In 2025, figuring out how to make money as an influencer is not just a hobby anymore, it’s a real business. This year, brands in the U.S. are expected to spend over $10 billion on influencer marketing, and the market is growing so fast that it’s 35% bigger now than in 2024.
That is why in this post, we’ll talk about 12 smart and simple strategies to help you start making money as an influencer in 2025.
12 Ways to Make Money as a Social Media Influencer
Becoming an influencer overnight might be a dream, but making money with your content doesn’t have to take years. Today, you can start a real business with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. Now let’s talk about the 15 smart ways to make money as an influencer:
Get Paid for Sponsored Posts
Most creators use sponsored posts to make money from their passion. In this method, it’s important to create content that brands naturally want to be part of. When your videos or stories really connect with people, brands are gonna notice you more.
So before posting your content or accepting brand deals, you should ask yourself: Would my followers find this helpful or interesting? This way, your content will attract more people and make your partnerships more successful.
If you have this mindset, then it doesn’t even matter if you have 2,000 followers or 200,000, what matters is that your audience cares about what you share.
Here’s what brands are looking for:
- Engagement: Real brands look at the engagement you got in your account, not just your followers. Nowadays, people know that a small but active community often converts better than a big one.
- Originality: It’s important for them that your content actually talks to people, and you are not just copying what every other influencer is doing.
- Niche Fit: And lastly, it’s important to them that your content and audience align with theirs.
And yes, the money is good. Some creators earn a few hundred dollars per post, while some of the best influencers get five-figure rates. Even smaller creators get some deals like free products, commissions, or ongoing retainers after starting a partnership.
Become a Brand Ambassador
Sometimes, brands want ongoing collaborations and ambassador roles with deeper relationships that show their products over time. Which is great for influencers, but it’s not that easy to get there; you have to look at this method as a long-term plan.
But how do brands choose a specific influencer to have a long-term partnership? The answer is that brands want to find influencers who align with their values and can genuinely connect with their audience.
These influencers often get benefits such as:
- Free products
- Discounts & commissions
- Financial compensation
Here are some of the most popular ambassador programs:
- Glossier: This Beauty & Skincare brand wants Ambassadors to share their experiences with products and earn rewards for referrals.
- Starbucks: This Food & Beverage brand lets loyal customers share their love on social media and earn rewards.
Earn from Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways to make money as an influencer. With this method, you can promote other brands’ products or services and earn a commission, instead of making your own products and paying upfront investments. So if you want to be an influencer without money and investment, this is where you should start.
Your earnings depend on these factors:
- The brand’s commission rate
- The product’s price point
- Your audience size and engagement
Here’s a simple overview of how affiliate marketing works:
- Join: You can start by applying to affiliate programs in your niche. For example, if you’re into fashion, check out Revolve, ASOS, or RewardStyle. Tech creators can explore programs from Best Buy, Logitech, or Adobe, while beauty influencers might join Sephora, Ulta, or Glossier’s affiliate network. But if you want a program that has it all, you can try Amazon Associates, Shopify, LTK, ClickBank, or ShareASale.
- Share: Post your affiliate links on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or blogs along with your honest and real content.
- Earn: Receive commissions when your followers purchase or sign up through your link.
Monetize Your Blog, Channel, or Podcast
Another way that many influencers choose is to place ads on their blogs, YouTube channels, or podcasts. This way, you won’t be paid directly by brands; you earn money through ad networks that share revenue based on views, clicks, or impressions.
To start, you can join platforms like Google AdSense, Mediavine, or the YouTube Partner Program. These networks automatically place relevant ads on your content and pay you a share of the profits.
Launch Your Own Digital Products
One of the smartest ways to make money as an influencer is by creating and selling your own digital products. This method is very popular on TikTok, and you can make money as an influencer there.
This way, instead of relying on other brands, you can turn your knowledge or creativity into something people are willing to pay for. Digital products can include e-books, online courses, digital art, templates, workout plans, or guides. These products let you earn while building a relationship with your audience.
For example, a fitness influencer can sell customized workout or meal plans, or an artist can offer drawing tutorials or painting techniques. So if you want to make money on TikTok or any other platform, this is one of the best ways for you.
Create and Sell Branded Merch
Selling branded merchandise is like selling your stories to your followers. You get them emotionally connected to your brand, and they’ll show it off through a t-shirt, hoodie, tote bag, mug, or phone case that reflects your personal style or message.
For this method, you don’t need a big team or budget to start. Many creators use print-on-demand platforms to design and sell custom products without worrying about inventory or shipping.
Branded merch is not just about selling products; it’s about building your community. Every item becomes a piece of your story that followers use with love. It’s one of the most personal ways to make money as an influencer while growing your brand.
Host Events and Workshops
Hosting events and workshops is a great way to connect with your followers, build trust, and share your expertise beyond the screen. But it doesn’t have to be a face-to-face event; many creators put together live workshops and charge their audience a small fee. That is why this method is the best way to make money as an influencer on Instagram.
