Influencer marketing in India, answered
Short, sourced answers to the questions brands and creators ask most.
For brands
#ad disclosure rules in India: what creators and brands must do
In India, any paid, gifted or affiliate post has to be labelled. ASCI's influencer guidelines ask for an upfront, prominent label such as #ad, #sponsored or #collab, inside the post itself, and the government's Endorsement Know-hows guide says the same. Brands share the responsibility.
How much does an influencer cost in India?
There is no fixed price. As a rough guide, one Instagram Reel in India runs from a few thousand rupees (or free product) for nano creators to ₹2,00,000 and more for large accounts. Platform, format, language, usage rights and exclusivity move the price as much as follower count does.
How to find influencers in India (step by step)
Start with a one-paragraph brief, then search where Indian creators already are: Instagram's Creator Marketplace, YouTube, creator directories and your own followers. Vet each creator's audience, language, content and disclosure habits before you send an offer.
Micro vs. macro influencers: which fits your budget?
Smaller creators usually cost less per post and get more engagement for their size: HypeAuditor found nano creators have the highest engagement rate on Instagram (2.19%). Larger creators buy reach in one go. Which fits depends on your goal: reach favours larger creators; local reach, trust and content volume favour several smaller ones.
For creators
#ad disclosure rules in India: what creators and brands must do
In India, any paid, gifted or affiliate post has to be labelled. ASCI's influencer guidelines ask for an upfront, prominent label such as #ad, #sponsored or #collab, inside the post itself, and the government's Endorsement Know-hows guide says the same. Brands share the responsibility.
How much should I charge for a sponsored post?
Start from a rough range for your follower size and platform, then price the work: the format, the number of deliverables, usage rights, exclusivity and deadlines. Put it in a simple rate card, quote each brand for exactly what they ask for, and charge extra for anything beyond your post.