer or smaller) don’t even notice or understand this clause. And brands know it.

But here's the real kicker: As influencers become more business-savvy and aware of their rights (87% of marketers admit that influencers are getting smarter), this tactic is quickly becoming outdated. So if you’re thinking about just giving your content away for free—or worse, letting a brand use it without negotiating your rights—you're doing yourself a disservice.

Why Should I Care About Usage Rights?

You’ve put hours of work into creating that perfect post or video. You’ve styled the product, shot the perfect angles, edited the content to perfection, and crafted a caption that speaks to your audience. You shouldn’t just hand that over without being compensated. And the reason? Usage rights give brands permission to use your content beyond the original post you made.

When brands use your content in their ads, on their website, or for any marketing purpose, they are getting more exposure out of your work, which benefits them significantly. You should be paid for that.

It’s not just about money, though. It’s also about protecting your personal brand. You wouldn’t want a brand to use your face and voice in ways that don’t align with your values or the image you’ve carefully crafted. Setting clear boundaries with usage rights protects both your content and your brand.

How Much Should I Charge for Usage Rights?

This is a big question, and the answer really depends on the situation. But here’s a breakdown of how you can approach this:

Flat Fees for Usage Rights

One common way to charge for usage rights is through a flat fee. This could be for a set period, like 30 days, or for a specific purpose, such as being featured on a brand’s website. It’s pretty standard in the industry for creators to negotiate these fees upfront.

For example, influencer coach Madi suggests the following:

• Organic usage: Creators often offer this for free for 3-6 months. This is content that a brand can use on its own social media, but you still retain ownership.
  
  

• Paid usage: Brands pay about $1,000 for 30 days of usage rights, which is pretty standard for content that's used in paid media.
  
  

• Website usage: You could charge anywhere from $250–$500 for usage rights for 30 days if the brand wants to feature your content on its website.

These rates can vary depending on your audience size, engagement, and niche, so make sure you’re pricing appropriately for your work.

Percentage of Your Base Fee

Another option is to charge a percentage of your base fee for each month of usage. This means that the more months a brand wants to use your content, the more you get paid. This is a great way to ensure you’re fairly compensated for the ongoing value your content provides.

Let’s say you’re charging $2,000 for a post. If the brand wants to use it for an additional 30 days, you might charge 25–30% of that rate. So, for each month the content is used, you’d get an additional $500–$600 on top of your original rate.

Of course, the specifics here vary based on your relationship with the brand, your content’s quality, and the deal you’re negotiating. But these figures should give you a general idea of how to approach these conversations.

A Word of Caution

You need to be cautious when a brand asks for usage rights without offering appropriate compensation. A good rule of thumb is that if a brand wants to use your content for more than just a short period or in more ways than originally agreed, they should pay for it.

For example, if a brand asks for extended usage rights (e.g., to use your content in paid ads or to repost it regularly), they should be paying you a premium. Be firm in these negotiations.

When Do Usage Rights Actually Start?

This is one area where things can get confusing for creators. The clock on usage rights doesn’t start the moment you deliver the content. It starts when the brand first uses the content.

This distinction is important because you may deliver content weeks before it actually gets posted. And if you're being asked for months of usage rights, you want to make sure the clock starts when the brand goes live with the content, not when you first hit “send.”

A good way to make this clear in your contract is to include language that specifies that usage rights start when the brand first publishes your content, not when you deliver it. That gives you some flexibility if there are delays in their campaign launch.

Add Extension Fees

Sometimes, brands may want to extend the usage rights beyond the original term. Make sure to include an extension fee in your contract to cover this. It’s simple: if a brand wants to continue using your content after the initial period, they should pay you more.

And always have a clause that allows you to extend usage rights at the original rate, should you wish to. This gives you more flexibility without feeling locked into a commitment you didn’t anticipate.

How to Protect Yourself

As a content creator, it’s essential to protect your intellectual property and rights. Here are a few tips for making sure you’re properly compensated and your content is used ethically:

1. Review the contract: Always, always read through the influencer contract carefully. If you're unsure about any language or clauses, don’t hesitate to reach out to a lawyer who specializes in influencer marketing or intellectual property.
   
   

2. Negotiate upfront: Never be afraid to ask for what you're worth. Negotiating usage rights as part of the initial deal gives you leverage and ensures that the brand is clear about how they can use your content.
   
   

3. Specify types of usage rights: Be clear about what you’re allowing the brand to do with your content. If they want to repurpose it for ads, on their website, or in any other way, make sure to specify the terms in the contract. The more detail, the better.
   
   

4. Keep track of where your content is being used: After the campaign, stay vigilant to ensure that the brand isn’t using your content in ways that weren’t agreed upon. If they are, let them know immediately.
   
   
   

5. Consider a lawyer: If you're serious about your career as a content creator, investing in legal advice can be well worth it. A lawyer can help you draft a contract, understand usage rights, and make sure you’re getting paid for the full value of your work.

Conclusion: Get What You Deserve

Ultimately, usage rights are an important part of any influencer contract, and as a content creator, you need to be proactive in negotiating them. While it’s tempting to sign off on anything to get a deal, always remember that your content has value.

So, what can you do now? Start by educating yourself on usage rights, be transparent in your communication with brands, and don't be afraid to ask for what you deserve. And remember, you’re not just an influencer—you’re a business, and your content is your product. Treat it that way.

By protecting your rights and ensuring fair compensation, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success in the influencer world. Happy negotiating!