Guides
Simple answers about brand deals, money and AI.
Friendly, practical guides for creators, brands, agencies, managers and creative pros. What to charge, how to get paid, how to read your numbers, and how to make AI work for you.
Written by Priyanshu Mishra, CEO of Lumienzo
Getting started
Money
- How much do Instagram creators charge? Real rates from published rate guides and real payments, plus the simple things that push your price up. Updated
- What should usage rights and whitelisting cost? Four in five creators get asked to let a brand use their content. Only about half charge for it. Here's how to price it. Updated
- What is influencer escrow? The brand pays first, a regulated partner holds the money, and you're paid the moment the work is approved. Here's how it works. Updated
Audience
- What is a good engagement rate on Instagram? Two ways to count it, two very different numbers. Here's how to read yours, and why smaller creators usually win. Updated
- How to spot fake influencer followers Most accounts are real, and fakes leave clear clues. A five-minute checklist, plus the one habit that settles it for good. Updated
AI and you
- Will AI replace humans? No. AI takes the boring tasks, not the people. The autopilot, the cash machine and one simple test show why the future still needs you. Updated
- AI is making creators more valuable Every part of a brand deal is getting faster and cheaper, except a real person people trust. Here's why that makes creators worth more. Updated
- What does AI actually replace in influencer marketing? AI takes the busy half of influencer marketing: plans, shortlists, tracking and comment reading. You keep the fun half. Here it is, step by step. Updated
- Will AI replace video editors? AI is taking the chores, like syncing, captions and resizing. The cut, the pacing and the feel stay with editors, and that's what clients pay for. Updated
- Will AI replace marketing agencies? AI takes agency paperwork and drafts the first ideas. The judgement and the client stay with you. One study found one person with AI matched a team of two. Updated
- Use AI without losing your edge Use AI to do more and keep getting better at your craft. Five simple habits, borrowed from pilots and doctors. Updated