The standard contract for working with an influencer and being legally protected

Working with an influencer requires knowledge of the legal principles (statute, contract, etc.) governing this type of intermediary. Due to the exponential growth of social networks and its considerable impact at the public level, influencers are now an integral part of web marketing strategies. Brands do not hesitate to contact these network stars in order to promote their products and services. 

Indeed, from their appellation "influencers", these people influence the opinion of their followers on this or that product. They can be sponsored or not. In other words, an influencer has the choice to promote a product for free, because he or she appreciates it at its true value, or to collaborate directly with the brand in exchange for remuneration. A contract must be drawn up in advance to govern this collaboration. Before making the first contact with the influencer in question, the company gathers information on the legal and statutory terms and conditions concerning this area. The two parties then proceed to a briefing that will lead to the signing of the contract once they have agreed on the campaign to be conducted, the duration and the method of payment.

Define how you want to work with influencers

This agreement ensures the smooth running of the partnership, as it contains the commitments to be made by each party. In the event of a breach of the requirements mentioned, for example, it can be used as evidence in court. Before contacting the person you have chosen, first define the campaign you wish to run. Make sure that the influencer in question is available for this type of partnership. 

Then, check whether his personality and his activity on the networks match your brand values. You will be able to consult his profile and discern his interests, objectives and career path. This information is useful, as it will help you determine how you will propose collaboration. 

Influencers are often in great demand, so you should propose suitable offers of collaboration that might be of interest to them. In order to make sure that the partnership can take place, it is recommended to send free samples to the influencer so that he can test and give his opinion. This first contact does not require any guidelines or remuneration. However, if you want him to give his feedback directly to his audience, this first publication will have to follow his editorial line and will have to be paid.

Is it necessary to verify the identity of the influencer we're going to work with?  

Influencers are currently swarming in social networks. Whoever you choose will have to have the qualities that meet your expectations. The basic influencer will need to be followed by a high number of subscribers who might be interested in your brand. He will also have to be very active on the networks and have a strong personality that differentiates him from his competitors and yours.

There are several types of platforms and 4 categories of influencers that differ according to the number of subscribers. Celebrities are obviously the most popular and the most expensive. Macro-influencer followers exceed 100,000 followers, average influencers between 50,000 and 100,000 and micro-influencers who are just starting out are followed by at least 5,000 subscribers. Choosing with whom you will entrust your brand is not to be taken lightly. You should not just base your choice on the number of subscribers, but also check his identity and publications.

Moreover, these figures may differ depending on the economic and geographical situation of a country. In highly developed countries, such as the United States, macro-influencers are followed by about half a million Internet users. In this case, you should prepare an appropriate budget according to the type of influencer and the result you expect. This could give your brand a good place to sell, and thus easily increase your turnover.

Clearly describe the terms of the contract to avoid misunderstandings and the available budget.

Freedom in the creation of content. This is the basis of a good influencer's work. It should not come from the company that employs him, but from his own imagination. It is necessary that you give the influencer a free hand and that he expresses himself in a natural way. If you dictate to him every action to be taken and place several restrictions, it is better to adopt a classic advertising campaign. In this case, the influencer will betray his convictions and his followers will notice him for sure. Indeed, an influence campaign implies a communication according to the personality of the influencer.

The audience follows a particular influencer because he or she has the same vision and aspiration as the audience. Candour and the way in which one expresses one's personal ideas are more than necessary. The influencer acts as a "guinea pig" for his or her subscribers. His opinion is thus very important and will have a significant impact. Therefore, let your influencer express himself freely and according to his editorial line.

Remuneration varies according to the needs of the brand and the influencer. The advertiser tends to promise only visibility to the influencer, but collaboration can be very profitable. It is therefore essential that you allocate a fair budget according to the type of contract you wish to establish. 

The influencer can be acquitted in different ways. In most cases, an amount is determined in advance. But it may be paid per commission, per publication or number of hearings affected. In addition to the monetary value, compensation may take other forms such as gift cards, travel, participation in an event, benefits within the company.

This remuneration can change over the course of the collaboration if it proves to be profitable and affects many Internet users. The partnership can also be terminated if you find that it does not succeed after several attempts. Each of these instructions will of course be mentioned in the contract.

The influence marketing strategy is a very interesting and recommended approach at the web level. Many are those who have launched themselves and have had exceptional results in terms of orders and sales. Thanks to this information, you can also find the ideal influencer that will boost your brand in the long term. Even if the legal framework for influencers has not yet been formally determined, you can call on a specialist lawyer to complete your partnership contract.