Here are a few ways influencers earn from events:
- Sell tickets for workshops, live streams, or conferences.
- Offer branded merchandise at event stands or online.
- Partner with sponsors who want to reach your audience.
- Get paid for appearances at brand events or panels.
If you want to make money on Instagram or other platforms without constant posting, events are a perfect fit.
Offer Exclusive Subscriptions
By offering exclusive subscriptions, you can share premium content, behind-the-scenes access, or private Q&A sessions with your most engaged fans. This gives you an opportunity to build a deep relationship with your loyal followers.
You can manage memberships through these platforms:
- YouTube Memberships: You can use it for offering badges, emojis, or exclusive livestreams.
- Substack or Podia: If you want to offer newsletters, podcasts, or educational content, this is the platform you need.
Get Paid by Social Platforms
This is one of the ways that many influencers make money on YouTube, but many of you don’t know that this is not just for YouTube; you can earn through built-in monetization programs that reward engaging content and consistent posting.
For example, TikTok’s Creator Fund rewards views and engagement, while YouTube pays creators through ad revenue or channel memberships. And other platforms do the same now, they let influencers earn money through tips and bonuses for their content.
Here are a few popular options:
- YouTube: Ads, Super Chat, and channel memberships.
- TikTok: Creator Rewards Program for high-performing videos.
- Instagram: Badges and Reels bonuses.
- Twitch: Bits, donations, and paid subscriptions.
- Facebook & X (Twitter): Stars and Super Follows.
If you want to make money on YouTube or other platforms, many creators start with this method.
Start a Podcast and Attract Sponsors
In 2025, many influencers choose a topic and start a podcast to connect with their audience. It’s personal, engaging, and allows creators to share and talk about their interests.
Starting a podcast doesn’t require a huge production team, just a clear topic, basic recording equipment, and consistency. Once people start noticing your podcasts, there are some ways to make money out of them:
- Sponsorships and brand partnerships: You can work with brands in your niche and promote their products or services in your episodes.
- Paid subscriptions: Some influencers offer ad-free episodes or special content for a small monthly fee.
- Affiliate marketing: You can be an affiliate marketer and mention products and earn a commission.
Offer Consulting or Coaching Services
Many influencers share their experience and start consulting or coaching services. This way, they help brands or individuals grow their business and build effective marketing strategies.
Here are some options you have:
- Help brands manage their social media or content strategy.
- Offer one-on-one coaching to new creators.
- Provide professional services like photography, videography, or brand storytelling.
For example, a fashion influencer might help new brands with styling, partnerships, or social media strategy and charge for their expert advice. This helps influencers earn in new ways and build more trust in their niche.
Join an Influencer Marketing Platform
Influencer marketing platforms can connect influencers with brands looking for collaboration opportunities. Joining these platforms makes it easier for you to find campaigns that fit your audience.
Here are some of these platforms you can try:
Ainfluencer: This platform uses AI to match influencers with brands and campaigns that fit their niche. It helps creators find paid opportunities faster and manage collaborations efficiently.
Upfluence: This is a powerful platform that connects influencers with global brands. It offers you tools to track performance, manage partnerships, and discover paid collaborations that fit your niche.
Afluencer: This one is a simple platform that is great for new influencers who want to grow. Brands can find you based on your niche and audience and start the partnership.
Intellifluence: This is a platform where influencers of all sizes can find and join brand campaigns. It’s a great way to discover paid opportunities, build your portfolio, and grow your influence while earning money from collaborations.
The Future of Influencer Marketing
As we move toward 2026, the way that influencers make money is changing. It’s not just about sponsored posts or one-time collaborations; they want to build long-term relationships with both brands and audiences.
Influencers who treat their platforms like real businesses are the ones who will see the biggest opportunities in their journey. Whether you’re just starting out or have a lot of experience, you should know that the secret to making money as an influencer in 2026 will be to stay consistent and keep evolving with your audience.
Answers to Your Most Common Questions
- What type of influencer makes the most money?
Usually, influencers in the fashion and lifestyle niche make more money. Especially if they promote clothing, accessories, jewelry, and watches.
- What are the 4 types of influencers?
There are four main categories of influencers: nano, micro, macro, and mega.
Nano influencers (1K–10K followers): They don’t have that many followers, but because they usually have the most interested people in their community, they have high engagement rates.
Micro influencers (10K–100K followers): Again, their follower count might be lower than a lot of accounts, but they are usually focused on a niche and gain people’s trust in it.
Macro influencers (100K–1M followers): In this category, influencers reach a lot of people, and usually work with well-known brands on campaigns.
Mega influencers (1M+ followers): They are the biggest names in this industry, celebrities or internet personalities that have massive reach, but they might have lower engagement.
- How many brands work with influencers?
If we look at the data in 2025, we can see that about 61% of brands work with more than 10 influencers at once. Around 21% collaborate with 10–50, 16% with 50–100, 11% with 100–1,000, and 12% partner with over 1,000 influencers regularly. That means most brands tend to work with influencers to grow and connect with the right audiences.