Pricing sponsorship inventory is one of the most common challenges for creators. Set it too low and you leave money on the table. Set it too high and you get no takers.
The baseline formula: (Average views × CPM equivalent) × placement prominence × audience quality multiplier.
For podcast placements, industry CPMs range from $18–$50 for host reads. YouTube integrations typically run $20–$50 CPM. Newsletter placements can command $40–$80 CPM for highly engaged lists.
Placement prominence matters enormously. A logo on a primary monitor that's in-frame for 15 minutes carries a 3–5x premium over a background prop visible for occasional seconds.
Audience quality multiplier: a tight, professional B2B audience (developers, finance, design) commands 2–3x the CPM of a general interest audience of the same size.
Start with the formula, then adjust based on what brands actually offer. The market tells you the truth.