If you are here, you are probably trying to figure out the whole how to make money on social media thing. Aren’t we all?!? Although I am in the beginning stages of making some good money on social media ($8k in May!!!), I have learned A TON through my journey of posting on social media the last 5 years. Here are the things I wish I would have known starting out :
the 5 things
1. Brand partnerships aren’t the only way to make money on social media.
When I first started 5 years ago, brand partnerships were the most common way to make money on social media. Now in 2024, this isn’t 100% the case. Other ways to make money on social media include:
- Affiliate Links – Amazon Influencer/Associate Program, LTK (liketoknowit), brand affiliate programs, etc.
- Social Media Views – TikTok Creator Program, YouTube Adsense, Instagram Reel Bonus Program (not currently active but that could change anytime)
2. Post Consistently and Often.
I don’t think their is a magic number for each platform that will guarantee results, but I do think posting often is most important. Decide on a number and stick to it. I try to post 3-5 times a day on TikTok, 3 times a week on Instagram, 3-4 times a month on YouTube (long form).
3. Quality over Quantity.
Some may say quantity over quality when it comes to social media… but I disagree. I think it’s important to post content, but I believe if you are posting content that doesn’t provide any value, or is not engaging for the viewer, then you will not see results. Keeping people engaged is my #1 goal when I create content!
4. Figure out what editing style performs best for you.
This can sometimes take a longggg time. I would suggest trying a couple different editing styles for a week or two and see what does best. By recording and editing style I mean : vlog pov (videos of you) vs. your pov, back camera vs. front camera, short fast clips vs. longer clips, music vs. no music, voiceovers, etc. Mix it up, don’t be afraid to try new things. I currently record with my back camera and wide angle lens (0.5x). I tweak my editing style slightly based on the video, but I feel that short quick clips perform best for me.
5. Familiarize yourself with SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
I’m still no expert on this, but after my steady growth on TikTok, I realized the only thing I was doing different was focusing on SEO. SEO is Search Engine Optimization. I always thought of Google when I thought of SEO, but I’ve come to realize, it is also extremely important in helping the algorithm understand what your content is about. Think say it in your video, write it on screen, use captions, and write it in your video description (caption).
When I began my journey on social media, I was starting from scratch. Over the past five years, I’ve invested thousands of dollars in courses and dedicated countless hours to mastering this business. My goal in sharing this knowledge is to help you avoid the same lengthy learning process!
