Want to make money on social media but don't have tons of followers? The good news is that you don't always need a huge audience to earn money on social media.
What truly matters is how you present your brand and the value you offer. With creative ideas and authentic content, even a small but active audience can bring in real income.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to make money on social media even without followers.
Why Social Media Is a Goldmine for Creators and Entrepreneurs
Social media isn’t just for connecting with friends or sharing life updates anymore. It has become a powerful platform for brands and creators to showcase and promote their products and services.
Social Commerce Is Booming
Through platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, you can connect with sellers directly to place orders. In fact, 23.7% of consumers use social media platforms to find products they can buy.
What’s more, the global social commerce market is expected to hit $1453.4 billion by 2029. This creates an opportunity to make money directly from the platforms your audience uses the most.
The best part? You don’t need inventory to start an online store, thanks to business models like POD and dropshipping.
The Rise of the Creator Economy
The creator economy is expected to grow from $160.91 billion in 2025 to $436.71 billion by 2029. This economy includes content creators like social media personalities and influencers, educators, artists, journalists, writers, and more.
This growth will be fueled by platforms like Patreon, Gumroad, and Substack. These tools make it easy to charge for content, even with a small audience.
Also Read:
7 Smart Ways to Make Money on Social Media
If you’re wondering how to make money on social media platforms, you’re in the right place. All you need is your knowledge, skills, and clever strategies. Here are seven creative and practical ways to earn on social media:
1. Partner With Brands (Even Without Being an Influencer)
You’ve probably been wondering how to make money on social media without being an influencer. The good news? It’s possible.
You don’t need a huge following to work with brands. If your posts feel genuine, brands will notice. Focus on creating quality content in a single niche, like fitness or fashion.
This will help you attract the right brands. You can even message brands directly through platforms like AspireIQ.
2. Promote Affiliate Links and Earn Commission
Affiliate marketing is an easy way to earn money on social media without making your own product. You just promote products from other brands. When someone buys through your link, you get a commission on the sale.
Here’s how to get started with affiliate marketing:
- Choose a profitable niche like tech, skincare, or fitness
- Join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates or Impact
- Share your links in your bio, stories, comments, or video descriptions
3. Sell Digital Products or Online Courses
If you have special knowledge or skills, you can create and sell digital products or online courses. It’s an excellent strategy on how to make money on social media without inventory.
Plus, you only create the product once and sell it over and over. You can sell ebooks, Canva templates, meal plans, mini courses, and more.
Here’s how to make money on social media with online courses and digital products:
- Create a product that solves a problem
- Post sneak peeks and educational posts related to your product
- Host Q&A sessions to answer questions
4. Start a Print-on-Demand Store
Are you an artist, a designer, or a creative with a passion for unique ideas? Then, starting a print-on-demand (POD) business might be a perfect way to make money from your talents.
POD lets you sell products like custom-designed phone cases, t-shirts, mugs, and more without holding inventory.
You simply partner with a POD service like Podbase, which handles production, printing, and shipping. Each time a customer buys a product, you get a percentage of the profit.
Here’s how to make money on social media with POD:
- Upload your custom designs to Podbase
- Link your Etsy or start a Shopify online store and connect to Podbase
- Promote your designs on social media platforms
5. Offer Paid Subscriptions or Exclusive Content
If your content is helpful and fun to watch, people will pay to see more. You can use platforms like Patreon, Ko-fi, or YouTube Memberships to offer paid subscriptions.
Fans can subscribe each month to get special content, such as:
- Early access to your videos or posts
- Step-by-step tutorials
- Personal shoutouts or thank-you messages
6. Launch Your Own Private Label Products
Private labelling means buying generic products, branding them as your own, and selling them online. It’s a creative way to make money on social media without creating products from scratch.
You can sell anything from skincare products, supplements, or home decor items. Just choose a product that aligns with your niche and target audience.
