How do social media creators get paid?  

Whether you’re a vlogger, a podcaster, a comedian, or someone who’s just considering their options, social media creators can get paid a pretty penny in a variety of different ways. First, let’s look at what we mean by “content creator” and how that may apply to you. 

What is a content creator?  

A content creator is someone who creates educational or entertaining materials that can be expressed through many different mediums and channels. For example, bloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, game streamers, and YouTubers all fall into the broad category of content creators.

Most content creators use writing, graphic design, visual storytelling, or a mixture of all these things to create relevant content that resonates with others. Depending on their profession and industry, some content creators create new content daily, while others publish work less frequently. But when it comes to social media, most professional content creators create and share their work fairly often. 

What are the benefits of this job?  ‍

If you're considering a career as a content creator, there are plenty of perks of the job.

• You get to make your own schedule. One of the best parts of being a content creator is that you get to work when, where, and how you want. If you do your best work at 5 a.m., then go for it. No one’s going to be forcing you to clock in or out.

• You can work from home (or anywhere). Whether you prefer to travel frequently or you just like the flexibility of working from home, being a content creator allows you to work from anywhere.

• You get to do something you love. As a content creator, you get to be creative in lots of different ways. Whether you write blog posts or create stop-motion videos, you’ll have the opportunity to do something you enjoy and that you’re good at. And the best part? You choose your own projects and curate them to fit your brand — not the other way around.

• You can support brands you believe in. Instead of just wishing you could rep your favorite brands, as a content creator, you have the ability to pitch to them and make that a reality. If you score a partnership, you’ll get paid for talking about your favorite brands and sharing products. What could be better?

• There’s no limit on how much you can make. You set your own rates and have full control over the work you agree to take on (or not take on)! Depending on the partnerships you land, you could end up working less than 40 hours a week while still making a substantial and livable income. 

How many followers do you need to get paid?  ‍

This is a common question many content creators ask when they’re first starting out. The simplest answer is: It depends.

Depending on the company, you may need as many as 10K or 50K followers just to land a paid partnership with a brand. For many aspiring content creators, that can be very discouraging. However, the good news is that even though micro-influencers don’t have as many followers, they tend to have higher engagement and conversion rates because they have stronger relationships with their followers that are built on trust and expertise. Micro-influencers also serve more niche audiences, which can give a brand better access to a very small and targeted demographic.

There are opportunities for content creators with audiences of all sizes, but if you’re struggling to land paid deals out of the gate, try to land a brand ambassadorship instead. Although brand ambassadors can sometimes be paid for their work, they often represent companies for free just to get a foot in the door or because they’re very excited about the brand. Starting out this way may open up opportunities for you down the line. 

Ways to make an income as an influencer  

As a digital content creator, there are many versatile ways to make money. As you continue to develop your brand, you can experiment, find what works best for you, and switch things up whenever you need to. Here are some of the most profitable ways to monetize your content. 

1. Work with brands  ‍

Partnering with a brand you love is a fun and exciting way to make money as a content creator. If you pitch to a brand and they accept your proposal, you’ll have the opportunity to create authentic content featuring products you love. So, what does this look like exactly?

In some cases, this might mean filming a vlog about how to use a specific skincare product or sharing a before-and-after video of a project you completed using your favorite tools from a partnered brand. Or it might even be as simple as posting some pictures of you and your kids making a home-cooked recipe using your favorite healthy ingredients. Partnering with brands is a great way to rep your favorite products, gear, and more while bringing in some cash! 

2. Sell a course  ‍

If you’re particularly skilled in a certain area, you have professional expertise, or you’re well educated on a specific topic, creating and selling a course might be a great option for you. This will also help you make a name for yourself as an authoritative and influential content creator in your field.

To do this, consider using online learning platforms like Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare to create courses and publish them online. Promote your course through your social media pages and your online professional networks to gain traction and promote your brand. 

