Working out how to earn money with social media is something I’ve thought about for years. But to be honest, I always avoided it. 

Social media views come and go so fast, and you must constantly show up to make sales. Additionally, it’s hard to be strategic when your content reaches anyone, not just the target audience. That’s why I’ve always favored more stable, long-term growth channels like SEO. But with all the changes happening in SEO thanks to AI, I realized it’s better not to put all your eggs in one basket. So, I started showing up more on Reddit and LinkedIn. 

In this article, I’ll share how you can monetize your social media presence and what I’d do differently if I were starting over.

Why Trust Me?

I’m an SEO specialist and content creator who is growing my online content business. I’ve built an audience of over 21,000 on Medium, and one of my very first Reddit posts gained over 27,000 views in 48 hours, generating ebook sales and leads. 

When I first started posting on LinkedIn, I had zero expectations. 

I wanted to test things out and see how it all worked. But something interesting happened. People started reaching out to me with questions, collaboration ideas, and even paid offers. That’s when I realized, “Wait a second… there’s real potential here.” Let me tell you more about how it all started. 

Even though there’s a ton of advice online about how to make money on social media the right way, I just started posting. No plan, no strategy, just hitting “Publish.” 

I didn’t know what kind of content I wanted to be known for. I was simply sharing thoughts, ideas, and tips I was learning along the way. 

Instead of spending hours (or days) creating a fancy content strategy that might not even work, I got real feedback right away. I could see what people liked, what flopped, and what sparked conversations.

Some of my first LinkedIn posts were about SEO, some about my solopreneur journey, and others were just random life lessons. I wasn’t consistent, and that’s okay. 

LinkedIn is a great place to test things, especially in the beginning. You don’t need to have it all figured out from day one.

The act of posting imperfectly is what teaches you the most. Because sometimes, planning is just another way of procrastinating. 

If you're stuck, start posting. 

Twitter, LinkedIn, and Quora were the platforms where I randomly mentioned my SEO ebook now and then. To my surprise, I started getting a few sales here and there. Medium, though, was where things took off. I made over $10,000 in ebook sales just by casually dropping the link in my articles. 

These success stories made me realize that talking about and linking to the products matters. Before that, I’d write posts that got likes, shares, and comments but no income. 

It became a real side hustle once I started testing and promoting my offers. It taught me that people won’t know what you sell unless you show them. So now, I ensure to include links whenever I talk about what I do.

Honestly, many things have changed. 

At first, I was just posting for fun on LinkedIn. No plan, no niche, no expectations. But when people began reaching out with questions, offers, and SEO help requests, I realized this could be something. 

So, I shifted my mindset from “just posting” to “building something.” I started being more intentional about what I shared and why. 

Here’s what else has changed for me:

That’s when it stopped being a hobby and became more like an online business.

After spending three years creating content, I’ve learned that building an audience can open many doors. 

Because I kept showing up and putting in the work, I now earn money in ways I never imagined at the beginning. I sell my digital products, work with brands as an affiliate, land sponsorship deals, and get hired for my SEO content services.

Here’s a quick look at what’s been working for me and how it all came together over time.

When you have an engaged audience that trusts you, it becomes easier to make sales without worrying about algorithms or platform changes. 

I use beehiiv to set up automated email campaigns for new subscribers. These emails introduce who I am and what I do, and share my low-ticket products, like my SEO ebook. 

I also run occasional promos to give sales an extra push. For example, I presold over 20 copies of the 4th edition of my ebook before it even launched! This kind of response wouldn’t be possible without a warm and loyal audience. 

In the first 5 months of 2025, I made over $12,000 from affiliate partnerships with brands I genuinely trust. That’s already double what I made in 2024 from affiliate marketing! 

If you think you are late to the game, just look at how Jenn Leach, a fellow content creator I know from Medium, is killing it!

In one of her recent newsletters, she mentioned she makes around $1,800–$2,000 per week through affiliate links. Pretty solid, right? 

What I’ve learned is you don’t need to stick to just one platform to make this work. Jenn, for example, uses Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest to drive affiliate sales. 

It’s all about building trust with your audience and recommending products you believe in and use. The results can be pretty rewarding!

Working with sponsors and brands has been one of the most natural ways I’ve made money from my content. 

When you keep showing up, your audience grows, and that’s when brands start noticing. 

For me, it happened when my content views hit over 25,000 monthly across two platforms. It didn’t feel like a huge number, but apparently, it was enough for brands to reach out. 

Nowadays, I only collaborate with companies I know and trust, promoting tools I already use through sponsored posts or listings. Honestly, it is one of the easiest ways to earn because the hardest part, growing an audience, is already done.  

So, if you’ve been working on your online presence, keep going. You never know who’s watching and ready to collaborate.

​​Besides all the monetization ideas I’ve shared above, I occasionally mention my SEO content writing services in my posts. 

I don’t do it expecting tons of leads. It’s more like planting seeds. Most of my content is informational, but you never know who’s watching. I’ve had a few companies reach out after reading my content. 

