What I do to make money as a nano-creator

I’m no TikTok celebrity. I’m not TikTok famous. blue checkmark Instagram is not my home. LinkedIn Top Voice.

It is a very modest audience that I’ve been able monetize.

What is I? influencer marketers A nano-influencer is someone who has less than 10,000 followers. The term is more appropriate for me, as I like the idea of a nano-creator. potato, potahto.)

It’s not a full-time income — this year, I’ve netted around $3,000 directly from my content. This is if I don’t include the side work, such as freelance writing jobs and other opportunities that have come out of my social media presence. podcast hosting.

Because I spend less than a few hours each week working on content that is not part of my job, I am pretty proud.

It’s even more important because I didn’t focus on it very much. In 2024 (a little more than a year back), I began to take monetizing work seriously.

I have always enjoyed creating content. My following was modest on Instagram, and growing on LinkedIn. Also, I was just starting to play around with TikTok. how I got to my first 1,000 followers on TikTok here).

Within a few months, I learned so much. a lot About monetizing your nano-creation. This is where I wanted to unpack some details.

So: if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to turn a small, engaged audience into income — it is! It’s not necessary to have a huge audience. The following are some of the ways to improve your own ability. Need strategy, consistent messaging, and an authentic, strong voice.

Talk about it.

What is the unique advantage of nano-influencers?

I’m not rushing to ‘beat the algorithm’ or ‘maximize my growth.’ This is because I believe I’ve hit a sweetspot in the micro-influencer category.

Three posts per week across all platforms is my maximum. It’s enough to be modest. growth on Instagram TikTok and other moderate apps LinkedIn.

Keeping within this cadence — and therefore, follower range — also allows me to actually connect with the folks who enjoy my content. Instead of posting and then disappearing, I am able to thoughtfully reply to comments and messages.

What does my mean? engagement rate is really good, if I do say so myself. My last sponsored Instagram post, for example had an engagement rate around 5.8%. According to Buffer’s Instagram Benchmarks dataMy follower group has a median engagement of around 4,1%.

The higher engagement rate that smaller creators offer is far more valuable than the dizzying number of followers.

It’s also not the only one. Here are the reasons to partner with nano-creators.

• High engagement rates. Like I said above, smaller audiences usually mean a closer-knit group.
• Authenticity. Nano-creators are popular because people find them relatable. We’re certainly not “influencers” in the celebrity sense — we’re friends who happen to share tips, reviews, or behind-the-scenes peeks.
• Cost-effectiveness. Sincerity dictates that we are a more cost-effective option for those brands with limited budgets to invest in influencer campaigns. A brand might get a greater ROI by working with twenty nano-creators than just one influencer.

What are the main ways that I am able to make money?

Many ways exist to monetize on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedInConsider affiliate programs, partnerships with brands or direct monetization of the platform. Think about affiliate programs or brand partnerships. You can even monetize directly on your platform.

This overview does not cover all the options. For more information, please refer to the links above. It’s more of a peek at what works for me now.

Sponsored posts and brand partnerships

Let’s begin with the obvious income source (and one that is most discussed).

Over the years I’ve dabbled with sponsored content, but they were inconsistent and didn’t amount to much. It was more often than not a trade of product for post.

After a few years of experience I now hesitate to take advantage of such offers. It’s great to get free leggings, but that won’t cover your bills. Later I will touch on it again.

Instagram has become a secondary platform for me. In the last few years, there has been an explosion of interest in LinkedIn’s creators. It’s been growing relatively quickly, and I use it as my main platform.

LinkedIn has started to invest in creator features (which Callie Schweitzer’s, LinkedIn’s Head of Scaled Programs) about in this episode of Buffer Chat podcast). The platform has, in turn opened new doors for brands as well as creators, since users are more likely to be able to buy.

Influencer marketers keep a keen eye on this fast-growing space.

My monetization journey began when I invested in LinkedIn’s growth. This was a very organic process.

I have been partnering with brands for the past couple of months. They all contacted (read more below). The brands were mainly interested in the LinkedIn content I had to offer, although many were also keen on incorporating Instagram and TikTok.

You can work as a freelancer

It’s more an indirect victory, but my social media has given me the opportunity to do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise. I have landed freelance work as a result of being a nano influencer.

This is not limited to content creation. Content I wrote about brand communities and podcasting helped me secure a stable, part-time position as a host of podcasts and community adviser.

Freelance services bring me more money than partnership. You can also be a nanocreator if you have other skills (design, writing, photography etc.).Lean in. You might be surprised by who shows up at your door if you share your work.

Affiliate Marketing

The following are some of the most popular ways to contact me affiliate marketing earnings have been small — seriously, like under $5. This still feels like a potential area for me. Especially since the income is passive.

The content I create about my cozy desk is also a great fit.

Let me explain before I start: Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions when a customer purchases a product via your link. Customers get a trustworthy recommendation. Brands benefit from sales, and you earn a tiny percentage.

Win-win-win.

Amazon Associates allows me to track the products that I recommend. I have created a storefront with products that I would recommend to anyone. my Buffer Start Page. Create your own Start Page for freeBy the way,

When someone purchases a product through one of my links as an affiliate, I earn a percentage.

Amazon Associates does have some fairly low rates (I won’t earn more than 3–4% for most sales), but it’s tough to beat for ease of use. Amazon users are already familiar with the site and have little friction when purchasing.

There’s no South African version of my show, which is a disadvantage. I have a large SA audience, and these people are not inclined to make purchases in South Africa. US, UK, or EU-based designers will certainly have more success here.

