How I 3X’d My Rates, Without Burning Bridges

This week, you'll get...

• 💵 Why You’re Underpaid…

• 📂 How to Use AI to Get Your Time Back With HubSpot

• 📧 My Counter Proposal Email Template

• 🤝 How to Land Your First Brand Deal

💵 Why You’re Underpaid…

Most people aren’t underpaid because they aren’t worth more.

They’re underpaid because they haven’t built the stamina to ask for more.

The deals you don’t counter might be costing you more than you think, now and down the road.

If you want to strengthen your self-advocacy muscle, start here…

Framework #1: Put a Price on Everything You Do

Waiting until someone asks for your rate is like showing up to a negotiation unprepared.

You need to know your numbers before anyone else does.

Here’s how I break mine down inside my Notion dashboard (yep, my team uses this to make faster calls without asking me 10 questions):

• Panel Talks: $$

• Fireside Chats: $$$

• Custom Presentations: $$$$

• Virtual Talks: $$

• In-Person Talks: $$$

• Text Post (LinkedIn, Threads, etc.): $

• Image Post: $$

• Video Post: $$$

• Stories (per frame): $$

• Ad Usage: $$$/month

By setting these in advance and categorizing by complexity, format, and usage rights you remove emotion from the equation.

It’s not about feeling flattered or nervous. It’s about operating from clarity, speed, and self-respect.

Value over vibes. Every time.

Framework #2: Create a “Fake” Negotiation Manager

You don’t want to seem difficult. You don’t want to kill the deal. You definitely don’t want to sound greedy.

That’s why one of the smartest moves I recommend is creating a “Negotiation Manager” — aka a separate email address that handles the business side of things.

The setup is simple:

• Create an email like [email protected] or ops@[brand].com

• Respond to brand offers and rate convos from this alias

• Frame it as your partnerships team, operations lead, or “business rep” (no need to say it’s you

For example:

“Hey! Thanks for reaching out. I’m looping in [Alex from Partnerships] to talk through rates and scope so I can stay focused on the creative.”

Suddenly, you’re not the one pushing back. You’re the talent.

And “Alex” or “Dara” or “the team” becomes the boundary.

Sometimes, the best way to speak up for yourself… is to let someone else do the talking (even if they only exist in your inbox).

📂 In Partnership with HubSpot

Before we dive into the next tip…

If you’re spending too much time managing tasks manually (instead of creating or negotiating your next big deal), here’s a smarter way to delegate and get your time back:

I downloaded this playbook and I’m already working to implement some new tactics to get my time back.

Use AI as Your Personal Assistant’

Ready to save precious time and let AI do the heavy lifting?

Save time and simplify your unique workflow with HubSpot’s highly anticipated AI Playbook—your guide to smarter processes and effortless productivity.

Download the free guide today.

Framework #3: Use This Email Template to Counter

I don’t have management or a big team or even a decade of experience to negotiate better deals.

But I’ve perfected some methods and can be very clever with my words, and I have the confidence to use them.

Here’s your middle ground: a calm, professional counter that gets you closer to your worth without burning the bridge.

Copy, paste, and personalize this:

Hi [Name],

Thanks so much for the quick turnaround and for considering me for [Campaign Name].

After reviewing the scope—[brief summary of deliverables and usage]—I’d love to offer a revised proposal that better reflects the value and time involved.

Campaigns like this typically fall in the [$X–$Y] range. I’d propose [$Z] to move forward.

Open to chatting further to ensure the partnership feels good on both sides.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Save it. Tweak it. Own it.

The worst they can say is no.

The best? You get paid what you’re actually worth.

Try This…

You may not hit your ceiling every time.

But you will always leave money on the table by not asking.

So this week, try this:

• Write out your rate card

• Save the email template above

• Ask for 25% more on your next deal

Then come back and tell me how it goes.

You don’t get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate.

Let’s get you paid,

— Brandon

🤝  Want to Land Your First Brand Deal?

If today’s issue hits, you’ll love this:

How to Land Your First Brand Deal, my no-fluff, 14-page guide that breaks down:

• How to build your brand deal mindset

• The exact pitch email and IG DM I’ve used to land four and five-figure deals campaigns

• My approach to cold outreach

• And the no-pitch play that’s booked me gigs while I sleep

It’s already been downloaded 290+ times and has a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.

(and yep—it’s 100% free.)

I made this for creators who want to skip the gatekeeping and start getting paid. But if this resource helps you land a deal (or if you just appreciate the gems), you’ll also find an option to leave a tip.

Totally optional. Always appreciated. Because free isn’t the opposite of valuable.