It’s rare to accrue a social media following without putting in at least some effort. Most brands and business owners spend years reaching out to audiences and trying to build a subscriber base. So, if you’ve recently seen a surge in followers on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram – it means you’re doing something right andpeople want to hear more from you.
There are many ways to monetize a strongonline presence, so if you want to build an online brand or earn some money on the side, follow these tips.
What is a large social media following?
Before you can start making money from social media, you need some perspective. Most online marketers will agree that you need at least 1,000-5,000 followers to start making money through social media, but this depends on your niche and content. Lifestyle and beauty niches are heavily saturated, for example. So if your account belongs in one of these categories, you might need more followers before brands will workwith you. Similarly, you may run a mental health page with 10K followers – but this niche is understandably difficult to monetize.
Start a blog
Starting a blog (if you don’t have one already) is the obvious next step to take if you’re thinking about growing your following further. Social media and blogging go hand-in-hand – plus, you already have an audience that’s interested in your content. You can use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to share content with your followers, which will have a knock-on effect on your blog subscribers. Once you’ve spent time growing your blog, there are numerous ways to monetize – including paid ads, affiliate links, brand collaborations and sponsored posts.
Promote affiliate products
No matter your niche or audience size, there are plenty of opportunities to earn money through affiliate marketing. By becoming an affiliate, you will gain a commission on the products or services you advertise, each time one of your readers or followers uses your link to make a purchase. Keep in mind that the most honest and effective way to earn money through affiliate marketing is to only partner with brands you know your subscribers will love, and to post honest reviews. You can find products and brands to endorse by using the Affiliate Programs search tool.
Join the YouTube Partner Program
If you already have a following on YouTube, joining the YouTube Partner Program can help you earn money through the site. Bear in mind that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication andsocial media savviness to make money on YouTube, but it is certainlypossible – especially if you’re already getting thousands of views and clicks.
Conclusion
Whatever your social platform of choice, there are plenty of ways to earn money and build your following online. Just remember to keep providing your readers or viewers with valuable content – whether you have 20 or 20,000. It’s easy to lose sight of why you started creating content in the first place if you get too caught up in monetization. So stay true to your audience, and true to yourself, and there’s no reason why you can’t become a social media success story.
