How to get paid as an influencer? I’m in my tiny Brooklyn apartment, coffee’s cold, phone’s buzzing like crazy. The radiator’s banging like it’s got a grudge. I’ve been trying to turn my 12K Instagram followers into real money. It’s not all cute coffee pics. I’ve spilled oat milk on my laptop chasing that “vibe.” Once, I sent a brand a meme instead of my media kit. So embarrassing! Here’s seven ways I’ve made cash, straight from my messy U.S. life.
Why I Tried to Make Money as an Influencer
I didn’t start posting selfies to get rich. It was more like, “People like my pics? Cool!” Last summer, I’m sweating on a subway, scrolling X, and I see an influencer flexing a free Bali trip. I’m like, what? You can get paid to post? That’s when I jumped into learning how to get paid as an influencer. I learned by messing up—a lot.
My First Big Fail
My first try at how to get paid as an influencer was a flop. I emailed a juice bar, hoping for a free smoothie and maybe $50. I wrote this super formal email, like I was begging for a job. They didn’t reply. Total ghost. That taught me I gotta know my worth and who’s watching.
7 Ways I’ve Made Money
Here’s seven ways I’ve tried to make money. These come from my own sweaty, coffee-stained hustle, not some internet list. Let’s go.
1. Sponsored Posts: The Classic Way
Sponsored posts are huge for how to get paid as an influencer. Brands pay you to post about their stuff—like energy drinks or phone cases. My first was a candle company. I’m dodging pizza boxes, trying to make their candle look cool. Took tons of tries, but I got $200!
- Brands hit you up or you pitch them to show their product.
- Be real. My followers knew when I faked liking something. Trust gets you more gigs.
- Try AspireIQ or Upfluence for collabs.
2. Affiliate Marketing: Easy Cash
Affiliate marketing’s my favorite. Post a link, someone buys, you get paid. I got into it after buying sneakers through another influencer’s link. My first was a fitness app—made $37 while sleeping. Not big, but it felt like finding cash in my pocket.
- Join programs like Amazon Associates or ShareASale. Share your link in posts or bio.
- Don’t spam. I blasted my link once and looked desperate. Mention it naturally.
- Pick stuff you use. I pushed a blender I love, and my followers bought it.
3. Brand Ambassadorships: Long-Term Money
This is when you’re a brand’s buddy for a while. I did a three-month gig with a clothing brand, posting weekly. Got $1,000 and cool hoodies. It was hard to keep their vibe and still be me, though.
- Brands hire you to rep their stuff for a set time.
- Find these on X, LinkedIn, or by DMing brands with a pitch.
- I forgot to say #ad once, and my followers called me out. Always disclose.
4. Selling Your Stuff: Big Hustle
This one’s fun. I made cheesy motivational stickers after late-night freakouts. Designed them on Canva, printed them, sold them on Linktree. Made about $500. Not huge, but I’m hyped.
- Make something—stickers, merch, an e-book—and sell it.
- Use Teespring or Gumroad to keep it easy.
- I ordered too many stickers. Now a box mocks me in my closet. Start small.
5. Content Creation: Behind-the-Scenes Cash
Sometimes brands want your skills. I got hired to shoot photos for a café’s Instagram. I’m in their tiny kitchen, trying to make avocado toast look good with my iPhone. Got $150 for an hour.
- Offer your photo, video, or writing skills to brands.
- Pitch small businesses on X or at local events.
- My early photos were bad. YouTube tutorials helped me improve.
6. Speaking Gigs: Sharing My Story
This one’s new. I spoke at a college about “personal branding.” I was sweating, stumbling over words in front of 20 students. They liked my awkwardness, though. Got $300 and some followers.
- Share your story at events or workshops.
- Start small—libraries or community centers work.
- I overprepared once and sounded stiff. Be you, even if you ramble.
7. Ad Revenue: Slow Money
Got a blog or YouTube? Ads can make you money. I started a blog and use Google AdSense. It’s only $20 a month, but it’s passive, and I love seeing deposits.
- Join ad platforms like AdSense or Mediavine.
- You need traffic, so grow your audience first.
- I obsessed over clicks early on. It’s a slow grind, so chill.
My Flops and Wins
I’ve messed up a lot. I promoted this gross “miracle” tea for $50, and my followers dragged me. It was awful. But I’ve had wins—like a jewelry brand paying me $500 for one post after seeing my stories. Be you, own your mistakes, and keep learning how to get paid as an influencer. Check Influencer Marketing Hub to avoid my dumb moves.
Wrapping Up: My Take on How to Get Paid as an Influencer
Figuring out how to get paid as an influencer is wild. I’m still spilling coffee, sending dumb DMs, and learning. These seven streams—sponsored posts, affiliate links, ambassadorships, selling stuff, content creation, speaking, and ads—keep me going. Start small, be real, don’t worry about looking dumb. Got hustle stories? Hit me up on X—I’m @TotallyNotAPro!