And Amazon is far from the only option — I’m actively exploring affiliate programs offered by my favorite tools and tech, where the rates are far better for creators. Once I figure it out, I’ll let you all know.

What I do to find brand partnerships or how they find me

Let’s dive in a little bit. Brand partnerships is my direct and most lucrative income source and creator. How much was the $3,000 that I said at the beginning of this post? Earned from brand partnership in 2025.

You’re probably thinking this involved a fair bit of cold outreach — but it didn’t, interestingly enough. Never have I landed a partnership with a company by pitching them. Although I’ve tried it a few times, never with success. (My phenomenal teammate Tami Oladipo has, though — more on that in her guide to landing your first LinkedIn partnership here.)

If you are just getting started with monetization, pitching might be worth a shot.

But for me, a couple of things have been more successful in landing brand partnership. This is my advice for those nano-creators interested in working with brands.

1. Get clear on your niche(s)

This advice is given by many creators for a good reason. It’s a great idea! Still, choosing a niche Doesn’t necessarily mean that you are putting yourself in a corner.

You could also call it a cluster of niches. content pillars, too!). Marketing, remote work and productivity are my main areas. The topics are connected to the point that they make sense as a single brand, but also give me freedom to experiment.

If, for example, an productivity software company was looking to find creators with whom they could partner, and stumbled upon my profile, my posts on cozy working, or about my home office, would not deter them.

They might also question your brand if you have a mix of material about musical theatre, gaming and books (some of my passions).

2. You can post about the brands you like.

It’s likely that your pitch will reach an inbox full of people. What about an interesting video on a company you would love to work with? It will certainly make their team pay attention.

When I tag brands in non-sponsored, authentic content it often ignites conversation. Shared content, such as how I work with a specific tool, or the reasons I love a product, has led to DMs, reposts, and paid partnership opportunities.

You’re essentially showing them how they’d look if they paid you. As a former marketer, I have experience with influencer marketing campaigns. so much better When the creator truly loves the brand. Every time I launch a campaign, I would choose a smaller, more sincere influencer over someone who is a big macro-influencer and hasn’t heard of the product.

Post about the brands, products and services you love. This is great content and might help you get on the radar of their partner team.

3. Professionalism is important in any job.

After you have started a conversation (or the other way around! ), be professional.Be professional.

It was a second-hand source. Buffer Chat episode with Jayde I. Powell. It stuck in my mind (thanks Jayde!) when she spoke about how companies were shocked by her professional behavior.).

It means:

• Answer promptly.
• Meet deadlines.
• Have a professional system for your ideas and content reviews (really — don’t copy and paste things into DMs where there is no way for the brand to comment or make suggestions).
• Follow up. Share the links of your posts as soon as they go live. You can also share performance data before you are asked by brands for specific numbers.

This might seem obvious. But when creator work is not your 9 to 5,  it’s really easy to slip into quick, casual responses via DMs, and missing deadlines.

Professionalism is key to closing any deal. It could be, like in my case after a successful first partnership, that you book a longer-term, new collaboration. Yay!

4. Create your own marketplace

Joining has unlocked a lot of potential for me. Passionfroot.

Passionfroot connects brands with creators. Your website is up and running. profile like mine This is almost like an online media kit. You can list all your services and rates, then brands will be able to contact you with possible collaborations.

This streamlines all the communication (contractor contracts, payment requests, etc.) and eliminates having to juggle everything via email or DMs.

There are other options. Aspire and Collabstr are platforms which act as intermediaries for creators to brands. They each have slightly different features. Some take a commission, while others charge brands to list opportunities — so it’s worth experimenting with a few to see which feels right for you.

Passionfroot helped me establish a successful partnership with an established brand. I’ve also received about a dozen more requests — most of which I turned down because they weren’t a good fit or I simply didn’t have the time. It’s still brilliant for visibility and choices.

The price and value of my products

The most difficult part of earning money as a micro-influencer, is knowing how much to charge.

I’ve made mistakes here — underpricing myself, saying yes to free products when I should have asked for payment, and comparing my rates to creators in totally different niches.

My rates range between $300-600 depending on scope.

This is what I have learned.

• Be flexible, but know your value. If the brand is offering something valuable, like visibility or the potential for long-term partnerships, a smaller budget may not be a dealbreaker.
• You should definitely consider a product trade if it is beneficial to you. I’m not interested in it right now but you might be. This can be an easy way to build a portfolio.
• The packages are an excellent way to increase income. It could be as simple as sharing three posts over several weeks at a rate that is slightly less than usual, or adding another platform to the mix at a rate slightly higher. In the case of the latter, it won’t involve much extra work for you, but could double or triple exposure for the brand (which is why you can charge more — win-win).
• Clarify your usage rights. It’s not a given that brands will use your posts in their ads if you have sponsored content. It’s standard to charge extra for ad usage — after all, the brand is leveraging your likeness, tone, and trust. It’s a good idea to charge 50–100% of your base rate per month of usage (so if you charge $400 for a post, you’d add another $200–$400 for each month the brand wants to run it as an ad).

Don’t let imposter syndrome get in your way

You don’t need to have 1000 followers if your community is strong.

In some ways, a small following can be worth more than you think.

Don’t allow imposter Syndrome to stop you.

Please contact me with any questions you may have about monetization for nano-creators. I’m (of course!) on! On LinkedIn, TikTokThen, InstagramAs well as Threads.

Nano-creators have more resources to use