by Troy White
Have you ever thought about being the next Addison Ray or PewDiePie? It may seem glamorous to dance along to the latest hit songs on TikTok or react to the most outrageous videos for hours on end, but it’s also worthwhile to consider how these influencers make their money.
We may not be able to teach you the latest dance trend or stream our reactions to funny fail videos, but we sure can discuss money, money management, and influencers’ income.
In this blog, we’ll break down the top ways influencers make their cash from:
- Affiliate Marketing
- Brand Sponsored Posts
- Becoming an Ambassador
- Patreon
Top Ways Influencers Make Money
Affiliate Marketing
One of the easiest ways to start making some dough as an influencer is through affiliate marketing.
What is it?
Affiliate Marketing is when an influencer recommends a product or service. The influencer earn money when a follower purchases using their link.
Influencers get these links from thousands of different businesses with their own affiliate programs. Amazon has one of the most extensive affiliate programs, including millions of products with varying commission rates.
Other individual brands like Disney+ and Robinhood have great programs as well, which allow influencers to represent the brands they love flexibly. Once they know what they want to sell, influencers can begin finding their audience, catering their messaging, and earning those commissions!
Brand-Sponsored Posts
Another way influencers can start contributing to their financial future is by sharing brand-sponsored posts.
In this case, brands reach out to influencers and ask them to promote their product or service. In return, influencers receive direct compensation for each post they create. For influencers lucky enough to be sponsored by travel companies, rewards may even come in the form of free travel to luxurious destinations!
Brand-sponsored posts can take many forms, such as blog articles, videos, or social media posts. The content of these posts usually highlights the product or service in a fun, engaging way. Incorporating the close connection influencers have with their fans makes for some truly remarkable results, which may lead to other brands reaching out in the future!
Becoming Brand Ambassadors
Influencers can also make money by becoming brand ambassadors. Becoming a brand ambassador involves a more long-term commitment, with contracts ranging from a few months to a year.
Many brands have ambassador programs that anyone can sign up for. Lululemon and Yelp are some favored examples of great programs targeting people wanting to influence their local communities.
Some brands even have ambassador programs specifically for college students, including Nav.it! Through these programs, college students can become influencers on campus while also learning valuable skills from their favorite brands.
Our ambassador program supplies students with free merchandise, networking opportunities, a ridiculous amount of financial literacy resources, and access to Nav.it’s Mindset subscription. If you’re interested in becoming a Money Mate ambassador, take the first step and fill out our application!
Patreon
Finally, Patreon is a great platform that allows influencers to make money while engaging with their followers.
Influencers can share their Patreon account with their followers, offering exclusive content, live experiences, early access, or personalized tutorials. Followers can also pay a small fee or subscribe monthly to access their favorite content and support their favorite influencers.
Patreon is awesome because you can begin benefitting from your creative work no matter what type of content creator you are—a Youtuber, podcaster, musician, or artist.
So, How Can I Become an Influencer and How Much Do They Make?
Now that you know how influencers make their money, you may contemplate starting a side-hustle or looking up TikTok dance tutorials. But remember, plenty of influencers out there make other types of fantastic content. Influencers have been able to make an income with tutorials, blogs, podcasts, and more. Depending on your interests and skillset, these might be more worthwhile avenues to explore.
Lastly, here are some figures to keep in mind if you are money motivated. Micro-influencers (with between 10,000 and 50,000 followers) can make up to $500 per post or between $40,000 and $100,000 per year. Mega-influencers with millions of followers can earn up to $250,000 per post! Now that’s a lot of money.
So, if you have a valuable skill or a portfolio of work that you want to share, start thinking about becoming an influencer. You can begin building your wealth (and maybe even become the next Addison Ray)!
Related Reads:
Best Side-Hustles to Make Extra Cash
Weird Ways to Make Extra Money
Troy is a 4th-year student at Cal Poly Slo studying Business Administration with a dual concentration in Marketing Management and Entrepreneurship. While managing money in college and preparing for his future, Troy recognized a lack of financial literacy among young adults. He has since made it his mission to help others achieve financial wellness through education and open communication. His other interests include film, music, reading, and helping the environment.
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