How do I pitch influencers on TikTok (what to include, budget/types, brand-fit, expected outcomes)?

Pick the correct objective, build hook-first creative, validate with $5-15/day, scale in 20-30 % steps, and pause anything that drifts 30 % above target.

Case Study — “Neon Horizon” TikTok Influencer Ladder

Phase: Test (20 %)
Move: 3 micro creators post natively with UTM smart-links
Spend: $420
KPI Results: Avg CPS $0.13 · Save-Rate 11 %
Outcome: Identified @LunaLoops as top performer

Phase: Scale (60 %)
Move: Spark-ad whitelisting on @LunaLoops video + $600 media
Spend: $450 post fee + $600 ads
KPI Results: CPS held at $0.14 in US/UK · 18 k extra saves
Outcome: Algorithmic share climbed 18 % → 29 %

Phase: Sustain (20 %)
Move: Bought two UGC-only assets for evergreen ads
Spend: $350
KPI Results: Cost/UGC clip $17
Outcome: Fed fresh hooks into Reels & Meta, ROAS 1.4

30-day total
Spend: $1 820
Results: 124 k extra streams · 14 k saves · +2.8 k followers
Outcome: CPA & ROAS green; profitable via merch lift

1 │ Deal Types & Typical 2025 Prices

Deal Type: Native Post
Deliverable: Creator records & posts once
Typical Cost*: Nano $50-200 · Micro $200-800 · Macro $800-5 k
Best For: Quick reach spike

Deal Type: Spark-Ad Whitelisting
Deliverable: Creator posts; you boost via Ads Manager
Typical Cost*: Post fee + $0.17-$1.00 CPC media budget
Best For: Scalable, targetable reach

Deal Type: UGC-Only / Asset Buy-out
Deliverable: Creator films, you post
Typical Cost*: $100-$500 per asset
Best For: A/B testing hooks in ads

Deal Type: Affiliate / Rev-Share
Deliverable: Promo link with % commission
Typical Cost*: 10-20 %, no up-front
Best For: Low cash, testing new acts

*Keep fee below ~$0.03 per engaged view.

2 │ 150-Word Pitch Formula (no fluff)

Loved your “Bedroom Pop Hook” series—Episode 4 hit 140 K saves.
I’m dropping a dreamy synth-pop single “Echo Parade.” Your 18-24 US/UK audience matches my top listeners.
Idea: sample the chorus, add your harmony, tag #EchoParadeChallenge.
Deliverables: 1 native post + 30-day Spark rights.
Budget: $450 post; I boost with $300 Spark spend. Cross-promo on my IG (18 K). Track is one-stop cleared.
Interested? I’ll DM the private link & brief. Thanks!

3 │ Brand-Fit Checklist

Check: Content vibe
Green Flag: Genre & humour align
Red Flag: Off-brand controversy

Check: Audience geo
Green Flag: ≥ 50 % core markets
Red Flag: Hard-to-monetise regions

Check: Engagement
Green Flag: ≥ 8 % nano/micro · ≥ 5 % macro
Red Flag: < 2 % ENG

Check: Music history
Green Flag: Past sound challenges
Red Flag: None—steep curve

Check: Rights
Green Flag: OK with Spark/UGC licence
Red Flag: Refuses usage rights

4 │ Budget & Scaling Plan

Pot: Test (20 %)
What Happens: 2-3 micro posts
Gate to Next Step: CPS ≤ $0.15 & Skip ≤ 25 %

Pot: Scale (60 %)
What Happens: Spark best post; duplicate ad into look-alikes; +20-30 % spend every 48 h
Gate to Next Step: CPS must stay ≤ $0.15

Pot: Sustain (20 %)
What Happens: Buy UGC assets; rotate hook weekly
Gate to Next Step: Pause if CPS rises > 30 %

5 │ Success Benchmarks

KPI: Save-to-Stream
Green Target: ≥ 10 %

KPI: Cost-per-Save
Green Target: ≤ $0.15

KPI: Cost-per-UGC Clip
Green Target: ≤ $20

KPI: 50 % View-through
Green Target: ≥ 25 % viewers

KPI: Follower lift
Green Target: +3-5 % per week

Track via TikTok Event Manager + UTM smart-link (Linkfire/Feature .fm) in one sheet.

6 │ Contract Must-Haves

Rights scope (native vs Spark vs UGC, term, territory)
#ad disclosure & TikTok “Paid Partnership” toggle
One-stop clearance statement for your track
Kill-switch refund clause (content removed ≤ 90 d)
50 % up-front payment (PayPal G&S)

7 │ Common Pitfalls & Fixes

Issue: Huge views, tiny saves
Fix: Pin Spotify URI & CTA in first comment

Issue: Creator won’t allow Spark
Fix: Offer higher flat fee or UGC buy-out

Issue: All-in on one macro
Fix: Diversify: 3-5 micro/mid + Spark best

Issue: No trackable link
Fix: Always UTM smart-link

Issue: Hook fatigue
Fix: Swap snippet weekly; duet new creator

Playbook Recap

Shortlist creators with ≥ 5 % ENG and matching vibe.

Pitch in ≤ 150 words: proof, concept, fee, rights.

Spend 20 % testing; scale only if CPS & save-rate stay green.

Spark, duplicate, and add geos in 20-30 % steps.

Rotate hooks weekly; lock contracts & disclosures.

Copy this directly into your Google Sheet as one block—columns will auto-split on the pipe character if you paste into the first cell and choose “Split text to columns.