If you want to move faster, especially early on, consider outbound marketing, which is about reaching out to people who might need your help. I know that outbound marketing doesn’t have the best reputation (52% of marketers say it doesn’t work well), but it can get you results when your inbox isn’t flooded with leads yet. 

​​If you want to make money online, the platforms you choose can make a big difference. Here’s what works for me and other content creators. 

Jennifer Chou is the founder of Vegan Tech Nomad, a newsletter that blends productivity tips with business insights, and the owner of an Instagram account with over 80,000 subscribers. 

It all started when one of her Instagram videos went viral. That moment opened the door to the world of newsletters.

In the beehiiv case study, she shared she made over $16,000 from her content in the first four months of 2024. 

According to the Instagram Influencer Earnings Calculator, if you grow your Instagram to 50,000 followers with at least 0.6% engagement, you could earn around $159 per post. $159 might not sound like a lot. But that’s mostly for sponsored posts. The real money can come from promoting your own products or services.

Besides being active on LinkedIn and growing my own website, I’ve also started building my newsletter. 

What you might not know is that I had to pivot my newsletter twice before I finally found the best newsletter platform (beehiiv!) and nailed down my niche. 

What made me stick with beehiiv is how easy it is to grow and get paid for sending newsletters. Even as a busy content creator managing email on the side,  beehiiv makes growing an email list feel doable on autopilot.

Here are some of the beehiiv’s growth features worth checking out: 

If you want to start building and monetizing your audience, there’s probably no better place than beehiiv. And since you can use beehiiv for 30 days for free, why not give it a try? 

When I first started creating content, I thought sharing it on social media alone would be enough to make money. But over time, I realized there’s more to it than just hitting “publish.”

Let me share the truth I wish I knew at the beginning of my journey: “Passive income” isn’t passive at all.

Creating content that makes money takes a lot of upfront work — research, writing, editing, promoting, and updating. And even after it goes live, the job isn’t done. Algorithms change, trends shift, and your content can lose traffic if you don’t keep it fresh.

When I pause posting on LinkedIn, my views and engagement immediately drop. And it took me 3 years of growing my website as a side hustle to start making four figures monthly consistently. 

Yes, content can bring in income long after it’s published. This part is true. But only if you treat it like a long-term project, not a set-it-and-forget-it cash machine. 

When I started, I struggled with pricing. I wanted to be fair and avoid working for free, but I often took on projects that seemed simple and ended up unpaid for hours of work— including with brand deals. I was eager and accepted whatever terms were offered, unsure of how to value my work.

Over time, I learned to price based on the value I provide, not just the time spent. Now, whether it's a one-off or a long-term deal, I ask, “What is this really worth?” And if a client says no, it doesn’t mean my work lacks value—just that I need to find someone who sees it.

When I first started monetizing my content, I made many mistakes just to “make it work.” I accepted almost every opportunity that came my way, thinking more meant better. But looking back, there are a few things I’d never do again:

Now, I focus on quality over quantity and only say yes when it truly feels like a win-win.

If you are wondering how to monetize social media, here’s what I’d suggest you do in the first 30–60 days. 

First, I’d figure out what content format you enjoy the most—writing, videos, visuals, or maybe audio. This step matters because it helps you pick the right platform to show up on. Then, I’d suggest thinking about your own life experiences and what you like to share. 

My way of approaching the niche selection is answering the question: What can you tell your younger self to help them grow faster? When you start creating content from this perspective, you’ll naturally attract people who think like you or are just a few steps behind. 

Once the niche is clear, start posting and sharing your content. Show up consistently, even if it feels slow at first. Track the open rates, click-through rates, and what topics get the most attention. 

Lastly, add a simple call-to-action, like “join my email list” (more examples below), so you can start building your audience from day one. 

Managing monetization as a creator is easier when you have the right tools. Here’s what I use for content monetization, performance tracking, and automation: 

Based on beehiiv case studies and actual creator stacks, here’s what works:

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

For me, LinkedIn has probably been among the top ones. Others do well on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, especially if they’re great on camera or like visual content. It all depends on what you're good at and where your audience hangs out. 

I suggest starting with one platform, showing up consistently, and treating it like a business. That’s when the real opportunities (and income!) start rolling in.

Yes, you can make money on social media, but it takes time and consistency.

Many content creators earn through brand deals, affiliate partnerships, selling their services, or promoting their products. The key is showing up regularly, building trust, and creating content that helps or entertains users.

Brands and businesses care more about your influence than your follower count. If your followers like your content and take action, like clicking links or buying products, you’re already valuable. You can earn through brand deals, affiliate links, selling services, or your own products.

While writing this story, I’ve stumbled upon this Reddit post, which is pretty inspiring. This user started monetizing their account right at 149 followers. So, it doesn’t matter how many followers you have, but how engaged they are. 

It depends on your niche and how big your audience is. 

Some people make a few hundred bucks a month, while others make six figures or more. 

For example, Danielle Tudahl, the founder of the La Raven brand, turned her TikTok fame into a $100,000 newsletter business on beehiiv. 

It doesn’t happen overnight, though. The more value you bring, the more chances you have to get paid.

Try beehiiv free for 30 days and see how it can help you turn your content into a monetization machine.