Forecasts and Budgets for Influencer Marketing in 2025

Influencer marketing costs can range from budget-friendly to eye-watering, depending on who you work with.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Nano-Influencers (1,000–10,000 followers): These low-key influencers charge around £10–£100 per post. They're great for tight budgets and offer high engagement but limited reach.
• Micro-Influencers (10,000–100,000 followers): Expect £100–£5,000 per post. They’re affordable, have highly engaged audiences, and have decent reach. They're the most popular choice.
• Macro-Influencers (100,000–1,000,000 followers): You’re looking at £5,000–£10,000 per post. You’ll get massive exposure at this level, but the price tag is significant.
• Mega-Influencers (1,000,000+ followers): £10,000+ per post (sometimes much more). The reach is incredible, but be ready to negotiate contracts like a pro.

Influencer payments can fluctuate based on the influencer's niche and platform, such as Facebook, YouTube, or TikTok.

Influencer marketing costs can vary widely depending on the influencer’s size, platform, and the type of content you need. It's contortionist-level flexible.

The first consideration is follower count. Though a superficial metric in many ways, smaller audiences tend to command lower influencer payments. Nano-influencers (1,000–10,000 followers) charge about £10–£100 per post, while micro-influencers (10,000–100,000 followers) may cost £100–£5,000 (these creators are highly sought after, so there's a gulf between prices). And macro-influencers (500,000–1,000,000 followers) will charge £5,000–£10,000. Mega-influencers with over 1 million followers? You’re looking at £10,000 or more--sometimes much more.

The social media platform you use will also impact costs. For example, TikTok creators will have different expectations than Facebook creators.

Currently, Instagram is the go-to for UK marketers. The Kolsquare State of Influencer Marketing report found that 89% of brands running influencer campaigns opt for Instagram, which is more than Facebook (72%), TikTok (67%), and YouTube (63%). This means that Instagram creators are able to push prices up.

The format of content also matters. For example, if created by the same influencer, a 10-minute YouTube video will cost more than a 30-second Instagram Reel, which will, in turn, cost more than a photo posted on Facebook. Creators put great effort into their posts and should be remunerated accordingly.

However, some influencer's content takes longer to make than others. For example, if a brand wants an artist creator to paint a large canvas for the ad, it will likely cost more than a short product review.

But these elements don’t tell the whole story. Influencers with high engagement rates and more credible audiences are also highly desirable. With strong communities of people who genuinely trust them, these creators will likely bring better results. They will also approach collaborations cautiously, only aligning with brands they truly resonate with. The rise of these expert creators on platforms like YouTube and Instagram has made the industry more credible and presents a fantastic opportunity, but it will be more costly.

However, you can also adjust costs depending on your chosen campaign. For example, a gifting strategy doesn't require influencer payments; you just send free products to influencers in exchange for a post. On the other end of the spectrum, working with brand ambassadors, who create regular posts and become entrenched with the brand, could require you to invest £5,000+ per month per influencer.

However, although more casual collaborations shield the blow to your overall budget, they may feel superficial to followers.

Lastly, there are the operational complexities and costs. Finding influencers with genuine engagement capable of catapulting your brand to new heights requires careful analysis. Once that decision is made, there is still the need to negotiate rights, review content, manage the relationships, and develop reports. Without a large team with ample free time, the complexity can cause costs (and stress levels) to spiral.

This is where Kolsquare steps in. We simplify influencer marketing by offering a database for finding authentic influencers fast, campaign management, and spreadsheet-free reporting, all on one platform!

A favourable ROI in influencer marketing typically means earning more than £5 for every £1 spent. However, returns can vary based on campaign objectives and execution.

It will also vary depending on the industry, as engagement rates tend to fluctuate. For example, technology engagement rates are higher than media and entertainment.

However, data from Influencer Marketing Hub suggests that 84.8% of marketers consider influencer marketing effective, indicating its potential for substantial returns.

Determining the proper influencer marketing budget starts with understanding your goals and aligning them with your overall marketing strategy. There are some key questions: Are you aiming for brand awareness, lead generation, or conversions? Is your campaign one element of a multi-channel campaign? What is your overall budget?

