I am not TikTok well-known. I don’t have a blue checkmark on Instagram, nor am I a LinkedIn High Voice.
However I’ve a modest following throughout all three platforms, which I’ve been in a position to monetize.
I’m what some influencer entrepreneurs would possibly name a nano-influencer, comfortably in that under-10K follower vary. (I want the time period nano-creator, however potato, potahto.)
It’s not a full-time earnings — this yr, I’ve netted round $3,000 instantly from my content material. However that’s should you don’t take into account the spin-off work that has come from my social media presence, like freelance writing gigs and podcast internet hosting.
Since I create content material outdoors of my full-time job at Buffer and don’t spend greater than a few hours every week on it, I’m fairly happy with that.
Much more so as a result of I haven’t been targeted on it for very lengthy. I began getting a bit extra severe about monetizing my work in 2024, a bit of over a yr in the past.
I’ve at all times liked creating content material and had already constructed up a modest following on Instagram and a rising one on LinkedIn. I’d additionally simply began experimenting with TikTok (you possibly can learn extra about how I received to my first 1,000 followers on TikTok right here).
In that brief time, I’ve discovered quite a bit about monetizing as a nano-creator. I assumed I’d unpack a few of that right here.
So: should you’ve ever questioned whether or not it’s doable to show a small, engaged viewers into earnings — it’s! You don’t want an enormous viewers, however you do want technique, consistency, and a powerful, genuine voice.
Let’s speak about it.
Why nano-influencers have a novel benefit
I’m not dashing to ‘beat the algorithm’ or ‘maximize my development.’ That’s as a result of I really feel like I’ve discovered a candy spot within the nano-influencer class, a minimum of for my bandwidth.
I’ve the capability for round three posts throughout platforms per week. This, I’ve discovered, is sufficient for modest development on Instagram and TikTok, and average on LinkedIn.
Preserving inside this cadence — and subsequently, follower vary — additionally permits me to really join with the parents who take pleasure in my content material. I can thoughtfully reply to messages and feedback, fairly than put up and ghost.
Which implies my engagement price is basically good, if I do say so myself. For instance, the engagement price for my final sponsored put up on Instagram was round 5.8%. In response to Buffer’s Instagram Benchmarks information, the median engagement price for my follower class is round 4.1%.
Many manufacturers discover the upper engagement charges that smaller creators can supply to be much more helpful than dizzying follower counts.
That’s not the one motive to associate with nano-creators, both. Let’s evaluation all of them:
Excessive engagement charges. As I unpacked above, a smaller viewers normally means a tighter-knit group.Authenticity. Individuals comply with nano-creators as a result of they’re relatable. We’re not “influencers” within the celeb sense — we’re mates who occur to share ideas, opinions, or behind-the-scenes peeks.Price-effectiveness. To be candid, we’re extra budget-friendly for manufacturers that don’t have a lot cash to spend on influencer campaigns. For a model, working with 20 nano-creators would possibly deliver higher ROI (return on funding) than one large influencer.
The primary methods I earn cash as a nano-influencer
There are a great deal of methods to monetize on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and past. Suppose affiliate packages, model partnerships, and even direct monetization on the platform.
I’ve not totally explored all of them but, so this overview is just not the be-all and end-all (positively try the guides linked above for extra concepts). Fairly, it’s a have a look at what’s working for me proper now.
Model partnerships and sponsored posts
That is the obvious (and most talked about) earnings stream, so let’s begin right here.
I’ve dabbled in sponsored content material on Instagram through the years, but it surely was inconsistent and by no means amounted to a lot. Most of the time, it was a product-for-post commerce change.
(Now that I’ve wised up a bit, I’m hesitant about offers like this. Free leggings are nice, however they aren’t going to pay the payments! I’ll contact on this once more later.)
Additionally, Instagram is not my heavy hitter. There’s been a increase in curiosity in LinkedIn creators over the previous few years. I’ve seen comparatively quick development there, and it’s my major platform proper now.
LinkedIn has actually began investing in creator performance (which I chatted about with Callie Schweitzer, LinkedIn’s Head of Scaled Applications, about on this episode of Buffer Chat podcast). This, in flip, has opened doorways for each creators and types, on a platform the place customers are inclined to have extra shopping for energy.
In different phrases, it’s a fast-growth area that influencer entrepreneurs are maintaining an in depth eye on.
