Quick Answer
Use Campaigns when: You want to work with multiple creators at once, have them apply to join, and track their content performance in one place.
Use Contracts when: You want to work with individual creators one-on-one with personalized terms, deliverables, and payment structures.
What Are Campaigns?
Campaigns are perfect for running larger creator marketing initiatives where multiple creators participate under the same terms.
When to Use Campaigns:
Running a product launch with multiple creators
Hosting a contest or challenge
Seeding products to creators
Building an ongoing creator program
Working with 5+ creators on similar terms
What Are Contracts?
Contracts are ideal for personalized, one-on-one agreements with individual creators where terms may vary.
When to Use Contracts:
Working with a specific creator or influencer
Negotiating custom terms per creator
Different payment amounts for different creators
Exclusive partnerships
Long-term brand ambassadorships with unique terms
Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature | Campaigns | Contracts |
Best for | Multiple creators, same terms | Individual creators, custom terms |
Setup time | Quick - one setup for all | Slower - configure per creator |
Application process | Creators self-signup via link | Brand invites specific creators |
Terms | Standardized for all creators | Personalized per creator |
Payment | Same structure for everyone | Can vary per creator |
Legal agreement | Campaign brief (all accept same terms) | Individual signed contracts |
Tracking | All creators in one dashboard | Individual creator profiles |
Scalability | Highly scalable (100+ creators) | Best for smaller groups (<20 creators) |
Use case | Product launches, contests, programs | influencer partnerships, ambassadors |
Can I Use Both?
Yes! Many brands use both campaigns and contracts depending on the situation.
Common Strategy:
Campaigns for your general creator program (100+ micro-influencers)
Contracts for your top-tier influencers or celebrity partnerships
Example:
A beauty brand might:
Run a Campaign for 200 micro-influencers doing product seeding (same $50 payment for 2 posts each)
Use Contracts for 5 beauty YouTubers with 1M+ subscribers (custom $5,000-$50,000 deals each)
Decision Guide
Choose Campaigns if you answer YES to most of these:
☑ I want to work with 5+ creators on similar terms
☑ I want creators to be able to apply/signup themselves
☑ Everyone should get the same payment and deliverables
☑ I want to see all performance in one centralized dashboard
☑ I'm running a product launch, contest, or ongoing program
Choose Contracts if you answer YES to most of these:
☑ I'm working with specific creators I've already identified
☑ Each creator will have different payment amounts
☑ I need personalized terms for each partnership
☑ I need a legally signed agreement with each creator
☑ I'm working with high-profile influencers or celebrities