How to become a successful micro influencer
It wasn’t so long ago that marketers dismissed the idea of influencer marketing as just a fad. The industry is now valued at nearly $15 billion! According to Forbes, influencer marketing is even growing at a faster rate than digital ads.
It has such a low barrier to entry that any ordinary person can get in on the action without the need to have millions of followers or celebrity status.
On the other hand, companies that are operating on tight budgets can find micro and nano influencers to push their products without having to break bank. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Influencer marketing is likely to keep growing for years to come, simply because it works.
This first part of this article will go over 10 ways you can make money as an influencer. The second part will discuss how to find brands that are looking to work with small influencers.
How influencers make money – 10 ways to become a paid influencer
1. Sponsored posts
Sponsored posts enable brands to connect with consumers in a more authentic and personal way. If you have a decent following on your social pages, many companies will be happy to pay you to recommend their products to your followers.
People are generally more likely to consider making a purchase when it has been recommended to them by a person they trust, than when they see an ad.
2. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is another lucrative way to make money as an influencer. Just like with sponsored posts, it involves promoting a company’s products, however you only get paid for the sales generated through your link.
To get started as an affiliate marketer, you first have to identify the programs that would be suitable for your audience, and then submit their affiliate application. Some popular programs include Amazon, AliExpress, ClickBank, and MaxBounty.
Affiliate marketing is perhaps the easiest way to start making money as a small micro influencer. You get the freedom to promote products however you feel. It’s not as strict as sponsored posts since you’ll not be working directly with the companies.
Related: 17 High Paying Affiliate Programs
3. Become a brand ambassador
Brand ambassadors are people who are chosen to represent a brand because they align with its image. Some of their responsibilities include promoting the brand on social media, sharing posts from its official page, answering questions about it, participating in discussions, etc. An ambassador can also be invited to attend events as one of the brand’s representatives.
4. Create a course
This is a great way to earn passive income as an influencer. If you are skilled and experienced in a particular area, you can create a course and then promote it on your pages. Nowadays almost any marketable skill can be converted into a course, including cooking, working out, playing a musical instrument, dog training, etc.
You can use a platform like Teachable to build your course since it simplifies the entire process and allows you to accept payments in numerous currencies.
5. Write an e-book
An e-book is similar to a course in the sense that you’ll be charging people for your knowledge. The two can actually go side by side. You can create a course as well as an e-book on the same topic.
The great thing about e-books is that you don’t necessarily have to do the writing yourself. You can hire a ghostwriter and then take credit as the author. So many writers do that, it’s not unusual.
You can then sell your e-book by promoting it on your page, and through platforms like the Amazon Kindle Store. Selling on the Kindle Store is a fantastic way to create passive income because once the book is published, you can earn money from it perpetually without much effort.
6. Sell personalized work out programs and meal plans
If you are into fitness, you can earn a decent income by selling workout programs and meal plans. People who follow fitness influencers usually do so because are looking to get in shape, and would jump at the opportunity to buy their plans.
7. Co-create a product
Selling your own products probably has the highest earning potential. You can collaborate with local manufacturers to create branded products such as t-shirts, workout apparel, supplements, swimwear, etc.
The manufacturer should ideally take all responsibility for production, while you take charge of marketing. Depending on your agreement, you can make money either through a commission on sales, or a predetermined flat fee.
8. Patreon
Many influencers put in a great deal of effort to create top-notch content for their followers. That effort doesn’t go unnoticed. Patreon is a platform where followers can tip influencers for the work they put in to lighten up their feeds.
9. Sell your skills as a freelancer
This is a great way for small influencers who are just starting out to make money by leveraging their personal skills.
A freelancer is a self-employed person who helps other people with their work. Depending on your skillset, you can become a freelance consultant, photographer, video editor, writer, social media manager, etc. The possibilities are endless. There are so many ways to find clients as a freelancer.
The content that you publish on your pages should be the evidence of your expertise. For example, if you intend to become a freelance writer, then your posts should be worded immaculately. If you intend to market yourself as a photographer, then your own photos should be exquisite.
