If you’d like to become well-versed in how to use social media to make money, know that it takes a certain amount of courage, drive, and follow-through. And if you’ve never earned money with the use of online social media platforms, it might be tough to wrap your mind around the possibilities. However, there really is no cap on how much you can potentially make. Social media platforms are incredible resources in order to financially change the trajectory of your life. In order to use it correctly, implement one or more of these tips.
Sponsored Posts/Paid Partnerships
Many people make the assumption that if they don’t have thousands or millions of followers, they can’t make money through sponsored posts or paid partnerships. Ultimately, if you have an opinion within a certain niche, regularly share your experiences. As you continue to consistently share your point of view, you’ll develop a platform of influence. When you’ve developed credibility by regularly creating content and using your voice, you’ll gain a following of people who trust your opinion. Even if you have 500 followers and only 1% of your followers buy a product you’ve recommended, that’s still five purchases that the company didn’t have before they came in contact with your brand. If you’re starting from scratch, you can develop your voice as a micro-influencer by utilizing the work of sponsored posts to make money.
Affiliate Marketing Links
Affiliate marketing comes in where you need to get a certain number of people to click a link and purchase an item. As the person who led the customer to that link, you’ll gain a commission from that transaction. A lot of influencers enjoy the “swipe up” feature that allows people to quickly and easily access a specific product. There are plenty of companies that provide affiliate programs and welcome affiliate partners in order to make money. You just need a unique code that allows the company to know that they need to direct the commission to your account. If you’ve been in love with a certain brand of vitamins, find out if they have an affiliate program. If they do, you can get a unique link. And promote it to your following and authentically share the benefits you’ve reaped since you’ve been using the product. Then, let the commission checks trickle in.
Brand Awareness
If you’re building a website with products and services you’d like to sell, social media platforms can help you make money because they can serve as incredibly traffic drivers to your online shop. You’d need to create posts that talk about the products and services you offer. Showcase the results they’ve provided for others. You can also show people using the products as well. As you regularly provide content and build a following on a social media platform, brand awareness is the way that more people will know about your company and that your products are available for public consumption.
Direct-to-Consumer Model
If you already have a small business, you can also use the direct-to-consumer model through platforms like Instagram. There are two main ways to execute this option. First, you can develop a business profile as a retailer. This allows you to set up a shop through a social media platform. As people visit your company’s profile, they’ll see a tab that says ‘View Shop’. This allows them to simply click through and purchase products as long as their credit card information is already inserted. The other way to do a direct-to-consumer model is through doing sales. Which you can do in the Stories feature of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and more. This is especially helpful when you’re selling a limited quantity of a few items. People can send a message to secure their item, pay through Paypal or another payment processor. Then, you can ship the item directly to them.
As you become creative with your efforts to earn a viable income online, know that it can get easier with time. And as you become more knowledgeable and confident in the process, you’ll eventually be able to do it with your eyes closed. Once you earn that first dollar and realize it’s really possible, the sky is truly the limit.