PostEaseFollower count is not the metric that matters most
A creator with a large but broad, disengaged following often converts worse than a smaller creator whose audience is genuinely relevant to what a brand sells. For a small brand’s budget in particular, a smaller creator with real, engaged followers in the right niche tends to deliver more real outcome per dollar than a large, generic reach number.
Look at how a creator’s past sponsored content performed
A creator's follower count says little about how their audience responds to sponsored content specifically. Checking the engagement on their previous sponsored posts, not just their organic ones, gives a far more honest read on whether a collaboration is likely to reach and move their audience.
A clear, written brief prevents most disagreements
Vague expectations cause more collaboration problems than budget disagreements do: a brand assuming a certain kind of content, a creator assuming more creative freedom than intended. A short written brief covering the key message, what's off-limits, and the deadline heads off most of that friction before it starts.