4 ways Small Content Creators can make money on Social Media.
I personally don’t believe that small content creators have to build a large following on social media to make money. The only difference in my opinion is the amount of work or the fees a creator needs to deliver and able to command might differ.
I have been freelancing in the creative industry for about 3 years now but I have only 95 Instagram followers and that’s where I am trying to stay active at the moment.
I am looking to build up my consistency and stay true to my content pillars while trying to make a living doing the things I enjoy doing every day.
Currently, I am making money in 4 different ways.
Become a service provider
The first way would have to be providing services to businesses as much as possible. In these 3 years, I managed to pick up social media marketing and have been pitching to different clients regularly. I mainly provide DFY organic/paid social media marketing, DFY influencer management, social media strategy calls, videography and video editing.
I am fully aware that my professional page has only 95 Instagram followers however I feel that vanity metrics aren't everything. As a freelance social media manager, I do look at the engagement rates, reach, website clicks and impressions.
These are some of the main few metrics that matter to me for now.
Sell digital products online
The second way, I am trying to make a living as a creator is to sell digital products online, I am using a platform that has audiences that are searching for similar products as mine. The products that I have created are templates and other things that I have created and used on my own to increase my efficiency.
Get an actual J O B
The third way is to actually work for a living. These 3 years, I have worked as a production assistant, casting assistant, location scout, wardrobe assistant, camera assistant and videographer. I would say that this is the most reliable form of income for me as I would get paid by the hour or by the number of projects I complete.
Test different things
The last way, I make a living is to start an online, e-commerce business. I create streetwear designs and coordinate with reputable manufacturers to print the apparel and sell them on social media, the business website and other e-commerce platforms available both locally and worldwide.Doing this e-commerce business isn't the most stressful thing i have ever done but I do feel stressed out when my stocks aren't clearing out.
As a creator, we should know what are some of the things we are passionate about and the skills we possess that we can monetise right now or in the near future. Rather than relying on or chasing followers count, I strongly feel that figuring out ways one can monetise their own skills can increase a creator’s earning potential.
I do understand why we are all chasing that number, our taste for vanity metrics started from our school days. Does an “A” reflect the promise of a student’s future performance or actually show who’s better at studying? On its own, doesn’t a “B” just signal “work harder” rather than “work smarter?”
Followers counts can either be absolutely everything or absolutely nothing. The growth that I have experienced on my professional Instagram account over the past few months is very encouraging, but the real question is whether the 95 of them are actually engaging with my content and are real humans beings.
If you are a small creator like me or looking to be a creator, definitely know what you want to do; find other ways to monetise; be consistent with your content; work in the real world; network with other creators and come up with a detailed long term plan for your creative journey.
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