B2B Influencer Marketing
5 min to read

How are B2B Influencers Paid?

Influence doesn't just revolve around end consumers. It plays a crucial role in B2B transactions as well. But how do these influential figures get compensated within the B2B landscape? Explore the various methods of remunerating B2B influencers in this article.

March 8, 2024
Justine Castany

When it comes to B2B influencer marketing, understanding how influencers are paid is crucial. Unlike B2C influencers, B2B influencers often engage in more strategic partnerships and may be compensated in several ways. These can include upfront payments, performance-based pay, affiliate models, or long-term retainers. Payment can vary depending on the influencerโ€™s reach, expertise, and the type of content they create. In this article, weโ€™ll break down the different ways B2B influencers are compensated and how brands can structure partnerships for mutual success.

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What are the factors that affect the revenue of a B2B influencer?

Factors that affect the revenue

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Compensation for B2B influencers is not a one-size-fits-all scenario.ย It's influenced by several key factors that reflect the influencer's reach, engagement, and expertise.ย Here's a breakdown of the elements that play a crucial role in determining compensation :

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Post Frequency ๐Ÿ“ˆ

The frequency with which an influencer publishes content relevant to the partnering company's industry can significantly impact compensation. Influencers who maintain a consistent posting schedule and regularly engage with their audience may command higher rates due to their ability to maintain visibility and relevance.

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Favikon Score ๐Ÿ“ฃ

The Favikon Score is a rating system that evaluates influencers based on various criteria such as authenticity, engagement, and overall impact within their niche. This score helps brands identify trustworthy and effective influencers for collaborations. By analyzing data like follower growth, content performance, and audience interaction, the Favikon Score offers an objective assessment, making it easier for brands to select influencers who align with their goals and who deliver real value in influencer marketing campaigns.โ€‹ The level of engagement an influencer garners from their audience is a vital metric for determining compensation. High levels of likes, comments, shares, and other forms of interaction indicate an influencer's ability to captivate and influence their followers effectively. Companies are often willing to pay more to collaborate with influencers who can drive meaningful engagement with their content.

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Top B2Bย influencers typically charge 10 to 50Kย a sponsored post

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Qualified Leads Generated โœ…

โ€B2B influencers who can demonstrate their ability to generate qualified leads for a company's products or services are often rewarded with higher compensation. Metrics such as lead quality, conversion rates, and customer acquisition costs are closely monitored to assess the effectiveness of influencer marketing campaigns.

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Sales Resulting from Recommendations ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ

โ€Ultimately, the bottom line for companies is the impact on sales resulting from influencer recommendations. Influencers who can directly attribute sales or conversions to their promotional efforts are likely to command premium rates. Companies may offer performance-based incentives or commission structures tied to the influencer's sales performance.

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Influencer's Renown and Expertise ๐Ÿ’ซ

โ€The influencer's level of renown and expertise within their specific field also plays a significant role in determining compensation. Influencers who are recognized as leaders or experts in their industry can leverage their reputation to negotiate higher rates. Their credibility and authority make them valuable partners for companies seeking to reach their target audience effectively.

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What are the distinct approaches through which B2B influencers can generate revenue?

B2B influencers can generate revenue

B2B influencers are compensated through various methods, enabling them to monetize their expertise and influence in the professional realm. These methods provide unique opportunities for businesses to promote their products and services to a targeted and qualified audience, underscoring the growing importance of influencers in the B2B sector.

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Hubspot collab with Alex Liberman

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โ€Partnerships with Companies ๐Ÿค

Partnerships and collaborations with companies stand as one of the primary sources of income for B2B influencers. Similar to the B2C realm, businesses enlist B2B influencers whose niche and audience align with their industry and brand image.

For instance, Hubspot partnered with B2B influencer Alex Liberman, pioneering B2C tactics effectively applied within B2B activations.

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Richard Moore LinkedIn profile

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Consultation and Expertise Services ๐Ÿ”

Certain B2B influencers, leveraging their expertise and reputation in a particular sector, offer consulting and coaching services to companies. These services may encompass marketing strategy audits, training seminars, management consulting sessions, etc. Companies remunerate B2B influencers for their time, knowledge, and valuable insights, providing a stable and diversified income source.

For instance, Richard Moore , ranked 43rd in the top LinkedIn profiles, offers courses, coaching, and conferences on effective communication and LinkedIn usage.

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Promote Products or Services

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โ€Promoting B2B Products or Services ๐Ÿ’ผ

Similar to B2C, B2B influencers can be compensated for promoting specific products or services tailored for businesses. This might include software, productivity tools, marketing or management solutions, etc. Influencers receive financial compensation or perks in exchange for endorsing and recommending these offerings within their professional network. Moreover, LinkedIn has rolled out an update allowing creators to indicate if a post is sponsored.

