How to make $1000/month on social media with 0 followers — Silicon Valley Girl Podcast

Marina Mogilko: This year marks my 10th anniversary creating content on social media. I've amassed over 17 million followers. Altogether, I've published 1,215 long form videos across my three YouTube channels and thousands of short videos on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. I've explored just about every way there is to make money on social media, and in this video I'm excited to share what I've learned in my 10-year career. But there are also a lot of things that I'm learning right now because there are so many new ways to make money with creating content, even if you don't have subscribers. In fact, many of these methods do not require millions of followers. Some don't even need any followers.

As you know, millions of followers don't equal millions in revenue. I sometimes talk to creators like lifestyle and humor creators, and they have millions of followers, and I ask them: how much do you charge per video? And they say an amount that's like 5x less than I charge, and I have a small fraction of their views. It's just because I target a different type of audience. I target entrepreneurs. I target moms. I target people who moved to the US to build their career. So a lot of the times it's actually vice versa. If you're in entertainment, that means you make less money than someone who's in real estate.

But let's dive into each income stream step by step. First of all, of course, there are sponsored posts and videos. It's a billion-dollar industry. Companies are pouring so much money into creators, and these sponsored videos and posts are often the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about making money as a creator. What's great about it is you don't need a multi-million follower audience to land sponsorship. In fact, the trend is shifting towards brands seeking out smaller, authentic creators with loyal, engaged followers because their posts cost less but there's more interest in the product they're advertising.

So if your blog has a specific niche like real estate, etiquette, or healthy snacks for kids, companies in that space are more likely to sponsor your content to reach a smaller but highly targeted audience. That's why I recommend starting to pitch brands once you've built an audience of just a few thousand subscribers.

How do you land sponsored posts? First of all, start creating content that brands want to be part of. If you're a beauty creator, try to create makeup videos. If you're a fashion creator, try to make videos with your fashionable looks. If you're teaching how to invest, then make those videos. Then collect stats on those videos and reach out to brands. But not on Instagram, not through their DMs. Find the email of their marketing manager or CMO through LinkedIn through a company called Rocket Reach, which lets you find executive emails. Write an email like: "Hey, I'm a creator in this niche. Here are the videos I made about these things. Here are the stats, these are how many views we've got, comments, etc. Would you be interested in running a campaign with me? Or do you even work with creators?"

You can also do that on Instagram, but when you DM them, you can say: "Hey, I have a project in mind. Can you connect me with the right person?" Look for companies that align with your niche and audience. Don't forget to include your demographics—age, location, interests of your followers. There are other influencer marketing platforms that you can use. There's a platform called Collaborate. There are so many other platforms, but we normally use Rocket Reach.

Number two: do not underestimate building relationships with local businesses. I've had so many people I worked with who had like 700 or 800 followers, and they got free dinners at local restaurants, free visits to theme parks, free tours—whatever. This strategy is perfect for beginner bloggers, and it's often overlooked. Small businesses usually have very limited marketing budgets and prefer to collaborate with smaller influencers. So you go to a local cafe. They might be willing to pay like $100 for a post, but they can also provide you like a $300 credit for dinners.

I know a lot of you might say: how does credit pay for my expenses? But you know what's cool? I stopped buying clothes and I stopped buying makeup because companies just send me gifts. When I'm in Dubai, I don't pay for my food because all the restaurants just invite me to eat for free. I stay in hotels for free. It's the best. I would have spent money anyway, right? And this way I'm saving money. Saving money means making money. So do not hesitate to contact your favorite local businesses or venues.

If you get a yes from them, it's also an opportunity to create content that you can use later to reach out to new brands. Don't be discouraged if brands ignore your emails or refuse paid collaborations. Sometimes they just don't check their emails. Sometimes you need to call them. Sometimes they're not interested, and it's fine. It's a numbers game. The key is to keep pitching and refining your approach.

How much can you make? Earnings vary widely depending on your country and niche, but here's a general guide for micro-influencers with less than 10,000 followers: Instagram stories are $50 to $200 each, posts are $100 to $500 each. YouTube sponsored videos are $300 to $1,000 a video. TikTok sponsored posts are $50 to $500 per video.

A few final tips: do not forget to disclose sponsored content. Follow FTC guidelines. Stay authentic. Only collaborate with brands you genuinely like, because authenticity is key to maintaining your audience engagement. If you lose the trust, those brands are not going to come back.

Now let's talk about targeted advertising. Unlike the previous method, which requires regular content creation and at least a small following, this approach doesn't require a blog or subscribers. This is one of the most effective ways to promote your services on social media without relying on an audience at all. By leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google, you can grow your business, attract clients, and generate revenue quickly and efficiently.

