What is a Social media influencer and how you can make money

Do you want to monetize your social media accounts?

Do you love scrolling through your Instagram feed? Do you spend endless amount of time in social media? Then, why not earn money while using it? It could be a great side hustle for the social media addicts.

Social Media Influencer is one of the most lucrative professions and every person wants to become one in their suitable niche.

According to We Are Social, more than 3.5 billion people use social media which equals to around 45% of the world’s total population. Hence, it is a great place for brands to target their desired audience.

A few years back, being a social media influencer was only limited to a few celebrities and industry leaders. Today, with the advent of technology, platforms like Instagram and TikTok have given birth to tons of nano influencers and micro celebrities.

If you have a few thousand accounts on Instagram or TikTok, then you can already start your journey as a social media influencer.

What is a Social Media Influencer?

A social media influencer is a person who has access to a large number of followers and can actually influence their buying decision for certain products. They collaborate with the brands and reviews new products in the markets. Their followers trust them and get influenced by them. Social Media Influencers are a tool for the brands to reach their target audience through advertisements.

How much can you earn as a Social Media Influencer?

Instagram and TikTok influencers can charge anything between $100 to $1500 per post. But it depends a lot on the number of followers you have. The more engaging your followers are, the more the brands will be willing to pay.

How to become a social media influencer:

Select niche:

Choose a niche you love. You have to regularly post content in that niche. Some of the most popular niches include:

1. Entertainment videos: These kind of videos gets the most number of views on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram reels.
2. Cooking
3. Travelling
4. Beauty
5. Gaming
6. Fashion
7. Health & Fitness
8. Lifestyle
9. Photography
10. Music
11. DIY and crafts

You can also combine 2 or 3 topics so that you don’t run out of content as a beginner but also, don’t broaden your niche too much.

Choose the suitable platform:

If you choose TikTok, you have to make video content. Else, if you are camera shy, you can choose Instagram and produce a mixture and image and video content. Here are some of the platforms you can choose:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Twitch

If you decide to go with entertainment videos or lifestyle/fashion niche, then TikTok and Instagram would have the best audience for you. Else, if you decide to go with gaming, Twitch is perfect for you.

Develop a content strategy:

You have to post relevant content for your followers. Try to engage with your audience though comments and messages. The more you engage with the audience, the more they would listen to your recommendations.

How to make money:

Here are some of the proven ways to make money as a social media influencer.

1. Sponsored posts:

Ever seen a famous person promoting a skin care product or a clothing store? That is known as sponsored post. Basically he or she is paid by the company to promote that particular product.

Brands are always looking for influencers to promote their stuff. They have got a good product but no audience. This is how the new start-up companies and the well-known brands advertise their products.

What can you promote?

It could be anything related to your niche! It can be about a product, a mobile application or might be another website.

Sponsored posts are the bread and butter of the social media influencers on Instagram and TikTok. Instagram or TikTok does not pay you directly.

2. Affiliate Marketing:

Once you grow a loyal following on any platform, you can start Affiliate Marketing.

Affiliate Marketing is the process of selling other people’s products and getting commissions for driving sales. It is a great way to earn money as a social media influencer. Join programs like Amazon associates or Impact Radius. If you are using Instagram, you can use affiliate links on the story as well as the author’s bio. Be genuine with your audience and promote products and you already use and love it.

3. Digital product

You can sell digital products as well.

For example, if you create content about business and marketing, you can create an eBook on how to start a successful business from zero. Similarly, if you are a food vlogger, you can sell an eBook containing the best recipes. SendOwl is a platform that allows you to sell digital products.

4. Display Advertising:

Bloggers and YouTubers can use display advertising to monetize their content. Join several ad networks like Google Adsense, Ezoic, Mediavine, AdThrive etc.

Related Post: Ezoic Vs AdThrive

5. Webinars

Webinars are the video lectures that and created. Instead of writing eBooks, you can record videos to discuss about a particular topic.

You can also read: Best Influencer Networks

The Bottom Line

Similarly like other professions, this field too needs consistency and dedication. You may not see results in the first few days but the results can be rewarding in the long run.

Social media is a powerful tool if used properly. Young teenagers and kids are becoming social media influencers and are earning in six figures. There is no age bar and no investment. Anyone can do it. Also, you can manage your account part-time. It is worth giving a try without risking your full-time job.