Influencer marketing in Canada, answered
Short, sourced answers to the questions brands and creators ask most.
For brands
#ad disclosure rules in Canada: what creators and brands must do
In Canada, paid or gifted promotion has to be disclosed: the Competition Act bans misleading advertising. Ad Standards' guidelines say to disclose clearly, upfront and in the language of the post, with #ad on its own as the gold standard. Tagging a brand or #collab is not enough, and brands share responsibility.
How much does an influencer cost in Canada?
There is no fixed price. Published industry ranges for one Instagram post run from about $20–$100 for nano creators to $10,000+ for accounts above 500K followers, and sources disagree widely. Platform, format, usage rights and exclusivity move the price as much as follower count does.
How to find influencers in Canada (step by step)
Start with a one-paragraph brief, then search where Canadian creators already are: platform marketplaces like Instagram's Creator Marketplace and TikTok One, creator directories, and your own followers. Vet each creator's audience, 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%) and TikTok (11.9%). 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 Canada: what creators and brands must do
In Canada, paid or gifted promotion has to be disclosed: the Competition Act bans misleading advertising. Ad Standards' guidelines say to disclose clearly, upfront and in the language of the post, with #ad on its own as the gold standard. Tagging a brand or #collab is not enough, and brands share responsibility.
How much should I charge for a sponsored post?
Start from the published 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.