In fact, for Lingo Trip, I think like 40% of our revenue is through targeted ads. Though we have a huge content machine, we still invest a lot in our ads because they let you connect with the right audience and scale your success. Sometimes social media has a limit to it because your creativity is limited, or maybe the team you hired has a limit. But with targeted ads, if you figure out what works, it's just going to grow and grow and grow from there. It's basically one of the most effective ways to introduce your product to a new audience.

But how do you get it right? In the world of evolving privacy rules and overwhelming amounts of data, marketers who leverage high-quality audience data are 225% more likely to exceed their goals. It's a powerful reminder that truly understanding your audience is non-negotiable. If your tools aren't integrated yet, marketers with connected systems are 183% more likely to succeed.

The next income stream is something I've started doubling down on a lot, and it's actually so cool. It's like a whole new industry called UGC, which stands for user-generated content. Here's how it works: brands constantly need fresh social media content to showcase their products in an authentic, real-life setting—not just polished, emotional shots. To meet this demand, they pay creators to film reviews, unboxings, tutorials, or even viral-style videos featuring their products. Plus, many brands send the products to you for free.

I know you've seen those reels where people say: "Oh my God, I got so many packages from brands," and then they make videos with them and they make thousands of dollars, and they have like 60 followers. That happens. And you keep them after filming. You don't need much investment to get started—just a smartphone with a good camera and an understanding of social media trends.

Here are the steps: First, build a UGC portfolio. Even without brand deals, start creating mock UGC examples using products you already own. This can include product reviews, how-to videos, lifestyle photos or videos, or unboxing content. Having a portfolio showcases your skills and makes it easier for brands to see your potential.

Then you have to join UGC platforms. There are platforms designed for UGC creators like Collab, Aspire, Insense, Brands Meet Creators, Billo, Popular Pays, Social Native. But you need to list a lot of things and showcase how you work. Then either brands come to you or you pitch yourself to brands. You can reach out to brands through platforms, or you can reach out to them directly.

In your pitch, include a link to your UGC portfolio, a brief explanation of how your content can elevate their marketing efforts, and some ideas tailored to their brand—like a product demo or a viral video concept. Use social media to promote your UGC skills. Start a separate UGC account where you share your UGC creations. Don't forget hashtags like #UGCCreator and #BrandCollaboration. Many brands scout creators through those hashtags, so this increases your chances of being noticed.

How much can you make with UGC? It varies depending on the complexity of the content and brand budgets. But here's the general idea: short videos (15 to 60 seconds) are $100 to $500 a video. Photo content is $50 to $200 per image. Bundles—and this is always the best—three videos and five photos. You're already getting acquainted with the product, so why not offer more? That's $300 to $1,000 per package.

The next is something I love a lot as well because it's semi-passive. You can kind of post and relax, and it is affiliate marketing. It allows you to partner with brands and promote their products or services. You earn a commission every time someone makes a purchase through your unique affiliate link.

Here's how it works: You join an affiliate program for a product or service that aligns with your niche. There are many platforms that have affiliate links, like Amazon. When I'm doing AI videos, I just join every program manually—like Opus Clip, Spotter, or Haen. If you're in fashion, there are two great apps: LTK and Shop My. You can basically find any brand. If you're doing YouTube Shorts, YouTube Shopping is there for you. They have almost every brand, and you get commission when your audience clicks on the links and makes a purchase, you earn a percentage of the sale.

How much can you make? Charlie Chan makes $200,000 a month. But basically, earnings depend on the program's commission rate and your ability to drive sales. Low-ticket products: if you're selling on Amazon and they don't pay a lot, $50 to $300 a month. High-ticket products: if you're selling software subscriptions, $500 to $5,000 a month.

Affiliate marketing is a scalable income stream that grows as your audience and content improve. With the right strategy, even a small engaged audience can turn into a significant source of income. The best part? Your efforts compound over time. As you create more content, your affiliate income can eventually become a source of passive income.

Number five: if you're trying all of these things for yourself, why not start helping others create content? If you're not comfortable being in front of the camera but still want to make money on social media right from the start, you can support other creators behind the scenes. These days, many medium and large influencers operate like small media companies. I have over 50 people working for me. There's a role for almost any skill set. You could design video thumbnails, edit videos, write scripts, brainstorm ideas, manage brand communications and sales, apply for UGC deals, come up with ideas for those UGC deals. Skills like graphic design, copywriting, video editing, and sales are highly, highly valued in the space.

I would say start by doing something, then put together a portfolio, then create a short motivational letter and reach out to your favorite creators. How much do people make? It varies widely. Some people charge me like $150 an hour. Some people charge me $100 an hour. That's mostly videographers who come with their own equipment. But for editing, it's a few hundred a video. A manager charges like $40 per hour. My sales manager takes 10% of the sales. It really depends. High-level roles like COO or sales managers who are on W2 make tens of thousands of dollars a year just for one creator, and normally they work with a bunch of creators.