Here’s how to make money on social media with private labelling:
- Find white-label suppliers from sites like Alibaba or Spocket
- Create your own branding and packaging
- Set up your store on Etsy, WooCommerce, or Shopify
- Promote products through posts, stories, and videos
7. Monetize Your Audience With Microservices or Coaching
If you’re great at writing, resume building, or life coaching, you can sell your services on social media. You can offer coaching sessions, consultations, or mini-services directly to your followers.
Even with a few followers, your content can attract many clients. Tools like Calendly and Stripe make it easy to set appointments and receive payments.
Here’s how to get started:
- Set up a simple booking process
- Share helpful content
- Use client reviews to build trust
Also Read:
Can You Make Money on Social Media Without Showing Your Face?
Yes, you can. Here’s how to make money on social media without showing your face. If you're shy or private, you can still earn income without appearing on camera.
Thanks to AI tools for entrepreneurs, you can make money on social media in various creative ways.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Use Voiceovers: Record your voice and pair it with tutorials, product reviews, or animations.
- Make Screen Recordings: If you teach a digital skill like coding or design, record your screen and share the process with others.
- Share AI-Generated Content: Use platforms like Canva, Pictory, or Synthesia to create professional videos, images, animations, and voiceovers.
Best Social Media Platforms for Making Money in 2025
Learning how to make money on social media involves choosing the right platforms. Your ideal platform should match your niche, content style, and target audience.
Here are the top social media platforms you can use to make money on social media:
According to a Sprout Social study, 61% of consumers use Instagram to find and buy products.
Visual niches like fashion, fitness, food, and lifestyle perform well on this platform. You can make money on Instagram through:
- Instagram subscriptions
- An Instagram Shop
- Affiliate links
- Brand partnerships
TikTok
TikTok is perfect for sharing short product unboxing, demonstration, or tutorial videos. A single engaging video can reach millions, even from a brand-new account.
You can earn on TikTok through:
- Creator Fund
- Live gifts
- TikTok Shop
- Affiliate marketing
Pinterest is an excellent platform for promoting your best-selling POD products or directing traffic to your ecommerce store. Most people use it as a visual search engine to find products and ideas.
You can make money on Pinterest by:
- Selling profitable digital products
- Linking to affiliate products
YouTube
YouTube is perfect for long-form educational content and deep engagement. It takes time to grow an audience on YouTube, but old videos still continue generating income.
It also offers multiple earning opportunities, including:
- AdSense revenue
- Channel memberships
- Product sales
- Affiliate marketing
X (Twitter)
X, formerly Twitter, is an ideal space for sharing thoughts, news, or educational content. If you’re in an authoritative niche like finance, tech, education, or news, you can use the platform to make money.
Here’s how you can earn on X:
- Subscriptions
- Ad revenue
- Selling services directly
Also Read:
Tips for Growing and Monetizing a Social Following Faster
Learning how to make money on social media is just the start. To really succeed, you need a plan to grow and monetize your audience.
Here’s how:
Batch Content and Use Scheduling Tools
Creating and posting content daily can be tiring. To avoid this, set a few days aside to plan a week or month’s worth of content. Then, use tools like Buffer and Later to schedule posts in advance and maintain consistency.
Test Monetization Channels Early
Learning to make money on social media starts with using what you already have. Even with a small audience, you can start testing income streams to see what resonates.
Start by:
- Adding affiliate links in your bio
- Offering a simple digital download
- Promoting your POD products
Leverage SEO in Captions and Hashtags
People use specific words and phrases called keywords to search for content and products on social media platforms.
Adding relevant keywords naturally in your hashtags, captions, and descriptions can make more people see your posts.
Real Examples of Creators Making Money Without Being Famous
Learning how to earn money on social media isn’t just for celebrities and public figures. Many ordinary creators and small business owners are making money on social media with just a few followers.
Here are several real-world examples that prove you can make money on social media without being famous:
- Daniel Clark: A print-on-demand content creator with under 5K subscribers on YouTube. He makes six figures through coaching and affiliate links.
- Latasha James: A coach and freelancer with 38K followers on Instagram. She earns five figures selling digital products and online courses.
Also Read:
Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
.png)