Here’s a look at how brands are budgeting with data from Kolsquare:

• Spending Trends: In 2024, 33% of UK brands allocated €100K–€249K to influencer marketing, while 17% spent €50K–€99K.
• Budget Growth: Almost half (49%) of UK marketers plan to increase their influencer marketing budgets by 10–19%, and 11% are preparing to boost their spending by 50% or more next year.

Let's dive into some factors that affect the budget of your influencer marketing efforts:

1. Campaign Goals: To increase brand awareness, you might allocate more toward macro-influencers with broad reach. For engagement or conversions, focus on micro- or nano-influencers who connect authentically with their audience. Smaller creators are cheaper to work with, which can keep costs down when running a large-scale campaign.
2. Industry Benchmarks: Use industry standards to guide your spending. Research what similar brands are investing in and what results they’re achieving to ensure your budget is competitive.
3. Platform Costs: Platforms matter. Instagram and TikTok are generally more cost-effective than YouTube, where higher production values and loyal audiences often mean bigger price tags.
4. Geographical Focus: Influencer costs vary by region. For example, campaigns targeting global audiences or high-demand regions like North America or Western Europe may require higher budgets.
5. Content Type: Video content (especially long-form YouTube videos) typically costs more than static posts, but it often delivers stronger engagement. Consider the type of content that best resonates with your audience and plan accordingly.
6. Frequency and Longevity: One-off campaigns do have an impact, but long-term partnerships often yield better ROI and allow for more authentic connections between influencers and your brand.
7. Risk Management and ROI Tracking: Allocate funds for tools and resources that collect key metrics, track campaign performance, and provide measurable ROI.

Charges per post depend on the influencer's tier, engagement rates, and the industry they operate in.

Here's a breakdown for Instagram:

• Nano-influencers (1K–10K followers): £50–£200 per post.
• Micro-influencers (10K–100K followers): £200–£1,000 per post.
• Macro-influencers (100K–1M followers): £1,000–£10,000 per post.
• Mega-influencers (1M+ followers): £10,000+ per post.

TikTok rates are generally higher due to its strong engagement and virality potential. For instance, TikTok nano-influencers may charge £100–£300 per post, while mega-influencers can command £15,000+ per campaign.

Factors that influence pricing include:

• Engagement Rates: Influencers with higher engagement often charge a premium as their audiences are more likely to take action.
• Industry: Niche industries like beauty or tech may demand higher fees due to their competitive nature and product complexity.
• Content Complexity and Exclusivity: Custom video content or exclusivity agreements can increase fees.

To estimate influencer costs on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, tools such as Kolsquare’s Calculator offer precise insights into how much an influencer will charge based on follower count, engagement rates, and platform benchmarks. Simply input the influencer's handle, and the calculator will give you an estimate. This helps you plan budgets effectively and removes some of the guesswork.

• The Kolsquare Instagram Calculator
• The Kolsquare TikTok Calculator

In 2024, UK companies allocated an average of £849,000 to influencer marketing, a figure notably lower than the European average. This disparity is partly due to the UK's diverse range of companies, where a few large corporations invest heavily, elevating the overall average. However, the most common expenditure among UK businesses is significantly less, with many firms spending under £250,000 annually on influencer campaigns.

This trend suggests that while top-tier companies drive up the average spend, the majority of UK businesses adopt a more conservative approach, investing modestly in influencer marketing compared to their European counterparts.

The global influencer marketing industry is projected to reach £18.8 billion by the end of 2024, reflecting substantial growth and investment in this sector.

In the United Kingdom, the influencer marketing industry was valued at £916 million in 2024 and is expected to rise to £1.4 billion by 2030.

This significant growth underscores the increasing importance of influencer collaborations in the UK's marketing landscape.