So it is no shock that investing in LinkedIn development kicked off my monetization journey, and it was fairly natural, too.
Over the previous few months, I’ve partnered with a number of manufacturers, all of which contacted me (extra on this beneath). They have been principally concerned with my LinkedIn content material, however most of them have been eager to bundle Instagram and TikTok into the deal as properly.
Freelance alternatives
That is extra of an oblique win of my social media presence, but it surely has afforded me alternatives I’d not have had with out it. Being a nano-influencer has helped me land freelance work.
That’s not simply content material writing, both. My content material about podcasting and model communities has helped me land a gentle, part-time gig as a podcast host and group advisor.
For me, freelance providers typically deliver in additional earnings than partnerships do. For those who’re a nano-creator with one other skillset (design, copywriting, images, and so forth.), lean into this. Share your work publicly, and also you is perhaps stunned at who comes knocking.
Online marketing
My internet online affiliate marketing earnings have been small — severely, like below $5. Nonetheless, this looks like an space of untapped potential for me, notably since earnings right here is a bit more passive.
It additionally lends itself tremendous properly to content material I like creating about my cosy desk set-up.
Earlier than I get forward of myself: Online marketing is a system the place you earn a fee when somebody buys a services or products via your distinctive referral hyperlink. The client will get a suggestion they belief, the model advantages from the sale, and also you pocket a small share.
Win-win-win.
I’ve set myself up on Amazon Associates, which permits me to create monitoring hyperlinks for the merchandise I share. I’ve created a bit of storefront of merchandise I like and would wholeheartedly advocate on my Buffer Begin Web page. (You may create your personal Begin Web page without spending a dime, by the best way!)
If somebody buys a product after following one in every of my affiliate hyperlinks, I’ll earn a small share of that sale.
Amazon Associates does have some pretty low charges (I gained’t earn greater than 3–4% for many gross sales), but it surely’s powerful to beat for ease of use. Most people have already got Amazon accounts, and there’s little to no friction for them with regards to shopping for.
The draw back is that I’m primarily based in South Africa, and there’s no native model of this system. My SA followers make up a very good chunk of my viewers and are much less inclined to buy there. US, UK, and EU-based creators will certainly have extra luck right here.
And Amazon is much from the one possibility — I’m actively exploring affiliate packages provided by my favourite instruments and tech, the place the charges are much better for creators. I’ll you’ll want to share when I’ve cracked that!
How I discover model partnerships (or how they discover me)
Model partnerships are my most direct and profitable supply of earnings and non-creator, so let’s dig in right here a bit. The $3,000 I discussed on the prime of this text? All earned from model partnerships in 2025.
You’re in all probability pondering this concerned a good bit of chilly outreach — but it surely didn’t, curiously sufficient. I’ve by no means really landed a model partnership from pitching a model. I’ve executed so right here and there, however by no means efficiently. (My phenomenal teammate Tami Oladipo has, although — extra on that in her information to touchdown your first LinkedIn partnership right here.)
Pitching would possibly nonetheless be completely worthwhile for you, so positively give it a bash should you’re simply beginning out with monetizing.
For me, although, there are some things which have labored much better for touchdown model partnerships. Here’s what I like to recommend for nano-creators trying to work with manufacturers.
1. Get clear in your area of interest(s)
There’s a motive you hear this recommendation from a great deal of creators. It really works! Nonetheless, selecting a distinct segment doesn’t must imply portray your self right into a nook.
Even when it’s a number of related niches (you may name these content material pillars, too!). For me, that’s advertising and marketing, distant work, productiveness, and tech/instruments. They’re related sufficient to make sense below one model (me), however give me the liberty to experiment.
For instance, if a productiveness software program model have been in search of creators to associate with and got here throughout my profile, they wouldn’t be postpone by my posts about cozy working or my dwelling workplace.
But when they discover themselves slowed down by a mishmash of content material about gaming, books, and musical theatre (a few of the different nice loves of my life), they could query model alignment.
2. Publish about manufacturers you already love
Your pitch goes to succeed in a really crowded inbox. However an interesting reel a few model you’d like to associate with? That may positively make their staff sit up and take discover.
I’ve discovered that tagging manufacturers in genuine, non-sponsored content material typically sparks a dialog. For instance, sharing how I exploit a specific instrument in my workflow or why I swear by a sure product has led to reposts, DMs, and ultimately paid partnerships.
