Due to the fast-paced nature of social media and the seemingly endless streams of content, it may be overwhelming to try and see how you can make money from it. Well, we’ve made that process a little easier for you. Here are the top 11 ways to directly engage with your customers and desired target market by starting a business using social media.
11 Smart Social Media Businesses
1. Social Media Manager
One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about making money off social media is becoming a social media manager. You would sign clients to your company’s profile and manage their various social media platforms for them.
The job entails posting given or created content and keeping track of community engagement, as well as analytics and insights. If you just ‘get’ social media, then being a social media manager may be the perfect fit.
2. Social Media Influencer
Arguably one of the most coveted jobs in social media is being an influencer. It may seem like the easiest job in the world, but influencers have paid their dues by putting in the work to grow themselves as influential contributors to a particular niche or industry. What they do and say affects a large number of people, with their followers trusting their every move, and that is no small feat!
A company or brand would approach you to be its ambassador. You would then promote their products and services on your personal social media pages. Obviously, this is not for everyone, as you must first have a large online following for brands to take an initial interest in you.
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3. Content Strategist/Consultant
Many businesses have seen how social media can help them engage with their target market better. It is a way to give the company a persona to connect with its audience on a more personal level. But not all businesses know how to do it. Luckily for them, you do.
Lend your social expertise to brands and businesses and help them navigate the social media space. Advise them on what content to put out, on which platforms, and even the ideal days and times. Your efforts will foster brand awareness, build community engagement, and generate sales for your client. And they’ll be happy to pay your fee.
Planning is essential if you choose to go down this route, and you’ll need to know how to create a content plan.
4. YouTube/TikTok Personality
YouTube and TikTok are phenomena in their own right, and they probably deserve their own individual sections in this article. However, the way you can generate income on both platforms is very similar.
YouTube and TikTok are all about content creation. YouTube relies on longer-format videos, while TikTok is all about the short and sweet. In either case, once you have a large following on your page or many subscribers to your channel, the platforms themselves will pay you for your endeavours. The required numbers, however, are quite high. So, you need to be a top-tier content creator with a product that everyone loves to see.
5. Videographer/Photographer
So, you don’t want to be in front of the camera, but you know how to use one. Become a videographer or photographer for social media personalities and let them pay you for making them look incredible. Extend your services to businesses for advertisements and other content creation.
6. Social Media Merchant
Social media has something in it for everybody, and this job opportunity is for those who are more traditional at heart. If you are an expert in selling physical products, then why not move your store to the endless possibilities of the social media space? Your customers are already there and waiting; all you need to do is set up your store on your desired social media platform and keep doing what you do best.
Are you new to ecommerce? Read The Hitchhiker's Guide to Making Money Online.
7. Graphics Designer
One constant across all social media platforms (even text-based ones like Twitter) is the need for outstanding graphics. Be it for a brand’s logo, business advertisements, or building an influencer's portfolio, there is always the need for someone with a flair for creating eye-catching graphics. Set your business up as a frontrunner for all things graphic design.
If you have an excellent eye for graphic design, we have a secret weapon for creating a company logo.
8. Podcasting
A great introduction to the world of social media in recent times is podcasting. Podcasts have been around for a lot longer than we might think, but now they are widely accessible and on a vast array of platforms, giving rise to their ever-increasing popularity.
The wonderful thing about creating your own podcast is that you can chop and change it to fit virtually any social media platform. So, not only will you be creating original, high-quality content, but you’ll also be repeating that process as many times as you see fit to reach your desired market. Podcasting generates income mainly through ad placements, sponsorships, and channel subscriptions.
9. Social Media Advertising Specialist
Many social media platforms generate their revenue through ad placements.
Businesses choose to advertise on social media to speak to their target market directly. This process does require some expertise on how to place those advertisements correctly in order to reach your desired audience.
Set up your business as a social media advertising specialist, helping companies realise the full potential of their advertising campaigns by placing those ads in front of those who need to see them.
10. Affiliate Marketer
This is a highly underrated means of generating income through social media. If you have a large online following, you can become an affiliate for one or more brands and help them sell their products and services on your personal pages. Through a unique code or link, the businesses will know that any particular sale came from one of your followers and then pay you a percentage of that sale. The more you promote their business and the more your followers buy their products, the more money you make.
11. Freelance Writer
There is so much being said in the world of social media, and someone needs to say it. Let that be you. You can be a social media copywriter for businesses and brands who know what to say but are not sure how to say it on social media. There’s also an opportunity to set your business up as a resident content writer for social media managers and other content creators who need help.
In 2022, every business, in some way or form, will use social media for its benefit. From these 11 examples we have given you here, you can start your business, anchor it within social media, and watch as everyone comes running to use your remarkable talents.
