My Social Media Career (Part 1)

Hey there, wonderful readers!

As I've recently announced, I left my corporate job to pursue social media full-time. "But how are you making money from that?" is a question I get asked almost daily. In this newsletter, I'm going to lift up the hood and show you exactly how I'm making 5 figures a month. But here's another number that may surprise you: 3,500,000. That's the number of accounts I reached on Instagram in October alone. And guess what? It all came down to three videos (1 , 2 , 3 ) that I released within a whirlwind two-week span. Each one racking up views in the millions.

My metrics and analytics (see a screenshot below) are a testament to this surreal journey. If you're in the social media game, you'll know that hitting those digits, especially on a platform like Instagram, is no small feat. And remember that one TikTok video of mine that soared to 15 million views? It seems the viral wave is crashing onto my Instagram shores too.

Now, before we dive deeper into the details of how to make money with social media, let me take you back to where it all began...

Many of you know my origins are rooted deeply in the corporate world. I began as a mechanical engineer in the medical device industry in 2013. Yet, in 2019, a realization hit. Was I just letting my potential to be a charismatic thought leader fade away? As an engineer, I was hidden away in my dull grey cubicle, rarely making human contact throughout my workdays. And if you know me, I'm as extroverted as they come. Engineering suddenly didn't seem like a good fit. Enter career change #1. Transitioning to a program manager (PM) a mere 30 days before the first shelter-in-place order came in February 2020, I narrowly escaped having to go into the office every day during the pandemic. As a PM, I suddenly had the opportunity to work from anywhere, which is when my husband and I chose to move to Las Vegas.

Shortly after that, I dove headfirst into the world of social media, offering mini-courses on corporate survival : email etiquette, job searching, business ethics, and more. What began as snippets of advice soon morphed into a full-blown hobby. I remember reaching 2.5 Million accounts on TikTok during my first 30 days ; I was a natural! This brings us to the present day: last month, I hung up my corporate hat and embraced the digital world of social media full-time. I would not have made it this far without my two friends' consistency, and persistence:

CONSISTENCY IS KEY.

But not the mundane, repetitive kind. Each post should be a tad better than the last. Improve that lighting, upgrade the audio, and perhaps treat yourself to a better camera.

PERSISTENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

Social media is a tough gig. Negative comments? Haters? Yep, they’re part of the package. But they’re just signs that you're making waves. I've been called every name under the sun and I'll admit, it used to really hurt. But now, I let those negative water droplets roll off my back like a duck. And as I always say, if you've been thinking about posting content online but feel scared...do it scared. Never let fear paralyze you.

Now, the burning question from friends, family, and even that curious barista at the coffee shop: “How on earth do you make money with social media?” My next podcast episode is a 25-minute review of this exact topic, make sure you subscribe on Spotify and YouTube so you don't miss an episode. As for the high-level version, let's break it down:

1. Branded Sponsored Posts: Brands might approach you for a little promo magic. Negotiate your rates and remember, transparency with #ad or #sponsoredpost is vital according to FTC laws. Here is an example of one I recently made.
2. Affiliate Links: Create content around a product, use a unique link (like "Alli20"), and earn a commission for each sale made. My advice is to only work with affiliate links if you're sure you'll have a high conversion rate (meaning people will see the ad, use your code, and buy a company's product with it).
3. Account Management: Manage social media accounts for others. I currently have a couple of clients on board and a few slots open for those interested! If you'd like to learn more, email my team at [email protected]
4. Platform Payouts: Platforms like TikTok and Instagram pay you based on views. It might seem small, but those pennies add up, especially if you're pumping out content. And beware, not all videos qualify for payouts so make sure you read that fine print. To give you some real numbers, TikTok and Instagram pay $0.03 for every 1,000 views.
5. Promote Your Products: If you’ve got something to sell, social media is your spotlight. You don't need a marketing degree to realize the power of online promotion. Let's say you're selling a $10 item and your video scores a million views. Even with a modest 1% conversion rate, you’re laughing to the bank.

To sum it up, the potential of social media is vast. The ultimate aim? Going viral and reaching your target audience/client/buyer. But viral means different things across platforms and audiences.

Stay glued for the next newsletter (part 2), where I'll unveil my top five tips for making viral video content on any platform. How do I know what I'm talking about? I've had 24 short-form videos surge past the million-view mark on TikTok alone.

Until then, keep shining and keep sharing!

Warmly, Allison ??