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So You Want to be an Influencer
While scrolling through instructional videos on how to marinate eggs and properly fry Buffalo wings on TikTok’s Cooking with Lynja, you might have noticed a post where she praises Maxwell House’s new Instant Latte powder for its “coffeeshop quality in no time.” Congratulations, you’ve just been influenced. Well, at least that’s the goal.
Influencers are gamers, musicians, models, comedians, and fashionistas that all exist in the universe of content creators. They are internet personalities who have built up so much of an online audience that they have the ability to sway purchasing power and consumer habits.
While most won’t ever make enough money for it to be anything but a side hustle, some influencers have achieved massive success. Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, and Bretman Rock might be more familiar to readers of Teen Vogue than The Daily Upside, but they’re major players in a $21 billion industry that’s changing the marketing landscape.
Evolving Ads
Companies are done relying solely on traditional marketing avenues like billboards, commercials, and even digital advertising. As more of us congregate on social media, companies are going where the audience is and reaching out to influencers to promote their products on the biggest platforms.
In a 2022 study, the Harvard Business Review combed through thousands of promotional posts from influencers on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Some posts cost companies $200 while others were worth $100,000, and HBR found that “on average, a 1% increase in influencer marketing spend led to an increase in engagement of 0.46%, suggesting that the strategy can in fact yield positive ROI.”
But not without risk:
- An influencer might have a large following, but if they post too often, they can start to be annoying. But post too little and the influencer is perceived as lacking an authoritative voice for a product. It’s difficult for companies to find that Goldilocks whose posts are just right.
- Also, too much rah-rah positivity in a promotional post can be seen as disingenuous. For example, Audi paid an influencer $4,000 to hype the automaker’s new QL2 model that “brings a brand new experience to young and free-spirited consumers.” It wasn’t reposted a single time, meaning the promotional message was viewed by a lot less people than Audi would’ve hoped.
Reality Bites
A career doing makeup tutorials on TikTok or live streaming video games on YouTube sounds like a sweet deal. The activities are often what many of us are already doing for free in our spare time, and there’s the added benefit of being your own boss — as long as you’re OK being beholden to major corporations like Meta, Google, and ByteDance.
Someone like Paige Spiranac — a former professional golfer-turned-model-turned-social-media-personality — reportedly receives $14,000 per Instagram post, outpacing both Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy.
But for the millions of other influencers in the world, that kind of success is far from common. Ryan Hilliard of HypeAuditor, an influencer analytics company, recently told NPR that someone would need to have 1 million followers on social media to make influencing a full-time career. He said “less than 1%” ever achieve that. “It’s just too hard. There’s too many other people doing similar stuff,” he added.
Chasing the Dream
Despite a crowded market and long odds for success, younger generations wish they could turn their hobbies into full-time work via social media:
- Marketing software company Carro says 54% of millennials would quit their jobs if they had the chance to be influencers. Similarly, a Morning Consult survey found that 57% of Gen Zers would do the same; 30% said they would even pay to become an influencer. When asked why they want to be influencers, the top answers were “money, flexibility, and fun.”
- Gen Z was the first generation where social media was a part of their everyday life. Many younger people view influencing and content creation as a typical career option. According to trendHERO, more than 64 million influencers exist on Instagram globally, and that’s just the one platform.
Many people in their 20’s and 30’s are out of school, in debt, living with their parents, and working at jobs they don’t like, so the influencer pursuit is a bit of a lottery ticket. They see it as a way out.
The reality is that influencing is still a job, and like most jobs, the majority of people start at the bottom.
Foot in the Door
Erica Becker is a 33-year-old actor, podcaster, event coordinator, and media consultant based in New York. She also has a burgeoning part-time career as an influencer, specifically in the fields of health, beauty and wellness.
“I’ve always just enjoyed posting stuff like ‘here’s a great recipe I made,’ or ‘I bought this thing, and I really like it,’” she told The Daily Upside. “But then one of my friends was telling me if I had an affiliate link to Amazon for that product, I could be making money from it.”
