In today’s digital landscape, building a social media following isn’t just about posting cute pics or trending memes—it’s about creating valuable content that resonates with your audience, establishing yourself as an authority in your niche, and ultimately monetizing your influence. Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, there’s potential to turn your social media presence into a money-making machine. But, it takes time, effort, and strategy.
Building a Social Media Following
What to Do:
Consistency is key when it comes to growing your audience. Start by creating content regularly on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. It’s essential to identify your niche and build content that speaks to your target audience. You’re not reinventing the wheel; instead, you’re adding value by offering your unique perspective.
Time Commitment:
To grow your following, you need to dedicate yourself to daily or near-daily posting. The initial grind may feel relentless, but once you build momentum, you can ease off the gas and still keep your audience engaged.
Goal:
The ultimate goal is to reach a follower threshold (typically around 1,000 followers) that allows you to monetize your content. This can be through ads, brand sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or even your products. But first, you need to earn your audience’s trust and attention.
Getting Started with Social Media Monetization
If you want to monetize your social media presence, you need a plan. I’ve had some success with this, and I want to share my experience so you can fast-track your journey.
Step 1: Find Your Niche & Add Value
The most important step in your journey is identifying a niche. You have to find something you’re good at and passionate about—something you can talk about consistently. Look at what’s already out there, and instead of reinventing the wheel, think about how you can add value.
For example:
Keith Lee isn’t the first person to do food reviews, but he blew up because he added value by being relatable. He’s just a regular guy who wants to eat good food. His unique twist? He also dives into why small businesses may be struggling, breaking down everything from the food to customer service and marketing. His genuine reviews generate buzz for businesses, while greedy or underwhelming businesses feel the impact of his critique.
Shannon Sharpe didn’t invent the podcast, but he added his personal flavor. Club Shay Shay features unfiltered interviews with a variety of guests, with Shannon’s trademark personality leading the conversation. The key is that he provides a platform for others to speak their truths, all while injecting his unique energy into the show.
Tariq Nasheed used to have a show called IZM Radio, but when the pandemic hit, it paused. Around the same time, Kevin Samuels’ channel blew up. Kevin went from offering grooming and self-improvement advice to men, to tackling larger relationship dynamics, and in one viral moment, he exploded from 90K to 1 million subscribers. The key to Kevin’s growth was his authenticity and willingness to say what others were afraid to. He gave people the cold, hard truth, and it resonated.
Step 2: Post Consistently & Frequently
Once you find your niche, it’s time to start posting. At first, aim for three posts a day, then gradually build up to 8-12 posts daily. It sounds intense, but consistency is crucial for finding and growing your audience organically. Many platforms like YouTube start monetizing once you hit 1,000 subscribers, while Facebook and TikTok require more—somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 followers.
However, don’t let these numbers discourage you. If you haven’t hit that threshold yet, you can still monetize in other ways. For instance, you can place links in your bio for visitors to check out. Consider adding affiliate marketing or merch from print-on-demand sites like Printful, Printify, or Merch by Amazon if you can get accepted. The key is to build up a small, loyal audience that engages with your content.
Real Talk from My Experience
In my own journey, I post about my hobbies and passions. I’ve built a following by talking about things I genuinely care about. When Facebook launched its monetization programs, I took advantage. They offer bonuses for engagement, stars that followers can send, brand partnerships, and subscriptions. If you can go live, you can even get paid through ads on streams and Reels. However, all of this is by invitation, and you must follow Facebook’s policies closely (which, full disclosure, can be challenging).
Key Advice:
- Find Your Niche: Talk about something you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in.
- Be Consistent: Post often and at strategic times when your audience is most active.
- Add Value: Always think about how you can offer something unique, even if it’s a common topic.
- Follow Guidelines: Always make sure you’re in compliance with platform rules to avoid getting demonetized.
Step 3: Watch, Learn & Collaborate
As you continue to post, learn from other creators. See what they’re doing, and figure out how you can add your spin to it. Collaboration is another great way to grow your following. No niche is too overcrowded. There’s always room for more creators, and by working together, you can tap into each other’s audiences.
For example:
- Crank Lucas creates funny skits and uses his platform to showcase his beats and promote his music.
- RDC World puts a humorous spin on anime, life struggles, and nerd culture with viral content like Anime House.
- Content Creators in Every Niche: Whether it’s life advice, sports commentary, or nerd content, someone is out there doing it. Find them, learn from them, and collaborate when it makes sense.
Final Thoughts: Your Experience = Content
At the end of the day, your life experiences are your content. So start sharing them. Post what you’re passionate about, build your following, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new content or ideas. The more you put yourself out there, the more you learn—and the closer you’ll get to turning your social media presence into a monetized side hustle or full-time career.