It’s primarily a reside demo of the way you’d showcase them in the event that they did pay you. From the opposite aspect of the fence (I’ve labored on influencer campaigns as a marketer), partnerships are simply so a lot better when the creator genuinely loves the model. If I have been kicking off a brand new marketing campaign, I’d choose a small, honest creator over a macro-influencer who has by no means heard of my product each single time.
So put up about your favourite merchandise, providers, and types. It’s nice content material anyway, and it’d get you on their partnership staff’s radar.
3. Be as skilled as you’ll in your day job
When you’ve kicked off a dialog with manufacturers (or vice versa!), be skilled.
I discovered this from one other Buffer Chat episode with Jayde I. Powell. She touched on how manufacturers have been stunned when she behaved professionally, and it caught with me (thanks, Jayde!).
Meaning:
Reply timeously.Meet deadlines.Have an expert system in your concepts and content material opinions (actually — don’t copy and paste issues into DMs the place there isn’t a method for the model to remark or make ideas).Observe up. Share hyperlinks to posts when they’re reside, share put up efficiency earlier than manufacturers ask you for numbers.
It would sound actually apparent. However when creator work is just not your 9 to five, it’s very easy to slide into fast, informal responses through DMs, and lacking deadlines.
Fundamental professionalism is the desk stakes for closing a deal. Or, as occurred in my case, reserving a brand new, longer-term partnership after a easy first collaboration. Yay!
4. Strive a creator market
An enormous unlock for me has been signing up for Passionfroot.
Passionfroot is a market that connects creators with manufacturers. You arrange a profile like mine that acts virtually like a digital media package, record your charges and choices, and types can attain out instantly with collaboration alternatives.
It streamlines the back-and-forth (suppose contracts, briefs, and funds) so that you’re not juggling all the things over e mail or DMs.
It’s not the one possibility on the market, both. Platforms like Aspire, Collabstr, and Grin additionally act as intermediaries between creators and types, every with barely totally different options. Some take a fee, whereas others cost manufacturers to record alternatives — so it’s value experimenting with a number of to see which feels best for you.
By way of Passionfroot, I’ve already accomplished one partnership with a model that discovered me on there. I’ve additionally obtained a few dozen extra requests — most of which I turned down as a result of they weren’t a very good match or I merely didn’t have the time. Nonetheless, it’s been sensible when it comes to visibility and choices.
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What I’ve discovered about pricing and worth
One of many trickiest components of making a living as a nano-influencer is determining how a lot to cost.
I’ve made errors right here — underpricing myself, saying sure to free merchandise once I ought to have requested for cost, and evaluating my charges to creators in completely totally different niches.
For transparency, my charges sometimes fall between $300 and $600 per put up, relying on the scope.
Right here’s what I’ve discovered:
Know your value, however keep versatile. A smaller finances isn’t at all times a dealbreaker if the model provides one thing else precious (like visibility or long-term partnership potential).If a product change is sweet for you, go for it! It’s not my factor proper now, but it surely would possibly be just right for you. It can be a light-weight solution to begin constructing a portfolio.Packages are a good way to spice up earnings. This might appear like sharing three posts at a barely decrease price over a number of weeks, or throwing in one other platform or two at a barely increased price. Within the case of the latter, it gained’t contain a lot additional be just right for you, however might double or triple publicity for the model (which is why you possibly can cost extra — win-win).Be clear on utilization rights. Sponsored posts don’t routinely imply manufacturers get to make use of your content material in their very own advertisements. It’s commonplace to cost additional for advert utilization — in any case, the model is leveraging your likeness, tone, and belief. A very good rule of thumb is to cost 50–100% of your base price per 30 days of utilization (so should you cost $400 for a put up, you’d add one other $200–$400 for every month the model desires to run it as an advert).
Don’t let imposter syndrome get in your method
Whether or not you have got 1,000 followers or 10,000, should you’ve nurtured that group, that’s sufficient!
It’s straightforward to really feel like having a smaller following isn’t value a lot, however I’d argue that, in some methods, it’s value far more.
For those who take one factor away from this text, let it’s this: don’t let imposter syndrome cease you from getting began.
When you have any questions on getting began with monetization as a nano-creator, I’d love to assist! Yow will discover me (after all!) on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram, in addition to Threads.
