How can you negotiate with micro-influencers who refuse to disclose their audience demographics?

1 Why demographics matter

Audience demographics are the basic characteristics of the people who follow and engage with an influencer, such as age, gender, location, income, and interests. Knowing these demographics can help you determine if an influencer is a good fit for your brand, product, and goals. For example, if you sell luxury watches, you want to work with influencers who have an affluent and fashion-conscious audience, not one that is mostly young and budget-conscious.

2 How to ask for demographics

The best way to ask for demographics is to be polite and professional, and explain why you need this information. You can say something like: "We're interested in working with you, but we need to know more about your audience to make sure it aligns with our target market. Could you please share your audience demographics report with us?" You can also specify what metrics you're looking for, such as age range, gender breakdown, top locations, and main interests.

3 What to do if they refuse

If an influencer refuses to disclose their audience demographics, you have a few options. You can try to find out their demographics from other sources, such as third-party tools or social media analytics. Alternatively, you could ask for a lower rate or a performance-based compensation since you're taking a bigger risk without knowing their audience. If neither of these options appeal to you, you can look for another influencer who is more transparent and willing to share their demographics. Of course, if none of these solutions work for you, walking away from the deal and focusing on other marketing channels is always an option.

4 How to negotiate with confidence

Negotiating with micro-influencers who refuse to disclose their audience demographics can be tricky, but it's not impossible. To ensure successful negotiations, you must be confident and assertive while valuing your brand and budget. Do your research beforehand and have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you're willing to pay. Communicate your expectations and goals respectfully while being open to compromise, but don't settle for anything less than what you deserve. Be prepared to walk away if the deal is not satisfactory or beneficial for both parties.

5 How to measure the results

Once you've negotiated a deal with a micro-influencer who refused to disclose their audience demographics, you need to measure the results of your campaign and see if it was worth it. To evaluate the performance and impact of your influencer marketing, you should look at metrics such as reach (the number of people who saw your branded content through the influencer's posts), engagement (the number of likes, comments, shares, clicks, and saves that your branded content received), conversions (the number of actions that your branded content prompted from the influencer's audience), and ROI (the return on investment that you gained from the campaign).