Glossary · 58 terms
Creator Brand Deal Glossary
Brand deal language can be vague on purpose. This glossary explains the words you will see in pitches, contracts, and invoices, in plain English, so you know what you are agreeing to. New to all of this? Start with How Brand Deal Pricing Works
A
- Affiliate CommissionThe amount you earn when someone buys through your link or code, either a percentage of the sale or a set amount per sale.
- Affiliate DealA deal where you are paid based on sales or actions your audience drives, rather than a set fee.
- Agency CommissionThe percentage a talent agency keeps from a deal it helps close.
- Approval WindowThe time a brand has to review your draft and reply.
B
- Booking FeeAn upfront payment that reserves your time or confirms your involvement in a project.
- Brand AmbassadorA creator or public figure who represents a brand over an extended period instead of a single campaign.
- Brand DealA commercial partnership between a creator and a company, paid in money, product, commission, or a combination.
- Brand LiftThe increase in awareness, consideration, or intent to buy that a campaign creates.
- Brand SafetyA brand's standards for the kind of content and conversation it wants to appear next to.
- BuyoutA one-time payment that gives a brand broad, often long-lasting rights to use your content.
C
- Content BriefThe written instructions for a campaign: goals, key messages, must-haves, and approvals.
- Contra DealAn exchange of product or services instead of cash.
- CPE (Cost Per Engagement)A pricing model that charges based on actions like likes, comments, saves, or clicks.
- CPM (Cost Per Mille)The price of reaching a thousand views or impressions, often used to compare creator content with other advertising.
- CPV (Cost Per View)A pricing model that charges based on video views.
- Creative ControlWho has the final say over how your content looks, sounds, and what it says.
- Cure PeriodThe time a party has to fix a problem after a notice, such as a missed deadline, before it counts as a breach.
D
E
F
- First-Look ClauseA clause that lets a brand see or buy your work before you offer it to others.
- Flat Fee vs Performance DealA flat fee pays a fixed amount no matter how the content does. A performance deal ties some or all pay to results.
- FTC DisclosureThe label that tells your audience a post is sponsored or that you have a connection to the brand.
G
I
K
L
M
- Manager CommissionThe percentage a manager takes from deals they negotiate or support.
- Media KitA short summary of who you are, who your audience is, your past work, and what you offer, used to pitch brands.
- Morality ClauseA clause that lets a brand end the deal if your conduct could damage its reputation.
N
- NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)An agreement to keep certain information private, such as an unreleased product.
- Net TermsThe number of days a brand has to pay after the invoice date, such as Net 30.
- Non-DisparagementA clause that stops you from publicly criticizing the brand, and sometimes the brand from criticizing you.
O
P
- Paid Amplification RightsPermission for a brand to use your content in ads or boosted posts.
- Partnership AdsA Meta ad format that runs a creator's post as an ad with the creator's handle attached, so the brand pays for reach.
- Perpetual LicensePermission to use content with no end date.
- Purchase Order (PO)A document from a brand's finance team that approves a payment and often must be referenced on your invoice.
R
- Rate CardA price sheet showing what you charge for different deliverables, packages, and add-ons.
- ReachThe number of unique people who see your content.
- Retainer DealAn ongoing agreement where a brand pays a recurring fee for a set amount of work each month or period.
- Revision RoundsThe number of times a brand can ask for changes before final approval.
- Right of First RefusalA right that lets a brand match another offer before you accept it.
- Rush FeeAn added charge for work needed on a shorter timeline than normal.
S
- Spark AdsA TikTok ad format that lets a brand promote a creator's organic post, with the creator's account attached.
- Sponsored ContentContent you make or publish because a brand pays or rewards you, which must be clearly disclosed.
- SublicensingPermission for a brand to pass its rights to use your content to another company, such as an agency or retailer.
T
U
- UGC vs InfluencerUGC is content you make for a brand to use on its own channels. Influencer work is content you publish to your own audience.
- Usage RightsThe rules for how a brand may use your content: where, for how long, in what form, and whether it can run it as an ad.
- Usage TermThe length of time a brand may use your content.