Right now, Becker is in the building phase, attracting an audience while developing a media kit, essentially a highlight reel of her best Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube content to show off to potential brands and sponsors.
She’s excited about influencing, but it can be taxing. “The other day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., I was filming and editing content,” she said. “You’ve got to keep your energy up, which isn’t too much of a problem for me. But you also got to do your hair, do your makeup, change your clothes, so it doesn’t look like you filmed everything in the same day. And the editing can be tedious.”
Plus, since she’s just starting out, the riches haven’t exactly come through yet.
“For how much I’m putting in, I’m probably not getting the compensation for it, but you have to do that at the beginning,” she said. “No one’s going to pay you to make content for them if you don’t have content to show.”
So far, Becker has done a few one-off posts for detox vitamins and espresso-infused energy bars. She said deals like that tend to pay around $100 to $150. She’s working on securing a more long-term partnership with an arts shop on Etsy.
Becker said she’s confident she can make influencing a more steady and lucrative source of income in the near future. She also said the business model in general is gaining plenty of legitimacy.
“If you go to LinkedIn and search ‘content creator,’ there are so many jobs for it,” she said.
Making it Work
The influencer is the modern-day celebrity — the movie star, pop idol, or professional athlete of the digital age. And like all those careers, most people never get their big break. As long as influencing is approached with a degree of realism, it can be a fun hobby or distraction, and maybe provide occasional income akin to tending bar on the weekends, tutoring after school, or dog walking on days off. It doesn’t need to be your primary income, and the dreams are still free.
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12 Proven Methods to Make Money Blogging in 2024
This is a contributed article.
The world of blogging continues to thrive in 2024, offering a compelling avenue for creative minds to share their knowledge, build an audience, and even turn their passion into profit. Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting, there are numerous effective strategies to monetize your blog and achieve financial success. Here, we delve into 12 proven methods to make money blogging in 2024:
1. Embrace Niche Expertise:
Standing out in the vast blogosphere requires focus. Carving a niche allows you to cater to a specific audience with targeted content. This not only builds a loyal following but also positions you as an authority in your chosen field. Whether it’s gardening techniques, travel hacking tips, or the intricacies of cryptocurrency, delve deep into a subject you’re passionate and knowledgeable about. Targeted audiences are more receptive to monetization efforts, making them ideal for success.
2. Content is King (and Queen):
High-quality content remains the cornerstone of any successful blog. In 2024, readers crave informative, engaging, and well-written content that solves their problems, answers their questions, or entertains them. Invest time in crafting valuable blog posts, articles, or videos that resonate with your target audience.
- Focus on evergreen content: Create content that remains relevant for a long time, attracting consistent traffic and boosting your earning potential.
- Incorporate multimedia: Spice up your content with captivating images, infographics, or even videos to enhance reader engagement and improve SEO.
- Maintain consistency: Develop a regular publishing schedule to build anticipation and keep your audience coming back for more.
3. The Power of SEO:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ensures your blog ranks high in search engine results for relevant keywords. This increases organic traffic, the lifeblood of any monetization strategy.
- Keyword research: Use keyword research tools to identify terms your target audience searches for. Strategically incorporate these keywords into your content naturally.
- Technical SEO: Optimize your blog’s loading speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall technical aspects to improve search engine ranking.
- Backlink building: Encourage other websites to link back to your content, boosting your blog’s authority in the eyes of search engines.
4. Monetization Magic: Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions by promoting other companies’ products or services. When a reader clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you get a commission.
- Choose relevant affiliates: Promote products or services that align with your niche and resonate with your audience.
- Transparency is key: Disclose your affiliate relationships clearly to your readers and build trust.
- Integrate strategically: Don’t just bombard readers with links. Weave affiliate promotions naturally into your content, highlighting the value proposition.
5. Display Advertising: A Classic Approach
Display advertising involves placing banner ads, text ads, or other visual elements on your blog. When a reader clicks on an ad, you earn revenue.
- Choose reputable ad networks: Partner with established ad networks that offer competitive rates and relevant ads for your audience.