10. Start a podcast
If you have a high engagement rate on your social pages, then it’s pretty clear that your followers are interested in what you have to say. A podcast enables you to connect with them on a deeper level.
Your podcast can follow a similar pattern as your pages. For example, if you’re into fitness, then the podcast should also be about fitness. You can interview other fitness influencers, talk about the latest news in the sports world, have listeners call in to ask questions, etc.
Podcasts are relatively cheap to produce. You don’t need any fancy equipment, perhaps just your smartphone and a microphone to get quality audio. Once the podcast gains traction, you can make money through sponsorships and by running ads.
How to find brands and companies looking for influencers
1. Refine your profile to make it attractive to potential suitors
Take some time to refine your profile and make it as appealing as possible to the brands you wish to attract. Clear out all the junk that might diminish your value. Most brands only want the best people to represent them.
2. Get a professional website
Getting a website is one way to stand out and show that you mean business. You can create a simple site with your name as the domain. For example, if you’re John Doe then you can use the domain www.johndoe.com.
Your website will be like an online resume to help brands get to know you better. You can share your bio, interests, social media stats, contact information. Make sure to link to it on every social platform that you’re on.
Wix is a great website builder if you don’t want to spend money on expensive web developers. The platform is designed to help non-technical people build advanced websites easily with the help of a drag-and-drop builder. You can also use services such as FreeWebDesign to get professional developers to build your entire site for free.
3. Take the initiative and start reaching out
Most brands that need influencers usually won’t advertise it publicly. They prefer to use agencies or contact their targeted influencers directly. While you’re still relatively small, it’s very unlikely that brands will come to you. Therefore you have to take the initiative and reach out to them.
Do some research to find companies in your niche that you’d be a good fit for, then send proposals explaining how you can help them drive more awareness and sales.
4. Use influencer networks
Influencer networks are platforms that are designed to help brands and agencies find influencers to work with. Some popular networks include:
You can create profiles on such platforms just to put yourself out there. Whenever a brand is looking for an influencer who fits your description, then they will be able to easily find you.
5. Find out who’s sponsoring other influencers in your niche
This is one of the best ways to find brands that work with micro influencers. Browse through other influencer’s pages that have similarities to yours. See what hashtags they’re using and the products they’re promoting.
You can also browse through their comments to see if any brands are reaching out to them. If a company is working with an influencer who is similar to you, then it’s likely they’d be interested in working with you as well.
6. Turn off your ad blocker
Turning off your ad blocker will enable you to see what companies are actively spending on ads. A company that has an ongoing marketing campaign is probably looking to increase its awareness, and therefore might be open to working with you.
You’d rather deal with the interruptions and annoyances caused by online ads, than miss out on a great opportunity.
7. Improve your engagement
The level of engagement on your page is an indication of your relationship with your followers. The more people like, comment and share your posts, the more they care about what you have to say. And that’s precisely what it means to be an influencer. That’s what brands pay for.
You’ll have a much easier time pitching brands when you have good engagement stats on your account. Check out this article on some ways to increase your Instagram engagement.
8. Join marketing groups and forums
Social media groups are great places to network with like-minded people. If you just search for words ‘influencer marketing’ on Facebook, you’ll find dozens of groups that are active and have thousands of members. You can also join popular marketing forums like Warrior Forum.
By becoming a member of such groups, you’ll be able to stay up to date with the latest news and trends. You’ll also be the first to hear about companies that are looking for influencers, ambassadors, and other paying roles – in real time.
9. Attend marketing events and award ceremonies
Attending events is a fantastic way to network with industry experts and brands in your niche. You get the opportunity to create a better impression of yourself than you would have been able to over the internet. You can make yourself more memorable and establish relationships that could be valuable down the line.
10. Know your value and never sell yourself short
Always know your value and never sell yourself short. So many influencers earn less than they deserve because they are afraid of losing an opportunity. If you sell yourself short, then brands will not hesitate to exploit you. Everybody loves a discount.
Be confident in the value you bring to the table and show confidence by holding firm in negotiation. That alone speaks volumes about the person that you are. It shows that you have standards.