The Kolsquare European Survey: The State of Influencer Marketing Report 2024/5 offers comprehensive insights into the influencer marketing landscape across Europe, with detailed analyses for countries including the UK, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. By surveying over 380 senior marketers and directors from various sectors, the report provides valuable data on:

• Campaign Strategies: Examine the types of influencer brands collaborate with—nano, micro, macro, or mega—and the prevalence of one-off versus long-term partnerships.
• Platform Usage: Identifies the most frequently used social networks like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok for influencer marketing, with country-specific breakdowns.
• Content Formats: Highlights preferred collaboration formats and content types across different regions.
• Budget Allocations: Details spending levels, budget splits by country, and future budget predictions, offering a clear picture of financial commitments to influencer marketing.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Outlines the primary KPIs used by influencer marketers to measure campaign success.
• Challenges and Pain Points: Discusses common challenges faced by European influencer marketers, with specific insights for each country.
• Influencer Selection Criteria: Explores the top factors considered when selecting Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) for partnerships, including local specificities.
• Ethics and Social Responsibility: Addresses the importance of ethical conduct, social responsibility, and the role of influencer marketing in inspiring positive change.
• Future Predictions: Provides forecasts for the influencer marketing industry over the next 12 months.

This report is essential for brands aiming to refine their influencer marketing strategies, offering data-driven insights into current trends, budget considerations, and ethical practices. By understanding the nuances of each market, businesses can tailor their campaigns for maximum impact.

Creating a successful influencer marketing strategy requires a systematic, data-driven and creative approach,

Start by identifying your primary goals. Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Examples include:

• Brand Awareness: Increase your brand’s visibility among target demographics.
• Lead Generation: Collect potential customers’ information for follow-ups.
• Sales Conversion: Drive direct purchases through influencer content.
• Audience Engagement: Build a loyal community around your brand.

Defining clear objectives sets the foundation for every decision, from influencer selection to campaign performance metrics.

Then, focus on identifying the right influencers. Suitable influencer identification is critical for success. Key factors to consider include:

• Audience Demographics: Ensure the influencer’s audience aligns with your target market.
• Engagement Rates: High engagement signals an active and connected audience.
• Niche Expertise: Select influencers whose content aligns with your industry (e.g., beauty, tech, fitness).
• Past Performance: Analyse their previous brand collaborations for results and authenticity.
• Tools: Platforms like Kolsquare and the Kolculator provide detailed analytics on influencers' audience demographics and engagement rates.
• Social Media Platforms: Does your target audience tend to connect better with influencers on social networks, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok?

Pro Tip: Smaller influencers like micro-influencers (10K–100K followers) often offer a more personal touch. They also have niche audiences with higher engagement rates while still having good reach, making them ideal for cost-effective campaigns.

The next step is to develop authentic partnerships. Authenticity is the backbone of influencer marketing. Audiences value genuine recommendations over overtly promotional content. To foster this:

• Involve Influencers Early: Collaborate with influencers during campaign planning to create content that feels natural.
• Provide Creative Freedom: Allow influencers to use their unique voice while aligning with your brand message. These creators are experts at connecting with their audiences on social networks like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
• Build Long-Term Relationships: Partnering with influencers over multiple campaigns fosters loyalty and credibility. People are more likely to view long-term campaigns as credible.

Then, focus on creating creative, authentic content. Content should align with your brand identity while resonating with the influencer’s audience. Strategies include:

• Content Types: Sponsored posts, product reviews, tutorials, or giveaways. Short videos tend to drive strong engagement on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. However, long-form YouTube content allows the creator to go in-depth.
• Platform-Specific Optimisation: Customise content for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or YouTube to leverage their unique formats (e.g., Reels, Stories, Shorts).
• Interactive Elements: Include polls, Q&A sessions, or challenges to engage the audience. Asking questions gives you data and gets people involved.

Pro Tip: Incorporate trending formats, such as before and afters or “unboxing” content, which consistently perform well.

Next comes reporting and monitoring. Track campaign results to determine success and optimise future strategies. Focus on:

• Engagement Metrics: Likes, comments, shares, and saves.
• Reach and Impressions: Assess how many people saw the content.
• Conversions: Sales or leads generated directly from the campaign.
• ROI/ROAS: Compare revenue to campaign spending for financial efficacy.
• Tools: Platforms like Kolsquare provide real-time analytics and benchmarks to track KPIs effectively.

The final step is to ask yourself the following questions: what worked and what didn't? And how can that guide my future strategy?

