Blogging with GoodTomiCha | How I Make Money as a Microinfluencer

Outfit Details:

Dress: Free People (you can also get it here, here, and here if it’s sold out!) // Wedges: Nordstrom (sooo comfy and only $80!) // Bag: Express // Earrings: Target ($13!)

Hey friends! This post has been a long time coming, so strap in. After blogging for a couple of years, I’m not at 10,000 Instagram followers. I don’t have hundreds of thousands of page views. And I probably won’t be sponsored to go to Coachella anytime soon. But I’m completely ok with that. Why? Because there is a cool, little niche that I’ve started to embrace that still allows me to create the content that I love AND get paid for it. I’m a micro influencer and proud of it. 

What is a Micro-Influencer?

Micro-influencers are typically categorized as people with social media followings from 10,000-100,000. It can be debated up to about 250,000 total followers across all social platforms. Yes, we’re still influencers and I have plenty of blogging friends that are full-time with under 20K. Don’t underestimate the power of small tribes, guys.

Why Would You Work With a Micro-Influencer over Someone With a Bigger Following? 

Great question. Think about how we view advertisements today. Audiences are pretty perceptive of when they’re being marketed to. TV viewers got tired of it and moved to Netflix and Hulu. Music lovers switched to Spotify Premium or Apple Music to avoid the radio and their playlists being filled with commercials. Ads on social media weren’t being clicked because they looked exactly like what the consumers were used to.

Now, influencers are being recruited in droves to share products with their followers. Only there’s a big problem: consumers are less likely to trust someone with millions of followers. Their messaging can feel impersonal, forced, or worse- inauthentic. Enter: micro-influencers, the small blogger that reads like your online BFF, lives in your same city and recommends that new Italian restaurant downtown you’ve been dying to check out. They’re ready to share their tips for life and engage with their responsive audiences 24/7.

When it comes down to it, brands are starting to realize likes and comments don’t translate into sales dollars. Partnering with the YouTuber who claims that gummy hair vitamins or flat tummy tea saved her life is probably not the best use of your marketing budget. And when it’s becoming increasingly easy to fake followers and likes, the power of the communities built by micro-influencers will eventually reign supreme.

Do You Think Micro Influencers are The Future of Marketing?

HECK YES. In fact, I’ve kind of based my academic career off of it. As an MBA student, my focus is primarily social media marketing and digital media. My hope is to work for a larger corporation to help them utilize influencer marketing to its fullest potential. According to Forbes, 81% of marketers said they already use influencer marketing to improve their channels content. This year is already being heralded as the year of micro-influencers, so our opportunities are only just beginning!

I’ve piqued your interest, huh? Don’t be fooled. Being a micro influencer can take just as much work if not MORE than those with large creative teams behind them. But this fashion blogger certainly loves it. If you have an engaged, loyal audience on social media it might be time to monetize your reach! Here are a few ways to make money as a micro influencer.

5 Ways to Make Money as a Micro Influencer

Sponsored Posts:

I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with nationally recognized brands such as Physician’s Formula, Old Navy, HBO, Acuvue, NYX Cosmetics, Neutrogena, L’Occitane, and DSW… and that was just within the past 6 months! After creating my own personal brand and community, I started getting more sponsored post opportunities. You can partner with brands you love by pitching them directly, getting added to PR lists, or working with them through influencer networks. Which brings me to my next point…

Influencer Networks:

Influencer networks are websites that act as a middleman between you and the desired brand. You fill out information profiles on what you like, your following, and audience demographics and the network will pair you with available campaigns! As you can imagine, you get paid less because the brand has the pay the network, too. However, it can take the stress off of pitching to brands directly and searching for hours on LinkedIn for contact information. I plan on sharing a few of my favorite networks later, but I’m currently loving Clever, SWAY, and InfluenceHer!

Affiliate Links:

There are also a lot of options for affiliate programs, but RewardStyle is a favorite among fashion bloggers. You can link to hundreds of retailers for essentially every category. Every time a reader uses your link to purchase an item, you get a commission. You might have noticed me push on Instagram to shop using LiketoKnow.It  (the app by RewardStyle that helps you shop your fave influencers) or the links to my blog posts for outfit details. It doesn’t cost anything extra for consumers and helps me keep this fun blogging journey going!

The percentage varies from store to store but makes it easier to earn some sort of income on all of your posts. Unless you’re churning out new outfit posts or shoppable content every day, you’re most likely not getting a ton of money from affiliates but hey! Every dollar counts. *cough cough. Have you checked out my outfit details yet? ;)

Events & Shows:

Covering events like a restaurant grand opening, local fashion shows, or anything pertaining to your niche are great ways to monetize your reach. You get to make connections while socializing and probably get a free meal out of it.

Create Products or Offer Services:

Find something that your audience could really benefit from that will create passive income. Photographers and people handy with editing love to create Lightroom presets. Bloggers create e-books, courses, and style guide PDFs for consumers who want to learn more about the business.  The social media savvy bunch offer Instagram consultations and advice for small brands hoping to grow their online presence. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something that doesn’t require too much extra time or updating once it’s been released.  This one is out of my wheelhouse, but you might see something from me in the future! ;)

From brand partnerships to attending New York Fashion Week, I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish as a micro influencer. Quality, not quantity is always appreciated in the eyes of consumers and I’m glad that I have an audience that believes in my brand to help support me! Of course, I want to hit 10K, 50K, or 500K on Instagram one day. But until then, I’ll keep loving on my engaged community.

Shop the post here:

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