Making money off social media platforms |19 March 2021
Social media and the internet has become indispensable during the pandemic not only for people who are stuck at home but as a viable option to earn money for those who have lost their jobs.
One platform that has risen to the top during this past year is OnlyFans. Considered by many to be akin to Instagram for pornography, OnlyFans has become a profit-making resource for amateur and professional adult entertainers alike. For many struggling with the financial toll imposed by the pandemic, it has also become a lifeline for some people to make ends meet.
OnlyFans works on a subscription basis, where content creators can sell their photos, videos and other services to ‘fans’ at anywhere between $4.99 and $49.99 monthly or give pay-per-view access
The convenience, willingness and candour with which people are tuning into OnlyFans holds meaning different than pornography. It’s clear many don’t see themselves as porn stars – despite the obvious resemblance in content – but influencers making money. Like any creator in any field, they are charging a price for their services/products relative to their fan following and public appeal.
Many celebrities such as Chris Brown, TreySongz, Tyler Posey among others have joined the popular site and as of the writing of this article the site was receiving over 8,000 subscribers per day.
Another popular social media app that has taken off this past year is TikTok.
The video app has made enormous strides in popularity since its release in 2017. The app has become more and more popular in Seychelles in the past few months with some creators even having over thirty thousand followers.
As with pretty much every Internet-based trend that comes along, one question quickly arose with TikTok: “Can you make money on this thing?” The answer is YES, you certainly can. While TikTok is not built specifically around monetization and providing income streams to creators, the app is very commercial-friendly, and it is possible to earn a living by creatively using the platform.
Through TikTok, creators can secure sponsorship and brand deals for their posts, especially if they have a large number of followers.
Instagram is not a new app but users have been able to utilise this platform to make money. During the restriction periods many new small businesses were created using Instagram to advertise their products.
Brands also tend to partner with influencers to do sponsored posts that help spread the word about their products. Top influencers make thousands per sponsored post. Keep in mind that it takes a long time and a lot of hard work and talent to get to this point. It’s attainable for sure, but make sure you manage your expectations if you choose this route.