Earning Money as an Influencer

Being an influencer is a new profession that has provided many content creators with a good income, thanks to the growing success of social media in recent years. The most successful influencers live in dream houses, drive expensive cars, and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. But what may seem like easy money actually requires a lot of effort.

What Exactly Is an Influencer?

An influencer is generally someone who can influence the decisions of their followers. The term “influencer” comes from the English word “to influence,” meaning “to affect,” “to guide,” or “to impact.”

Influencers as Celebrities 2.0

In the past, before modern influencers existed, this role was held by people who gained fame through their public work. These were typically actors, singers, or TV celebrities.

Nowadays, the term “influencer” is used for people with a significant following on social networks. Influencers differ from traditional celebrities in that they have a more direct connection with their audience. They tend to share details of their private lives with their followers, significantly reducing the distance between them. This strong identification of fans with their idols makes influencers particularly powerful. From a marketing perspective, this reduction in distance and direct contact is highly useful. An influencer is seen by the consumer as a friend who recommends a particular product. Word-of-mouth is known to be the most effective form of marketing, which is why influencer marketing is one of the best techniques for increasing conversions for modern businesses.

Over the years, many mainstream celebrities have pursued parallel influencer careers. Some who started as influencers have also ventured into the traditional entertainment industry. Therefore, the term “influencer” is quite dynamic.

What Does a Day in the Life of an Influencer Look Like?

Seeing the aesthetic photos of influencers or their carefree videos on YouTube, one might think their lives are all fun and games. However, influencers have to earn their money just like everyone else, albeit in a way that makes it look effortless. The trick is for the audience not to perceive it as hard work. The photo where the outfit perfectly matches the background may seem spontaneous, but it involves a lot of preparation.

YouTubers, Instagrammers & Co – Multitalented and Engaging

The daily work of an influencer depends on the social media platforms they are active on. However, all influencers share one thing in common: they create content. As “content creators,” they publish videos, photos, blog posts, or posts and images on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

These posts can cover any imaginable topic: fashion, DIY, movies, video games, lifestyle, sustainability, children, travel, animals, plants, beauty, sports, books, cooking, or nutrition are just some examples. Even niche topics can attract a large following if the content is well-prepared.

Typical tasks for influencers include:

• Video Creation: Writing scripts, shooting videos, editing, and sound processing.
• Posting Photos: Setting up scenes, choosing outfits, adjusting lighting and image settings, shooting, and editing photos.
• Researching and Preparing Content.
• Responding to Comments and Messages from Followers.
• Creating Content for Collaborations.
• Corresponding/Calling with Companies for Collaborations: The Secret Jobs platform helps young influencers connect with new business partners and makes communication with collaboration partners easier for experienced influencers.

The specific tasks of influencers depend on the social media platforms they use, the topics they cover, and the type of collaboration with companies.

How Do Influencers Make Money?

There are many ways for influencers to earn a living, some obvious and others less known:

• Depending on the platform, influencers can earn direct ad revenue from their published content. YouTube and the streaming platform Twitch, for example, pay content creators based on the number of views generated by ads shown before and during videos. Instagram or Facebook do not provide direct payment.
• Merchandise is a popular way for influencers to earn extra money. Fans buy shirts and mugs with the influencer’s typical slogans and logos.
• Fans often donate through platforms like Patreon or tip in chat rooms.
• Influencers are often paid to attend events and encourage their followers to participate.
• Collaborations with companies are the largest source of income for influencers. Companies generally want influencers to match their brand’s style. Products can be showcased in pictures and videos, featured subtly, or be a central part of the content. Special discount codes offer followers an additional benefit when purchasing the advertised products. Finding the right contacts with companies seeking advertising collaborations with influencers can be challenging. Secret Jobs connects influencers with companies that share similar focuses.
• Influencers ask their followers to buy directly through provided links. Through affiliated links, influencers earn a percentage of the products sold thanks to their advertising.
• Companies often give free products or PR packages to influencers. Secret Jobs also helps facilitate these connections.
• Collaborating with large companies allows influencers to launch their own products. This unique type of collaboration has become very popular recently. The company provides the expertise and product, while the influencer sells it to their target audience.

How Much Do Influencers Earn?

An influencer’s income is directly proportional to the number of followers. With fewer than 10,000 followers, companies generally only send free products. Sponsorships are harder to secure. Although no money flows initially, such collaborations help build the right contacts.

Paid advertising typically starts at 50 to 100 euros per sponsored post and has no upper limit. Collaborations with six-figure payments are common for the largest influencers. Payments are usually negotiated individually between partners, depending on the number of followers, the type of advertising campaign, and the target audience. “Key Opinion Leaders” are trendsetters and are seen by their followers as particularly knowledgeable in their field. Therefore, influencers in such key positions can command higher fees than those with more followers but less influence.

On Secret Jobs, influencers can find all types of collaborations with companies for their social media platforms.

Even direct ad revenue from ads running before YouTube videos, for example, can vary greatly. Although YouTube doesn’t disclose exact figures, it is estimated that the pay is about 1 to 1.50 euros per 1,000 views. This means that between 650,000 and 1 million views per month are needed to earn 1,000 euros per month before taxes.