- Strategic ad placement: Place ads thoughtfully, avoiding an overwhelming experience for readers.
- Track your performance: Monitor ad clicks and conversions to measure the effectiveness of your ad placements and optimize for better results.
6. Offer Premium Content:
Providing exclusive, in-depth content behind a paywall can generate additional income. This could be premium blog posts, ebooks, online courses, or webinars.
- Deliver exceptional value: Ensure your premium content offers significant value that justifies the price tag.
- Multiple pricing options: Consider offering tiered subscription plans to cater to different audience needs and budgets.
- Promote effectively: Highlight the benefits of your premium content and encourage readers to subscribe.
7. Coaching and Consulting:
Leverage your expertise by offering coaching or consulting services related to your niche. Readers who find your content valuable may be interested in personalized guidance.
- Position yourself as an expert: Showcase your qualifications, experience, and client testimonials to build trust and establish your credibility.
- Offer free consultations: Provide a limited free consultation to potential clients, allowing them to experience your expertise firsthand.
- Develop clear packages: Outline different coaching or consulting packages with varying time commitments and pricing structures.
8. The Power of Community: Online Events and Webinars
Host online events or webinars related to your niche. These events offer valuable content while also providing an opportunity to promote other monetization avenues.
- Interactive and engaging: Structure your online events to be interactive with polls, Q&A sessions, or live chats. Click here to learn more about image marketing with Q&A sessions and live chats.
9. Embrace the Power of Email Marketing:
Building an email list allows you to foster stronger relationships with your audience and promote your content and offerings directly.
- Offer valuable incentives: Encourage readers to subscribe by offering exclusive content, discounts, or early access to new products.
- Segmentation is key: Segment your email list based on reader interests to send targeted campaigns that resonate more effectively.
- Regular communication: Maintain consistent communication with your subscribers through engaging newsletters or updates.
10. Sell Your Own Products:
Take your expertise to the next level by creating and selling your own products. This could be physical merchandise, digital downloads, or even printables related to your niche.
- Identify audience needs: Develop products that address the specific needs and desires of your target audience.
- High-quality offerings: Invest in creating high-quality products that offer exceptional value and user experience.
- Utilize multiple platforms: Sell your products through your blog, online marketplaces, or even social media platforms.
11. Sponsorships and Brand Collaborations:
Partner with brands or businesses relevant to your niche for sponsored content or collaborations. This can be a lucrative way to leverage your audience and generate income.
- Maintain editorial control: While working with sponsors, ensure you retain editorial control to maintain your blog’s authenticity and audience trust.
- Disclosures are essential: Clearly disclose sponsored content to readers, upholding transparency and ethical practices.
- Align with your niche: Partner with brands that complement your content and resonate with your audience.
12. Freelancing and Paid Writing Opportunities:
Your blog can serve as a springboard for freelance writing opportunities. Showcase your writing skills and expertise through your blog content, attracting potential clients.
- Target relevant publications: Identify online publications, websites, or magazines related to your niche and pitch your writing services.
- High-quality samples: Include high-quality blog posts from your site as writing samples when pitching to potential clients.
- Develop strong writing skills: Continuously hone your writing skills and stay updated on current trends in your niche to deliver exceptional work.
Conclusion:
Building a successful blog that generates income requires dedication, strategic planning, and high-quality content. In today’s digital age, there are numerous opportunities to make money online through blogging. By utilizing a combination of methods such as affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and selling digital products or services, you can leverage your blog’s potential and achieve financial success.
Remember, consistency in posting, engaging with your audience, and staying adaptable to trends are key to thriving in the ever-evolving blogosphere. Embrace new strategies, refine your approaches, and always keep your readers at the forefront of your content creation journey. With dedication and the right approach, your blog has the potential to become a valuable source of income and a platform for sharing your knowledge and passion with the world, making money online while doing what you love.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos
SOCIAL
Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?
In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.
The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.
According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.
Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.
Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.
The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.
This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.
Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.
As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?
Only time will tell.
SOCIAL
Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach
While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.
When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.
“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.
Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.
“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.”Â
“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.
“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.
Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.
