From Posts to Profits: Monetize Your Social Media Presence

Jeremy Mitchell, Pomona College, Sophomore, Summer 2024

In today's digital age, social media platforms have evolved from virtual hangouts to lucrative gold mines. The average person spends approximately two hours daily on these platforms, offering ample opportunity to turn your online time into a revenue stream. If you’re like me and can’t get enough of scrolling and posting, why not make some cash from it? 

“With over 4.7 billion users worldwide as of 2023, social media's potential for income generation is immense” (Abecasis, 2023). Whether you're promoting brands, selling products, or leveraging ad revenue, there's no shortage of ways to make your mark—and your money—online.

                                           Methods to Monetize Social Media

• Affiliate Marketing: With affiliate marketing, you can earn commissions by promoting products and services. Share unique referral links and pocket a percentage of the sales made through those links. It's like being a matchmaker but for products!

• Selling Products/Services: From Etsy shops to Instagram boutiques, many people use social media to sell directly to consumers. Platforms, like Instagram and Facebook MarketPlace, make it easy to showcase and sell your goods.

• Ad Revenue: Platforms, like YouTube and TikTok, share ad revenue with content creators for Youtube. You would need 1000 subscribers and 4k watch time hours (YPP, 2024), which is the total time people spend watching your videos. More watch time means your videos are popular and can help your channel grow and earn money. 

Let me share some insight from my journey. I've started multiple YouTube channels that have amassed over 10k subscribers and 1 million+ views. Thanks to the YouTube Google AdSense program, I've raked in over $1,000 just by talking about my interests. I feel it's best to learn from influencers who already have a following, such as Bola (@fububola), with 7k Instagram followers and 230k TikTok followers. He had this to share about his social media journey. "I first started with small ads for apps and companies. Challenges included declining views and viewers preferring more content over ads. Posting every day was my game-changer. Consistency boosted my videos and attracted more brands. It’s all about showing up. Authenticity is crucial. If your fans think you’re 'selling out,' support will drop. They want a real person, not just another ad machine."

Turning your social media presence into a profit-making machine isn’t just a dream—it’s entirely doable. By understanding the potential, choosing the right methods, and staying authentic, you can transform your posts into profits. So, why wait? Start monetizing your social media today and watch the magic happen!