Top 3 Influencers in Germany

The top influencers and highest earners in the German influencer market are:

• Bianca Claßen: With the channel “Bibi’s Beauty Palace” boasting 6 million subscribers, she is currently the biggest influencer in Germany, earning an estimated 1.3 million euros annually.
• Anna Maria Damm: After participating in Germany’s Next Top Model, the German-Filipina became famous on YouTube and Instagram, earning about 1.8 million euros so far.
• Dagmar “Dagi Bee” Kazakov: The well-known Düsseldorf native earns 180,000 euros a year solely through Instagram and YouTube.

How to Become an Influencer

Follow your dreams!

As cliché as it sounds, it’s true. Influencers are key figures who create particularly engaging content for others. To achieve this, one must turn their passion into a profession. Whether it’s fashion, sports, or recipes, only those who are fully committed can inspire others and succeed.

The key steps to success as an influencer:

• Choose your niche and target audience.
• Create profiles on social media.
• Plan your content and post regularly.
• Attract new followers and strive for growth.
• Contact companies.
• Find perfect collaborations on Secret Jobs.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Influencer

Being an influencer has many advantages but also some disadvantages.

When Your Hobby Becomes Your Job

• You receive gifts from companies.
• Many fans look up to you and provide positive energy.
• You make interesting contacts with inspiring people.
• Creativity has no limits.
• You are your own boss.
• Collaborations with big brands open new opportunities.
• You have flexible working hours.
• You have varied work and can decide your focus.
• Smart networking creates unique opportunities for advancement.

A Dream Job with Downsides

• Young influencers often have very long working hours. Burnout is a risk that should not be taken lightly.
• Privacy can suffer from constantly sharing personal content.
• Multitasking and good organizational skills are necessary to manage all tasks.
• As a self-employed influencer, you must prepare tax returns and pay dues.

Here are eight testimonials from successful influencers in various fields sharing their experiences and insights:

• Anna, Fashion Influencer: “When I started posting my outfits on Instagram, I had no idea of the reach I could achieve. Today, I work with major fashion brands and help design their collections. My greatest joy is getting feedback from followers who say I inspired them to find their own style.”
• David, Tech Vlogger on YouTube: “Technology has always been my passion, and through my reviews and tutorials, I’ve built a community of like-minded people. What motivates me most is the opportunity to test the latest gadgets and share my honest opinion with my viewers.”
• Luisa, Fitness Influencer: “Fitness changed my life, and as an influencer, I have the chance to guide others on their journey to a healthier life. It’s incredibly rewarding to see my workout plans and nutrition tips helping others achieve their goals.”
• Tom, Travel Blogger: “Waking up in a new place every day and sharing my experiences with the world is a dream come true. The challenge is to always stay authentic and ensure my content is both entertaining and informative.”
• Sarah, Gourmet Influencer: “I love discovering new restaurants and sharing my culinary adventures. My goal is to not only showcase excellent dishes but also tell the stories of the people behind them.”
• Mark, DIY and Home Improvement Influencer: “There’s nothing more fulfilling than showing how a few tools and some creativity can transform a home. My DIY projects have inspired a community of home improvers who now proudly share their own projects.”
• Emily, Beauty Influencer: “Working in the beauty industry means constant change and innovation. I try to use my platform to raise awareness for sustainable and cruelty-free products while showcasing the latest trends and techniques.”
• Raj, Gaming Influencer: “As a gamer, it’s fantastic to work from home and do what I love. Streaming my game sessions and interacting with fans in real-time makes every day exciting and unpredictable.”

These testimonials reflect the diversity and dynamism in the lives of influencers who have turned their passions into successful careers. Each of them emphasizes the importance of authenticity, dedication, and constant interaction with their community.

SecretJobs.eu takes a lot of stress off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your strengths. Through SecretJobs, you can find interesting and well-paid gigs as an influencer and decide directly if you want to accept the job.

Here are brief explanations of common terms related to influencers:

• Influencer Marketing: A form of marketing where brands collaborate with influencers to promote their products or services through the influencers’ credibility and reach.
• Social Media Influencer: A person with a significant following on social media who uses their opinions and recommendations to influence their audience.
• Instagram Influencer: An influencer primarily active on Instagram, creating content based on visual representations like photos and videos.
• YouTube Influencer: An influencer who publishes content mainly on YouTube, often in the form of videos on various topics.
• Influencer Collaboration: A partnership between one or more influencers and brands to create content that conveys both the brand’s message and the influencers’ personal messages.
• Influencer Campaign: A strategically planned marketing campaign involving influencers to achieve specific marketing goals, such as increasing brand awareness or product sales.
• Micro-Influencer: Influencers with a relatively small but often highly engaged following, typically between 1,000 and 100,000 followers, known for their close relationships with their audience.
• Influencer Tips: Advice and recommendations from or for influencers on how to grow their following, improve engagement, or work more effectively with brands.
• Influencer Strategy: The overarching plan that influencers or brands develop to achieve goals in influencer marketing, including selecting the right influencers, designing campaigns, and measuring success.
• Celebrity Influencer: A highly known personality who uses their fame to influence a large audience, often with a reach in the millions.

By using SecretJobs, influencers can easily find opportunities that align with their interests and goals, allowing them to monetize their social media presence effectively.