3. Offer exclusive content  

Offer your followers access to exclusive content by giving them the opportunity to sign up for a paid monthly subscription. By making exclusive bonus content just for your subscribers, you’ll create an elite segment of your brand that dedicated followers will want access to. 

Certain platforms like Patreon make it easy for content creators to offer exclusive subscriptions. Doing so will give you the opportunity to create even more tailored content that your audience loves and will also provide some financial stability for you through a monthly stream of income you can rely on. 

4. Monetize your time  

Do you like sharing your skills and expertise? If so, why not monetize your time by providing consulting services? If you’re already a successful content creator, you can teach up-and-coming content creators the ropes by offering your services. Or if you have years of industry experience from a previous job, marketing yourself as a leading content creator and influencer in that industry could help you land consulting gigs.

The best part about consulting is that you get to set your own hourly rate. There’s really no income cap, and you can tailor your services to fit your expertise, professional experience, and ideal client audience. You can also choose who you work with. So if you don’t think a client would be a good fit, you don’t have to work with them! 

5. Sell merch  

Once you’ve established a name for yourself, you can create merch that your followers will want to wear and use. And in doing so, they’ll rep your brand and build your audience for you!

Depending on your industry, you could sell t-shirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, art, or any other type of merchandise you think your followers would love. Make the process easier by using platforms like Bonfire and Redbubble to create and sell your merchandise. 

You can also sell directly to followers using Instagram Shopping or Beacons’ custom website builder tool. Our website tool allows you to link to popular product pages on your website, informational videos, and more. You can customize it to make it your own. 

6. Affiliate marketing  

If you have a decent following on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media accounts, you should also take advantage of affiliate marketing. With affiliate marketing, you earn money by recommending products. But instead of only recommending the products you use yourself, think outside the box and consider what products your audience would like to use. To become an affiliate marketer, you’ll need to contact brands directly or apply to be an affiliate marketer using a brand’s website.

When it comes to affiliate marketing, the most important factor is that you can truly stand behind the products you’re recommending to your audience. If you recommend a low-quality or poorly made product that you genuinely don’t like, you could damage your reputation with your followers, and they may not trust your content anymore. It’s always best to stay true to yourself and your brand. Otherwise, your followers will see right through you, and it will be hard to win them back. 

7. Social media advertising  

Social media advertising does require an initial investment on your end, but it’s a great way to attract new people who are unfamiliar with your brand, boost brand awareness, and send traffic to your website to increase conversions. 

With social media advertising, you can target brand-new customers (or existing ones) and customize detailed targeting options based on demographics. And if you have tangible products, a social media photo ad is the perfect way to show them off. 

There are plenty of other types of ad options, though, including: 

• Video ads

• Story ads

• Carousel ads

• Slideshow ads

• Collection ads

• Messenger ads 

8. Find freelance jobs  

If you’re having a hard time scoring sponsored partnerships with partnerships due to a small following, there are still money-making options out there for you! Picking up freelance jobs for other content creators is an excellent way to earn some cash. 

For example, you could create content for other blogs or make videos for brand accounts. Being a behind-the-scenes content creator can be just as profitable, and it’s an excellent way to network too. 

9. Try new platforms  

So, let’s say you’re already a well-known Instagram influencer. Why stop there? With so many different social media platforms, the opportunities are endless. Consider your target audience and the other platforms you might find them on. For example, many young adults prefer TikTok, but you might consider expanding your reach to apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube too.

Even if you’ve had great success with a particular social media platform, it’s always a good idea to branch out and try your luck on other platforms. By building a presence on a variety of social media platforms, you can expand your brand presence and audience reach and grow your opportunities to partner with new brands as you gain popularity. 

Grow with Beacons  

Beacons is one of the best ways to grow your brand and start earning a living through social media content creation. Our website builder and link in bio tool can help you funnel your audience to your top-performing content, products, and more to get your content in front of the right people at the right time.

Create your free account today and join the 1 million+ Beacons users who are already growing their brands with our help.