The 2-Question Reply | Stop Sending Your Rates

⚡ The 2-Question Reply

When a brand says "send rates," reply with exactly this:

Question 1

"What's the intended use for the content? Organic only, or will this be used in paid ads?"

Why this works: Paid ad usage (whitelisting) is worth 2-5x more than organic-only content. If you quote a flat rate before knowing this, you're giving away the most valuable part. This question also signals to the brand that you understand the difference — which immediately positions you as a professional, not a hobbyist.

Question 2

"And what's the timeline — is there a campaign launch date you're working toward?"

Why this works: Rush timelines = premium pricing. If a brand needs content in 5 days vs. 3 weeks, the value of your speed is real and billable. This question also reveals how serious they are — a brand with a real campaign date has real budget. A brand that says "no rush" often has no budget locked in yet.

💬 Full conversation example

Brand (DM)

Hey Elisabeth! We're launching a new sunscreen line and love your content style. Can you send over your rates for a 30-sec UGC video?

You (2-Question Reply)

Thanks so much — love the brand! Before I put together pricing, two quick Qs:

1. What's the intended use? Organic social, or will this run in paid ads too?
2. Any campaign launch date you're working toward?

This helps me send you the right package.

Brand (reveals everything)

It'll definitely be used in paid ads! We're running a summer campaign launching June 1st, so we'd need it by mid-May. Budget is flexible — what are your options?

You (now you have leverage)

Perfect — paid ads with a launch date. Here are 3 packages:

A. 1 video, organic only — $350
B. 1 video + 90-day paid ad rights — $750 ☆
C. 2 videos + 90-day paid + 1 revision round — $1,100

Most brands in skincare go with B. Happy to jump on a 10-min call if you want to talk through it.

Brand picked Option B

$750

vs. the $250 you almost sent

🧠 Why two questions (not three, not one)

One question feels like you're probing. Three+ feels like a survey. Two is the sweet spot: it signals professionalism without creating friction.

The specific order matters. Question 1 (usage) extracts the highest-value intel. Question 2 (timeline) reveals urgency. Together, they give you everything you need to quote a premium package — and the brand gave you the justification.

I used this exact framework for 10 years at Deel, Criteo, HBO, and Bloomberg — closing six-figure enterprise contracts. The 2-Question Reply is the same principle scaled down to a DM.

"I saw Elisabeth's post and went 'pfft ya right.' I was mid-negotiation at $150 for 2 UGC videos. Tried her calculator + 3-Option Menu. Walked with $800. She knows ball!!"

— Ty Murph (@Ty__Murph)

The 2-Question Reply is 1 of 60 scripts inside the Kit.

The 3-Option Menu (what to send AFTER they answer). The 7-Day Follow-Up Ladder. The Scope Creep Defense. The Ghost Recovery Templates. 175 brand contacts. An AI coach that writes your replies for you.

$197 launch price (normally $497). One retainer pays it back 6×.

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The next time a brand says
"send rates"
send THIS instead.

Get the 2-Question Reply — free