Case: A tiered rate card raised average deal size 2.4x

Case: A tiered rate card raised average deal size 2.4x
A beauty micro-creator (42k) quoted one flat $400 fee per post and got beaten down every time.

We built a 3-tier rate card as a repeatable system:

Tier 1 — Single post: $450
Tier 2 — Post + 3 stories + link in bio 14 days: $900
Tier 3 — Tier 2 + usage rights 90 days + whitelisting: $1,800

Decision rule for the creator:
— If brand asks for paid usage, then never below Tier 3
— If they want "just one post," then quote Tier 1 but list Tier 2 beside it

Over 6 months, 71% of brands self-selected Tier 2 or 3. Average deal moved from $400 to $960.

Checklist before sending any quote:
— Usage rights asked? (Y/N)
— Exclusivity window? (days)
— Whitelisting? (Y/N)
Each "yes" pushes the quote up a tier. No exceptions.