Are you someone who is addicted to social media and head over heels in love with it? Are you someone who keeps scrolling through the feeds all day long? Or are you someone who loves to share the very minute details with their followers?
It is proven according to research that an average person spends about 2 hours on social media every day. If you are a social media stoner, it could be more. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could earn money via your social media platform rather than just scrolling aimlessly?
If you are someone who has a vast specific niche related followers on your social media profile, then you have the potential to be a full-time social media influencer. Making money online is not just limited to blogging and website hosting these days; a whole new category of social media marketing is emerging.
There are a variety of social media platforms out there and earning continuously through them requires staying up to date with new technologies and adapting to changes quickly. Instagram is the top platform to earn great money today, but it may not be the same a few years later. So quickly adapting to new platforms and keeping your creativity awake are the two most vital traits of a social media influencer.
Research and experts say that social media influencer marketing is going to be a 5-10 billion dollar industry in the next two years. It is a promising field for those who have influencer qualities packed with tonnes of creativity.
If you are new to this field of social media or if you want to improve your existing social media presence, then here are a few tips and tricks that would help you make money through social media platforms quickly and sustainably.
Pick a platform wisely.
Prioritize your social media platform specifically. Although most of the major social media platforms are interconnected these days like Facebook and Instagram, still you need to take one platform and treat it professionally. There is no harm in creating a vast social network spread across various platforms. But choosing a single platform in terms of making money provides you with a clear perspective.
Research says that nearly all social media influencers use Instagram for making money. Other platforms that serve the purpose just right are Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Youtube, Pinterest, etc. Although it’s up to you, try to choose a platform that is popular among your followers and potential audience as well. Instagram is a tried and tested social media marketing platform and thus requires less renovation on your part. Your social media profile should intensify your personal brand and help you attract followers.
How about joining a network of influencers?
You have substantial niche-based followers on your social media platform, but how do you earn money with them? Brands may not be able to reach you if you don’t try!
Joining a network of influencers gives your page an identity that helps brands discover you. Platforms like Brandwatch can be a great place to form an influencer network.
For example, if you have a social media page related to food, you can use your page to reach out to brands related to your niche and become a mediator between their products and your followers. It is a great way to make money through social media platforms.
These kinds of networks help you to connect with brands easily. You can also communicate with brands via these networks instead of using the cumbersome direct messaging system of Instagram or messaging features of any other platform.
Get more engagement to attract more brands.
Brands associate with you mainly because they want engagements for their products. When you understand how to increase engagements on your social media content, brands will start flowing in for posting about their products on your page, also known as sponsored posts.
The key idea here is to get more and more people to like, share, comment, view, and tag your content. You can start with having a quality content wrapped with a captivating caption that calls for action. Then you need to respond to your followers. It may be tiring, especially if you have thousands of followers. But you need to take out time to respond to your followers for gathering more and more engagements. Responding to your followers also gets you a more personal connection, and you can recommend brands to them, they are more likely to consider them.
Share your engagement insights with brands to get associated with them. Let them gauge your influence with the metric of engagements you have with your followers.
The power of Hashtags
If you are someone who is making a living from social media, then you must understand the power of hashtags.
According to some recent research, using seven hashtags helps your post earn the maximum engagement rates. More than seven hashtags may pose your post to be spam. Use broad hashtags to help your content reach a targeted audience. You can also create your unique hashtags for each of your campaigns.
Associate with brands that compliment your core values.
Sometimes it may be tempting to take offers from a wide variety of brands to earn money quickly. But keep in mind the future of your brand and reputation of your page before engaging with various brands just for money.
Always try to associate with brands that adhere to your niche. Never promote a brand that goes against your core values, principles, or preachings.
Always stay loyal to a specific niche, for example, if you say that you are a fitness enthusiast in your biography then you must create content that fits into that type and promote brands of fitness products and services only. It will help you earn the trust of your followers and create a sustainable relationship between you and your followers.
Post best quality pictures and content.
Getting followers on social media platforms and earning money via platforms like Facebook and Instagram needs you to invest more in your content.
Always try to post only high-quality photos and videos. Take the help of a professional camera if possible. Polish your contents to perfection before you publish them.
Posting quality content promises more followers and a greater engagement rate on your page.
Post pictures that are attractive and legitimate. Invest your time, money, and resources on your social media platform, if you want to make an earning through your social media identity.
Affiliate Marketing through Social Media.
One of the most effective ways to make money through Instagram or Facebook is via affiliate marketing. You need not promote something you don’t like. The most promising feature of affiliate marketing is that you can promote products that you use personally and get a commission out of it. You can get associated with platforms like Clickbank or Amazon and choose products of your niche to give them a personalized review through your social media platforms.
Giving a positive review of a product is the best way to promote it. It also gives a personal touch to the promotion, compelling your followers to consider your review.
Sell your products on Instagram.
Apart from being a social media influencer and promoting brands, you can also make money from Instagram by opening an online shop. If you have some innovative art or products that you want to sell and earn money through it, then Instagram is undoubtedly your go-to choice. It’s super easy and fun.
A large number of Instagram users get your products or services a considerable exposure that helps you get a wide range of customers.
Promoting and selling your products via your Instagram also gives you a sense of freedom and independence. Now, you can be entirely focused on selling your product rather than working for others.
Social Media Manager.
There are many companies as well as celebrities who are on the lookout for social media managers who can run their social media platforms. This particular field has seen a surge in recent years due to the emerging importance of social media platforms to create an online presence. For this, you need to have knowledge about social media marketing and then use your creativity to increase the reach of your employer’s social media platform.
Making money via Facebook Groups.
Facebook groups are a great way to connect with your audience at a personal level and gather like-minded people. It is a great platform to market your products and share your services. Not only this, you can even get ad sponsors and affiliate products to earn more and more money.
The influence of Facebook groups has increased recently, giving you yet another social media platform to make money. It is one of the latest ways to make money with Facebook.
Free Giveaways.
Everyone wants free giveaways. Who doesn’t like free stuff?
Announcing free giveaways can not only increase your engagement but also serve as a sample for your or the associated brand’s products. It will encourage more and more people to get engaged with your content and the product you sponsor.
Hosting giveaways also connects you with your audience at a personal level. It makes them more likely to grab something which is recommended by you.
Why not associate with a mobile app?
Brands often approach social media influencers for a short term basis. They often hop from one influencer to another for promoting their brand.
While most of the social media influencers are lured by the brands to get associated with them, this may not be a long term collaboration.
Instead, social media influencers can partner with mobile apps for sustainable collaboration.
Associate with a mobile app that highlights your niche and adheres to your core values. Successful collaboration with mobile apps may also prove beneficial for your brand image.
Make sure that you get paid for your work.
According to a survey, the primary source of income for more than 80% of the social media influencers are sponsored ads.
The world of social media is a highly competitive field, and it is quite likely that you may be underpaid.
So, you need to make sure that you get paid for your work and protect your rights. Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Always make the mode of payment and the amount crystal clear before you take up a project. Be stern and demand for your share of money as soon as the work is done.
Conclusion
Social media is a big world. Making money through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube are the new sources of livelihood for many. There are many ways by which one can make money via social media platforms. One can be a social media influencer, can promote bands, offer his or her products or services, be a social media manager for famous personalities, or get into affiliate or digital marketing.
Increasing your follower engagements is beneficial for building your online brand. It is relatively better than just scrolling through social media all day long aimlessly. Choose your platform and start building your base now, if you want to enter in this highly potential Global influencer market which is going to be a billion-dollar industry in the coming years.