No campaign is perfect from the start. Use insights from your performance metrics to:

• Adjust content formats or platforms for better reach
• Refine audience targeting based on engagement patterns
• Test new influencers or content types for improved outcomes (for example, working with multiple smaller influencers rather than one mega-influencer)

In the United Kingdom, influencer marketing budgets vary significantly across businesses. According to Kolsquare's recent report, UK companies spent an average of £849,000 on influencer marketing in the past year. However, this figure is elevated by substantial investments from larger corporations. The most common expenditure among UK businesses is considerably lower, with many allocating less than £250,000 annually to influencer campaigns. This average spend is notably below that of other European countries, highlighting a more conservative approach to influencer marketing within the UK market.

Kolsquare provides calculators that help brands, and agencies estimate how much it will cost to collaborate with specific influencers.

Instagram Calculator
This tool allows you to estimate rates for sponsored posts and Stories on Instagram. By entering an influencer’s username, the calculator provides a pricing range based on:

• Follower Count: Total number of followers.
• Engagement Rate: The level of audience interaction with their content.
• Earned Media Value (EMV): The estimated value of exposure generated by a collaboration.

This helps businesses plan budgets and negotiate fair prices for Instagram influencer collaborations.

TikTok Calculator
The TikTok-specific calculator gives insights into:

• Follower Count: Number of followers on the platform.
• Recent Activity: Frequency of video uploads.
• Engagement Rate: Level of audience interaction.
• Estimated Earnings per Post: Projected costs for sponsored TikTok content.

These tools are invaluable for estimating ROI and setting budgets for TikTok partnerships.

Why Use These Tools?
Using Kolsquare’s calculators ensures your influencer marketing budget aligns with realistic market rates and campaign objectives. Accessible online, they are easy to use and highly accurate for UK-based campaigns.

What are the key influencer marketing statistics for 2024?

The Kolsquare European Survey: The State of Influencer Marketing Report 2024/5 provides the following key insights into the influencer marketing landscape, including specific data for the UK:

• Influencer Collaborations: 81% of UK brands work with micro-influencers (10,000–100,000 followers), highlighting their preference for niche, highly engaged audiences.
• Platform Usage: Instagram remains the leading platform for influencer marketing, with 89% of UK marketers using it for campaigns.
• Campaign Volume: 21% of European brands partnered with 50-99 influencers last year, while 31% worked with 10-49 influencers, reflecting varying collaboration strategies.
• Budget Allocation: UK companies spent an average of £849k on influencer marketing in the past year, a figure below the European average, indicating a more conservative spending approach.
• Future Projections: 46% of UK brands expect to increase their influencer collaborations by 10–19% in the next year, signifying a growing investment in the space.
• Ethical Considerations: 76% of UK brands ensure influencers comply with industry regulations, demonstrating a strong focus on ethical and transparent practices.

Source: Kolsquare State of Influencer Marketing Report

No, we don’t offer a pre-made influencer marketing budget template. However, you can easily create one tailored to your needs using insights and data from our tools:

1. Use the Kolsquare Kolculators
   
   • These tools estimate costs for influencer collaborations on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, helping you calculate realistic budgets based on influencer tiers, engagement rates, and audience size.
2. Leverage Kolsquare’s Platform
   
   • The platform offers detailed analytics, including campaign cost predictions, audience demographics, and performance benchmarks. This data can form the foundation of your budget planning.
3. Create Customised Categories
   
   • Organise your budget by influencer tiers (e.g., nano, micro, macro), platforms, and campaign types (for example, sponsored posts or giveaways). Include line items for additional costs like paid promotions or content production.

By combining these resources, you can develop a data-driven template that aligns with your campaign goals and budget constraints.

The UK influencer marketing spend has experienced significant growth from 2020 to 2024, reflecting the increasing importance of this strategy in brand marketing efforts. Here's an overview of the trends during this period:

2020:

• Brands allocated approximately £375 million to influencer marketing in the UK.

2021:

• Spending rose to £577 million, marking a 65% increase.

2022:

• Spends continued to climb, reaching £701 million, indicating sustained growth in the sector.

2023:

• Projected spending was £809 million, showing a consistent upward trend.

2024:

• Estimates suggest that UK brands will spend £916 million on influencer marketing, continuing the growth trajectory.

Source: Statista

This upward trend highlights the growing recognition of influencer marketing's effectiveness.