Number six: selling digital products and services. Selling digital products and services is one of the most profitable and scalable ways to make money on social media. Unlike physical products, with digital offerings your income is not tied to the number of hours you work. Sell the same product to 10 people or 10,000 people without additional effort.

For example, I sell educational products in areas where I have expertise—English as a second language and social media. My product line includes everything from personal consultations and large multi-month courses that last several months to workbooks priced at just $5.99. So there's something for everyone. These digital sales now generate tens of thousands of dollars a month for me and my team, but it's a result of years of consistent effort and growth.

If you're starting out, start small. As your audience grows and you expand your product offerings, your income will naturally scale. One of the easiest ways to get started is by offering personal consultations because people are going to ask you the same questions. Then you create a digital product based on their questions.

How much can you make? As I mentioned, we make tens of thousands a month. For ebooks, you normally make from $500 to $5,000 a month with consistent promotion. Online courses can go through the roof, but on average for medium-sized creators, $5,000 to $50,000 a month. Coaching and consultations depend on your hourly rate, but $500 to $55,000 a month. There's another thing you can do: templates or printables, which make from $500 to $3,000 a month with a popular Etsy or Shopify store.

Number seven: sell merchandise or offline products. More and more creators are launching their own physical product lines, and I'm not an exception. I feel like it's the best way to connect with the real world. I'm working on launching a healthy snack brand for kids, and I'll be sharing more of the whole process on this channel. But if you're not ready to dive into creating your own product but still want a way to connect with your audience on a more tangible and physical level, selling merchandise is a great place to start.

Thanks to print-on-demand services like Printful or Printify, you don't need any upfront investment in production or warehousing. You can print a book on demand on Amazon. These platforms create a physical product only once a customer makes a purchase. This can work for any niche—from fitness to gaming to education and lifestyle. For example, fitness bloggers can sell gym accessories like water bottles or resistance bands. We had a productivity workbook for people who learned English. It was a printed, actual book that we sent. If you're a lifestyle creator, you can stick to classic options like t-shirts. But always look for a product that reflects your personality and lifestyle.

How much can you earn? Some creators make what—Beast Chocolate makes $500 million a year. Prime Drinks—Logan Paul, I don't support that product, but I think they made a billion this year. A creator with 1,000 engaged followers could sell 50 t-shirts at $25 each, earning $1,250 with $750 in profit.

Number eight: Patreon paid membership. Patreon is perfect for creators who look to build a sustainable and direct connection with their audience. For example, if you have a financial Instagram but you want to show people which stocks you're buying every day, that could be behind a paywall on Patreon. According to recent data, over 200,000 creators made more than $3.5 billion through Patreon, with monthly payouts to creators exceeding $25 million. Most of these creators are not celebrities. They're micro-influencers who have cultivated loyal audiences eager to support their work.

To start earning on Patreon, think about the added value you can provide to your subscribers—like behind-the-scenes videos or something that can help them either start making money or help them feel better about themselves. On average, you can charge $25 a month for access to your Patreon content.

Number nine: don't forget about ad revenue from platforms. Ad revenue is one of the easiest and most consistent ways for creators to monetize. Google AdSense and YouTube pay you for making videos. For example, last month YouTube paid me $5,000 for the ads shown on this channel. One of the best things about YouTube's ad revenue system is that you don't just get paid for the videos you release that month. You also earn from all of your past videos. This means content I uploaded months or even years ago is still generating income for me today.

To qualify for the YouTube Partner Program, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time in the past 12 months. However, keep in mind that if your channel is small and only gets a few thousand views per month, your AdSense earnings will likely be modest. But there are other platforms. Instagram has bonuses. They're super random. Sometimes they give you a pop-up like: "Hey, you're making bonuses," and sometimes I make like thousands of dollars every month. Different platforms like TikTok and Twitch have Creator Funds, and they distribute payments based on views and engagement.

Last but not least, I feel like I have to mention this since I'm the person who did it and I'm in Silicon Valley: raising venture capital. Once you reach a certain stage of your creator career, you could actually sell part of your company in exchange for money, which I did. I sold 5% of my company for $1.7 million. That means my investors get a share of my future profits, and for me, I get capital to invest, experiment with, and try new things. This is definitely something that's already going on in the market. The company that invested in me, Mow Ventures, I think they just closed a round of $50 million that they want to invest in creators. There are companies buying your past content. I think it was Spotter that buys your library of content. There are more companies coming to the market that are willing to invest in creator businesses. So that's definitely the future, and it's just going to get bigger. The creator economy just keeps getting bigger. When I made a video six or seven years ago, I was thinking about a smaller audience. These days, I know the audience is just huge, and we're just entering this new economy driven by creators.