These days, being an influencer is often categories as a full-time job that brings income. Many young girls, starting their Instagram accounts or blogs, dreaming about becoming the next social media star who will earn millions like Zoella. However, it’s not as pretty for everyone and is not as easy as this look. Despite that we create good blog content and work with brands, often is gifting based only and not every brand is willing to pay. Unless you have a secondary income, you can really get into troubles with money. So, to Zoella wannabe, a bit of a guide on how to make cash as an influencer and use your skills not only for content writing.

Girls these days believe that only if you a have a certain number of followers then you can just jump and cash out for every photo you post on Instagram, but let me explain that closer- it’s not always the case.

Being an Influencer or blogger is a great and rewarding hobby or job. There are definitely many perks of it. First and most important for me is that is amazing that people actually like my lifestyle, adventures and love what I do. It’s the ‘’being likeable’ part which amazing. Another one is the fact that the blogging community is wonderful, and you end up making friends in the end. Of course, there will be some online troll or jealousy as well so you do need to have strong grounds and believe in yourself. As long as you do you, and ignore everything else, then you have a chance to succeed. If you a very sensitive person, then strongly I would advise – reconsider if that’s what is really for you. Being an Influencer is being a girlboss to yourself and it’s not only photography, editing skills but as well as good organisation and head for business skills required.

Many people don’t realise how actually hard work is to become an influencer. Posting your selfies online is one thing, but working with brand guidelines is another. One of the most important parts of being an influencer is to have a certain amount of skills that you can apply to your work. You can learn along, but you need to really willing to learn and dedicate a load of time to it. Influencing is very imagery or video content based. Investing in a good camera, lenses and lighting is a vital part of it. Often these camera’s are very expensive and you end up spending and investing at first before you even start earning or receive any product for a review. Is worthy to think of getting a quick loan that you can buy all your essentials to start like a laptop, editing software, good ring light or camera like Olympus Pen EPL9. I know that most influencers start as students or some people have a bad credit history and it’s difficult to get an actual bank loan. Your option maybe to consider loans for bad credit as long as you are able to repay on time, as interest can be high! This is more of a payday loan, where you can repay within a short time. With quick loans, you can get the right amount you need ( if your application is approved of course) and you can pay back later as you earn your money back. You can apply for your loan with Cashlady for example. Visit their website for more info. Just be responsible and read carefully T&C or speak to any financial advisory.

While you create your content and build up your Instagram with imagery and gain following, it may take a bit of time before brands start reaching to you. In the meantime you can work on the side and earn money to pay anything back you invested in your equipment.

Use your skills.

If you have any graphic, writing or editing skills, Fiverr is right there for you. You get pad quick for 1h jobs and you can accept multiple at the same time. Some of them will take 5min for you, while someone pays you to do to it, you can adjust the price for multiple or longer taking tasks, which can give you even $50 an hour jobs. Also, you can reach out to other bloggers and brands and offer to edit their photos or create logos etc. Often established bloggers, simply don’t have enough time anymore and use these and of services.

Become a photographer

Other Influencers out there are always looking for a photographer. If you own a good camera already and have a good eye for shots- the jobs are yours. Many influencers, especially those who are starting to want someone to help them out. Experienced photographers often charge so much, then many influencers who only works on gifting programmes ( a product in exchange for a review) they can’t afford to pay this much. You can start charging anything from £15-20 per hour depending on your skills. If you can edit the shots too, then you can easily shout for £50 per hour. Sometimes you don’t even need a camera. Influencers own camera’s on their own but they just need someone to take their snaps. ( Me, waving!) You can take some great shots with tripod or flatlands, but for more engaging lifestyle shots, we always need help. So why not help each other out? Reach out to bloggers via forums and local groups like Official UK bloggers and ask around who need help. You can use your own Instagram as your portfolio and you will understand their needs as being an influencer yourself.

Become copywriter

Writing content on your own blog may not gives you many collaborations at the beginning but you can reach to brands offering to write their content for their websites. Often brands have their own blogs for SEO purposes and they look out for bloggers and content writers to guest post on their websites directly. Often these are payable as you become a copywriter.

You can also reach to PR companies who send hosted content to bloggers too. Sometimes brands are also after writers to create their press releases and content their send out while pitching for bloggers, going them inspirations and ideas for their own blog while they can feature their products in exchange, so create your PR companies database and start earning money this way too.

Makeup artist

If you are particularly beauty blogger and enjoy doing makeup, then why not to try to earn this money on the side too? Again, use your Instagram as a portfolio and offer other bloggers to do their make up for their shoot. You can also reach out to local photographers, designers and fashion brands where you can offer to assist in photoshoots. You may start with a few free shots to build your portfolio but once they recognise your work, they will be reaching out for more. You can also, post an advert and offer bridal or party makeups locally.

Stylist

If you have certain fashion skills or interior skills, you can also start earning money as a stylist for brands. Often a brand will love that double perks of it. You will style their product, photoshoot and promote on their own blog which saves them tonnes of money that they would normally spend on photographers, stylists and advertising companies. As a part of that, you can start charging daily rates even starting at £300 a day and separately for creating a blog or social media shout outs.

Proofreading

Another way of making money on the side as a blogger. You can request to proofreading other bloggers or brands content. If you particularly hold strong grammar skills ( clearly I need these too;)) but as a foreigner myself I often used to work with brands. As much as I love writing myself, I am completely aware is not perfect and I need proofreading help.

Become VA

VA which Virtual assistant. You can help out to other bloggers with their SEO, checking posts, replying to comments, editing photos, helping with Instagram grow by liking and commenting for other accounts- literally everything than busy blogger don’t have enough time to do it themselves anymore. Writing content, plus doing photoshoots, replying to emails editing photos and managing social media can be overwhelming and often more experienced and established bloggers just simply can’t do everything themselves anymore. If you have good SEO skills or can manage someone’s emails or edit photos, then again a great way of making extra cash on the side.