Instagram Stories, priced by audience size
Instagram Stories are priced differently from every other format on this site: by reach, not views, because a Story frame set disappears after 24 hours and never gets the second wave of algorithmic distribution a Reel or feed post can. Stories sit in a richer rate band than Reels precisely because that 24-hour life is scarce inventory — the brand gets one shot at your audience, and the frame set has to work in that window. Quote from your average Story reach over your last 9 to 12 similar frame sets, not your views, and always confirm with the brand how many frames the rate covers; a rate agreed for one frame and delivered as three is the most common scope disagreement on a Stories deal. Stories are also the format brands most often ask to cross-post to their own channels, since the low production bar makes a second placement cheap to request — price that as the separate 15–25% cross-posting premium in our rate guide, never as an assumed freebie.
Negotiating at 5,000 followers
At 5,000 followers you're solidly in the Nano tier the industry actually tracks — 1,000 to 10,000 followers, with Reels typically landing 2,000 to 15,000 views. Don't let the small numbers talk you out of charging properly: in 2026 benchmark data, 51.43% of marketers said they were specifically expanding their use of nano creators, more than for any tier except micro, because nano audiences are cheap to reach and convert well on niche products. The catch is that Lumanu's payments data puts average nano annual earnings at just $4,800, which is mostly a pricing-confidence problem, not a demand problem — nano creators are the group most likely to undercharge or accept gifted product as full payment. Anchor every quote to your actual views, never your follower count, and treat a repeat brand relationship (80% of partnerships are repeat, per Lumanu) as leverage to raise your rate on the second deal, not a reason to hold it flat.