Influencer Contracts: What Brands Don't Want You to Know

You got the brand deal! Congratulations. Now they sent you a 15-page PDF. Before you pop the champagne, make sure you aren't signing away your digital soul.

1. "In Perpetuity" (The Forever Clause)

The Clause: "Influencer grants Brand a worldwide, irrevocable, license to use Content in perpetuity."

The Reality: You are letting them run ads with your face forever. Ten years from now, you might be famous, and they are still using that old video to sell cheap products without paying you a dime.

The Fix: Limit usage to 6 or 12 months. Any usage after that requires a new fee.

2. Whitelisting vs. Dark Posting

• Whitelisting: The brand runs ads from your account (it looks like you posted it). This is highly valuable because it uses your social proof.
• Dark Posting: They create an ad that looks like a post but doesn't live on your grid.
• The Money: Charge 30-50% extra for Whitelisting rights. It burns out your audience, so you need to be compensated for that engagement dip.

3. Exclusivity Overreach

The Trap: "Influencer shall not promote any beverage brands for 6 months."

The Limit: If you are promoting a specific energy drink, don't let them ban you from promoting all beverages (like coffee, tea, or water). Narrow the exclusivity to "Energy Drinks containing caffeine."