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Affiliate Commissions

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Affiliate Commissions ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Affiliate marketing operates on a performance-based model, where businesses compensate affiliates for each customer or visitor brought in through the affiliate's promotional efforts. As a B2B influencer, individuals can partner with companies as affiliates, endorsing their products or services to their audience and receiving a commission for any resulting sales. When a customer clicks on the affiliate link provided by the influencer and completes a purchase, the influencer earns a commission, usually calculated as a percentage of the sale. Influencers employ various methods to promote the products, including creating blog posts, videos, podcasts, or social media content. They can also incorporate affiliate links into their email newsletters and website.

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Sponsored Events

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โ€Sponsored Events ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ

B2B influencers can earn money by hosting or speaking at sponsored events. This could include webinars, conferences, or other industry events. For example, an influencer who is a keynote speaker at a small conference may earn a few thousand dollars, while an influencer who is the host of a large, multi-day conference may earn tens of thousands of dollars. Additionally, influencers who are able to secure a sponsorship deal for an event, such as being a brand ambassador, may earn additional compensation.

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Membership Programs

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Membership Programs โญ๏ธ

B2B influencers can create membership programs that provide exclusive content, resources, or access to a community of like-minded individuals.

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Advertising Website

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Advertising ๐Ÿ—ž๏ธ

B2B influencers can sell advertising space on their website or social media profiles to businesses looking to reach their target audience.

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Brand Ambassadors

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Brand Ambassadorship ๐Ÿ‘‘

B2B influencers can earn money by becoming a brand ambassador for a company or product. This typically involves promoting the brand through various channels and earning a salary or stipend for their efforts.

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How much does a B2Bย Influencer cost?

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Influencers costs can vary greatly, depending on the social media, the format and the quality of the influencer.

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On LinkedIn, the top influencers can charge up to 20K a post.

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  • Micro-influencers: up to 500/post
  • Macro-influencers: up to 2K/post
  • Mega Influencers: up to 20K/post

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Hereโ€™s an example for Daniel Ordaz, a B2B influencer from Mexico with 54K followers, and a verified creator on the Favikon platform:

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How to pay a B2B influencer?

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There are many ways to pay a B2B influencer, but hereโ€™s a quick summary of each possibility:

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1. Pay upfront: You pay the influencer a lump sum before the campaign starts, covering all deliverables.

2. Split payment: Payments are divided into portions, with a percentage paid upfront and the rest paid after deliverables are completed.

3. Affiliate model: The influencer earns a commission based on sales or leads they generate through their unique affiliate link or code.

4. Pay per impressions: Payment is based on the number of impressions (views) the influencerโ€™s content receives, typically calculated in cost-per-thousand-impressions (CPM).

5. Pay per audience: You compensate the influencer based on the size and relevance of their audience, often tied to follower count, engagement rates or the Favikon score.

6. Pay per deliverable: The influencer is paid for each specific piece of content (blog post, video, etc.) they create, rather than an overarching campaign.

7. One-off payment: A one-time payment is made for a single piece of content or campaign, without ongoing commitments.

8. Multi-month contract: The influencer is paid regularly (monthly or quarterly) over a set period for ongoing content creation or promotional work.

9. Pay for association to their brand: You compensate the influencer for aligning your brand with theirs, benefiting from their reputation and audience trust.

10. Pay for exclusivity: The influencer is paid to promote only your brand in a specific niche or category, preventing them from working with competitors.

11. Pay for IP: The influencer is paid for the intellectual property (IP) they create, such as owning the rights to content, designs, or ideas.

12. Exchange value without $$$: Instead of paying money, you offer value in other forms, like free products, services, or experiences that benefit the influencer.

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Each method offers flexibility based on the campaignโ€™s goals and the influencerโ€™s preferences.

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Want to know how much you could earn thanks to your posts ?

how much money can I earn with my posts

โ€Create an account for free with Favikon Creator to check your profile and see how much money your posts cost ๐Ÿ’ฐ

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Again, remember that the earning potential of these methods may vary depending on the specific influencer and their reach, niche, and audience size.ย However, for B2B influencers, brand ambassadorship, speaking engagements and hosting events can be a great way to monetize their reach and expertise, and also to expand their reach by reaching new audiences.

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You might also find interesting:

The Ultimate Guide to B2B Influencer Marketing

5 reasons to use Influencer Marketing Tools

The different types of influencer marketing campaigns

How to find LinkedIn influencers

How to find B2Bย Influencers

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About the author

Justine Castany

Justine Castany, a student at ESSEC Business School and currently working at Favikon, shines with her love for marketing and dedication to communications. As a dynamic young professional, she serves as Marketing Manager at Favikon, where she brings her expertise to craft and execute cutting-edge strategies. With her creativity and keen eye for trends, Justine stands out in communicating brand messages effectively and making waves on social media.