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 capable of monetize.
I’m what some influencer entrepreneurs may name a nano-influencer, comfortably in that under-10K follower vary. (I favor 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 in case 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 per week on it, I’m fairly happy with that.
Much more so as a result of I haven’t been centered on it for very lengthy. I began getting a bit extra severe about monetizing my work in 2024, a bit over a yr in the past.
I’ve all the time beloved 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 may learn extra about how I bought to my first 1,000 followers on TikTok right here).
In that quick time, I’ve discovered so much about monetizing as a nano-creator. I believed I’d unpack a few of that right here.
So: in case you’ve ever questioned whether or not it’s potential to show a small, engaged viewers into earnings — it’s! You don’t want a large viewers, however you do want technique, consistency, and a robust, genuine voice.
Let’s speak about it.
Why nano-influencers have a singular benefit
I’m not speeding to ‘beat the algorithm’ or ‘maximize my progress.’ 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 progress on Instagram and TikTok, and reasonable on LinkedIn.
Retaining inside this cadence — and subsequently, follower vary — additionally permits me to really join with the oldsters who take pleasure in my content material. I can thoughtfully reply to messages and feedback, relatively than put up and ghost.
Which suggests my engagement fee is actually good, if I do say so myself. For instance, the engagement fee for my final sponsored put up on Instagram was round 5.8%. In accordance with Buffer’s Instagram Benchmarks knowledge, the median engagement fee for my follower class is round 4.1%.
Many manufacturers discover the upper engagement charges that smaller creators can supply to be way more useful than dizzying follower counts.
That’s not the one motive to accomplice 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 neighborhood.
- Authenticity. Folks comply with nano-creators as a result of they’re relatable. We’re not “influencers” within the superstar sense — we’re pals who occur to share suggestions, 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 may convey higher ROI (return on funding) than one massive influencer.
The principle methods I make cash as a nano-influencer
There are a great deal of methods to monetize on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and past. Suppose affiliate applications, model partnerships, and even direct monetization on the platform.
I’ve not absolutely explored all of them but, so this overview will not be the be-all and end-all (undoubtedly take a look at the guides linked above for extra concepts). Quite, it’s a take 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, however it 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 growth in curiosity in LinkedIn creators over the previous few years. I’ve seen comparatively quick progress there, and it’s my main platform proper now.
LinkedIn has actually began investing in creator performance (which I chatted about with Callie Schweitzer, LinkedIn’s Head of Scaled Packages, 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 likely to have extra shopping for energy.
In different phrases, it’s a fast-growth house that influencer entrepreneurs are maintaining a detailed eye on.
So it is no shock that investing in LinkedIn progress 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 had been principally thinking about my LinkedIn content material, however most of them had 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, however it 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 neighborhood advisor.
For me, freelance providers typically convey in additional earnings than partnerships do. If you happen to’re a nano-creator with one other skillset (design, copywriting, pictures, and so forth.), lean into this. Share your work publicly, and also you could be stunned at who comes knocking.
Internet affiliate marketing
My affiliate marketing online earnings have been small — severely, like below $5. Nonetheless, this appears like an space of untapped potential for me, significantly since earnings right here is a bit more passive.
It additionally lends itself tremendous properly to content material I really like creating about my cosy desk set-up.
Earlier than I get forward of myself: Internet affiliate marketing is a system the place you earn a fee when somebody buys a services or products by your distinctive referral hyperlink. The client will get a advice 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 storefront of merchandise I really like and would wholeheartedly suggest on my Buffer Begin Web page. (You possibly can create your personal Begin Web page without spending a dime, by the best way!)
If somebody buys a product after following one in all my affiliate hyperlinks, I’ll earn a small share of that sale.
Amazon Associates does have some pretty low charges (I received’t earn greater than 3–4% for many gross sales), however it’s robust to beat for ease of use. Most people have already got Amazon accounts, and there’s little to no friction for them in terms of 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 applications 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 most likely pondering this concerned a good bit of chilly outreach — however it didn’t, apparently sufficient. I’ve by no means truly landed a model partnership from pitching a model. I’ve carried out 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 may nonetheless be completely worthwhile for you, so undoubtedly give it a bash in case 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 linked niches (you would name these content material pillars, too!). For me, that’s advertising and marketing, distant work, productiveness, and tech/instruments. They’re linked sufficient to make sense below one model (me), however give me the liberty to experiment.
For instance, if a productiveness software program model had been in search of creators to accomplice with and got here throughout my profile, they wouldn’t be delay by my posts about cozy working or my house 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 may query model alignment.
2. Publish about manufacturers you already love
Your pitch goes to achieve a really crowded inbox. However a fascinating reel a few model you’d like to accomplice with? That can undoubtedly 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 significantly better when the creator genuinely loves the model. If I had been kicking off a brand new marketing campaign, I’d decide 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 would get you on their partnership staff’s radar.
3. Be as skilled as you’d 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 had been stunned when she behaved professionally, and it caught with me (thanks, Jayde!).
Which means:
- Reply timeously.
- Meet deadlines.
- Have knowledgeable system to your concepts and content material opinions (actually — don’t copy and paste issues into DMs the place there is no such thing as a method for the model to remark or make options).
- Comply with up. Share hyperlinks to posts when they’re reside, share put up efficiency earlier than manufacturers ask you for numbers.
It’d sound actually apparent. However when creator work will not be your 9 to five, it’s very easy to slide into fast, informal responses by way of 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. Attempt 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 (assume contracts, briefs, and funds) so that you’re not juggling every thing over e-mail or DMs.
A screenshot of my Passionfroot storefront
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 price experimenting with a couple of to see which feels best for you.
Via 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 good by way of visibility and choices.
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What I’ve discovered about pricing and worth
One of many trickiest components of getting cash 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 usually fall between $300 and $600 per put up, relying on the scope.
Right here’s what I’ve discovered:
- Know your price, however keep versatile. A smaller funds isn’t all the time a dealbreaker if the model affords one thing else priceless (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, however it may be just right for you. It can be a light-weight strategy to begin constructing a portfolio.
- Packages are a good way to spice up earnings. This might appear to be sharing three posts at a barely decrease fee over a number of weeks, or throwing in one other platform or two at a barely greater fee. Within the case of the latter, it received’t contain a lot additional be just right for you, however might double or triple publicity for the model (which is why you may cost extra — win-win).
- Be clear on utilization rights. Sponsored posts don’t mechanically imply manufacturers get to make use of your content material in their very own adverts. It’s normal to cost additional for advert utilization — in spite of everything, the model is leveraging your likeness, tone, and belief. rule of thumb is to cost 50–100% of your base fee per 30 days of utilization (so in case you cost $400 for a put up, you’d add one other $200–$400 for every month the model needs to run it as an advert).
Don’t let imposter syndrome get in your method
Whether or not you might have 1,000 followers or 10,000, in case you’ve nurtured that neighborhood, that’s sufficient!
It’s simple to really feel like having a smaller following isn’t price a lot, however I’d argue that, in some methods, it’s price far more.
If you happen to take one factor away from this text, let it’s this: don’t let imposter syndrome cease you from getting began.
If in case you have any questions on getting began with monetization as a nano-creator, I’d love to assist! Yow will discover me (in fact!) on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram, in addition to Threads.
