21 Ideas for Earning Money Through Social Media

Nowadays, having only one source of income is not enough. In my case, it can barely cover the monthly expenses and bills. 

So, I researched several ideas for earning money through social media. It’s a way for me to have extra earnings to buy groceries or add to my savings. If you’re like me and want to make extra money online, this guide will help you do that. 

1. Sponsored Posts

One way most influencers make money is by doing sponsored posts. Brands will contact you to make deals if you have a decent social media following. 

You can also do outreach, where you reach out to businesses and pitch the benefits of partnering with you. Once the deal is sealed, you’ll be paid to promote their products and services on your social accounts like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and even LinkedIn.

2. Affiliate Marketing

Another way you can earn extra cash through social media is affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is where you can make a commission by promoting a product or service of a business using an affiliate link. 

The best examples of where you can do that are Clickbank, ShareASale, and Amazon. You can sign up or apply to their affiliate program, and once accepted, you can begin promoting their products on your social platforms or website. You’ll also have your own Amazon dashboard to monitor how many people click on your links and purchase through them. 

3. Selling Products Online

Selling products online is among the best ways to make extra money. Though this sounds similar to affiliate marketing, there’s a difference. You need to have your own products to sell or have a supplier who can send the orders directly to your customers, which is called drop shipping. You’ll need a platform to sell, for which you can use your social media platforms.

4. Paid Online Communities

Looking to boost your income? Consider creating a paid online community on social media. It’s a digital space where members pay to access exclusive content, discussions, and benefits.

These communities often provide specialized knowledge, tools, or interactions not found in free forums. Remember that building a good following and having a valuable offer is the key to success here. 

5. Social Media Management

One way to earn an additional income is through social media management. In this line of freelance work, you create and schedule social media content to grow and nurture audiences on various social media platforms. 

Most importantly, you must have an effective social media content strategy to organically grow your client’s accounts. If that sounds like you, you can create an account and apply to job sites like Upwork. 

6. Online Courses

If you’re a teacher, YouTuber, writer, or someone who knows much about one specific topic, you can make online courses and sell them. Pick a topic you want to cover and ensure you’re good at that. 

Next, validate your ideas through research and audience surveys to make sure that’s what your audience wants. Once you finish that, pick your course platforms, like Teachable and Learndash. 

7. Create an E-Book 

Another extra source of income you can do is create an e-book. Creating an e-book lets you share your knowledge, expertise, and life experience in a convenient digital format while earning extra income. 

It’s also hassle-free since you can self-publish your e-book on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and reach a wide audience. That said, you can always use your social media following to market the e-book. 

8. Print-On-Demand

If you want to earn extra bucks and have good design skills, there’s no better way to leverage your social media account than a print-on-demand business. It’s where you design a product with your print-on-demand partner, and they will print and ship the goods to your customers on your behalf. 

Some of the most popular print-on-demand partners you can collaborate with are Printify and Printful. There’s no set-up cost or membership fee for these two, and they will only charge you for manufacturing and shipping once an order is placed. 

9. Photography

You can earn extra income by doing photography gigs through social media. All you need to do is showcase your photography skills on social media platforms and ensure all your shots are taken well. 

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are good places to find clients who need photographers for their businesses or personal shoots. As a result, you’ll turn your passion for photography into a profitable side hustle. 

10. Subscription Services

Earn extra income by offering subscription services through social media. Just create valuable content or products that people are willing to pay for. Whether it’s exclusive access to premium content, personalized services, or products, you can make easy money by promoting them on social media. 

However, this only works if you already have established followers. If not, work on growing your audience first. By giving your subscribers something valuable regularly, you can turn what you love or are good at into a steady source of income.

11. Crowdfunding

If you need money for a brilliant business idea but have no capital money at hand, you can generate money through crowdfunding. Simply share your project or idea online, be genuine, and ask for their support.

Start a GoFundMe or use Kickstarter to start your journey. Afterward, share them on social platforms like Facebook and Instagram to raise awareness about the funding. 

12. Sponsored Reviews

Another way you can make legitimate money online is to do sponsored reviews. Don’t mistake this as similar to sponsored posts; this isn’t. In sponsored reviews, you’ll get paid to write a lengthy review for a product or service of a business. Meanwhile, in sponsored posts, you’ll only do a little extra work of endorsing or posting an item.

13. Digital Coaching or Consulting

One of the ways to make extra cash is through digital coaching or consulting. Though this might sound simple, it has depth, so you must have the experience to do any of those two. 

For example, if you have expertise in fitness, you could provide tailored workout plans and nutrition guidance via video calls or email consultations. Or, if you excel in career coaching, you could offer resume reviews and interview strategies to assist people get much better employment opportunities. Use social media to tell people about your services and connect with potential clients.

14. Copywriting Services

Another way of making a quick buck is to offer copywriting services. With your talent in writing, you get paid to work with brands, advertisers, marketing agencies, or sole business owners and earn additional income. Market your offerings well on social media and job sites like Upwork to attract potential clients willing to pay for your freelance writing services. 

15. Video Production

Video production is another way to make more money via social media. Businesses and YouTubers often hire freelancers to do video production or video editing for them for a good amount of money. For instance, a video editor I know makes hundreds of dollars per video submitted. 

16. Graphic Design Services

If you have a good eye for design and details, offering graphic design services is among the best ways to make additional money. Your job here includes anything from making logos, typography, infographics, or packaging design. Use your social media to post your work and attract new clients.

17. Virtual Assistant Services

Offering virtual assistant services is one way to start making money online. It’s similar to offering social media and copywriting services but with a broader scope of work. Your job here is not restricted to blog posting, scheduling appointments, managing email accounts, and making travel arrangements. 

18. Webinar Hosting

Web hosting is another way you can earn money from home. You can make money from this by hosting webinars for specific topics you’re an expert in. 

Use your social media to make your followers aware of your webinar, set an admission price, and add as much value as you can on the topic of your choosing. 

19. Niche Blogging

If you love blogging, there’s no better way to monetize than niche blogging. You pick a particular topic to write on and publish posts in that niche. 

For instance, if you love traveling, you can pick a travel niche and write only about traveling topics. Share your posts on various social platforms to attract more audience. Once your blog gains traction and your social media account grows, you can earn money from ads and sponsored posts and offer your expertise to help other bloggers. 

20. Podcast

If you love talking, monetizing a podcast is another way to make money online. Pick your niche or topic, choose a catchy name, and buy recording equipment and software. 

Once everything is ready, you can start recording and editing your podcast. After that, focus on building trust with your audience by regularly uploading valuable, high-quality content that resonates with your audience. 

When your podcast gains a good audience and your social media platforms start to grow, you can start doing sponsored posts and ads, or put affiliate codes or links to your podcast. 

21. Sponsored Livestream

If you enjoy live interactions, hosting sponsored livestreams is a great way to earn money online. Start by picking a subject or theme for your live stream, ensuring it aligns with your interests and expertise.

Next, gather the equipment and streaming software, ensuring good audio and video quality. Once prepared, engage with your audience in real-time by delivering valuable content and fostering meaningful conversations.

As your livestream gains traction and viewership, consider collaborating with brands for sponsored posts and ads during your streams. Alternatively, incorporate affiliate codes or links into your content to monetize your efforts further.