Guide
Instagram Close Friends Story brand deal rates
Figures and workflows here are illustrations, not financial, tax, or accounting advice. Talk to a tax or finance specialist in your jurisdiction before you invoice, set payment terms, or treat a number as a rate you should charge.
CF vs public (same creative effort)
| SKU | Audience | Vs public Story seq | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public 3-frame sequence | Followers who open Stories | 1.0× | $245 |
| CF 3-frame sequence (~200 list) | Close Friends only | 0.70× | $172 |
| CF 3-frame (~800 warm list) | Larger CF | 0.85× | $208 |
| CF + public same day (both) | Both audiences | 1.0 + 0.70 | $417 |
| CF hard-sell script (ad tone) | CF | 1.0× public or refuse | $245+ |
If your CF list is under ~50, say so and either raise the intimacy premium or steer them to public Stories.
Worked quote: CF product drop
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| CF 3-frame sequence (~200) | $172 |
| List size disclosed in SOW | Included |
| No paid usage / no screenshots for ads | Default |
| Optional: public Story same day | +$245 |
| Total CF-only | $172 |
Brands that want CF “because engagement is higher” still pay — intimacy is the product.
What CF pricing is not
- Not a free test before a public campaign.
- Not whitelist / Partnership Ads inventory.
- Not the same as pinned Highlight (public lasting placement).
Audience care
Too many CF brand posts and the list mutes you. Cap CF brand slots per month on your card.
Sibling
Public frame-count and stickers live on the Stories and sticker guides — keep CF here.
Related guides
Platform rates & formats
Close Friends Story rate questions
+Should Close Friends Stories cost less than public Stories?
Reach is smaller, but trust density is higher. Many creators charge ~0.6–0.9× a comparable public Story sequence — not 0.2× — when the CF list is curated fans, not 5 friends.
+Do I tell the brand my Close Friends list size?
Yes, as a range (e.g. 180–220). Selling “Close Friends” with 12 people as if it were 2,000 is a trust problem. Update the number when the list changes a lot.
+Can brands screenshot CF Stories for ads?
Organic CF only unless paid usage is stated. Screenshots into ads still need a usage line — and may violate the private vibe you sold.
+CF Story vs public Story + link sticker?
Different products. CF is intimacy inventory. Public + sticker is reach + clicks. Do not substitute one for the other without re-quoting.
+How many revisions for a CF sequence?
One round. CF audiences punish hard-sell rewrites — if they want a full public-style ad script, charge public Story rates or refuse CF.
List CF as its own Story SKU
BlueRateCard packages can separate public Stories and Close Friends so brands stop assuming green-star posts are cheap. Free for creators.