I’m going to be honest and say that what’s happening to Twitter makes me so sad. But, I also think that it proves the point that you date social media vs. marry it. Because I’m commenting on how side-hustlers can make money using Twitter and other social media platforms to earn more money, I’m going to stay focused on what you can do in a changing business climate especially when the tools that you love are changing in a way that you don’t like.
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Pinterest also comes to mind. It was the gift that kept on giving until the engineers decided to change the algorithm and killed the dopamine rush that it used to give everyone-crazy page views. Now, there’s TikTok and it gives the same kind of rush that Pinterest, Periscope or Clubhouse used to give users. I’ve learned a few lessons about making money online and what side-hustlers and full-time entrepreneurs should consider when looking to make money using social media.
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Show Notes
I love Twitter. It functions very much like a digital water cooler. People pop in and out with gossip, helpful information, jokes and more. Everyone in the office that you would normal see: the gossip, the know it all, the rule follower and the the person that everyone wants to lead are all there. Twitter is also an incredible place to make money.
- Freelance opportunities are shared daily
- You can sell your romance books on it
- Grant opportunities are shared
- People leaving their old beloved jobs share that they have moved on and an opportunity has opened up.
- Communities are nurtured there and you can lend your expertise to one or create your own.
- It’s a place to sell products if you have a system in place.
- Or, you can grow an email list.
- Help people find you and the services that you offer.
But, with the turmoil happening in Twitter world right now, I think that it’s important to keep a few things in mind when using social media to make extra money, find opportunities or even grow a personal brand.
- You date social media but you don’t marry your favorite platform-Things happen, changes occur and times change. Don’t have all of your eggs in one social media basket.
- Understand that each platform works differently-A lot of people are looking to leave Twitter, but it’s also clear that many people are unclear on how the new platforms they’re moving to actually work. It’s almost like learning new language.
- If you can jump on the band wagon for a new platform in the earlier stages of its life cycle-think the first 10 years, that’s when you’ll likely see the most momentum. For perspective, Facebook is 18 years old, Twitter is 16 years old and Pinterest is 14 years old.
- Own your own little corner of the internet that you can refer people to:
- Website
- This is your designated portfolio
- Podcast
- Website
How Can Freelancers Leverage Social Media
I just share how to make more money online as a freelancer writer. But, I want to spend a little more time reflecting on the role that social media plays in finding cool side-gigs, freelance projects and other opportunities.
- Social media speeds up your response time-If an opportunity is shared on a platform at 1:32 pm, you could literally respond to it by 1:45 pm depending on if you see the opportunity and how organized you are.
- No limit to the number of opportunities being shared-These platforms are MASSIVE. That means that there is no limit to the number of opportunities being shared at any given time hourly, daily weekly or monthly.
- Endless resources-You can sign up for newsletters, join communities, create communities, watch webinars and download digital books. Oftentimes these resources are free or very affordable.
- Tell people in real-time what you need help with-We’re not mind readers. Post on your social media feeds the following:
- What you’re looking for
- What is a good fit
- How companies can contact you
- Urgency-Are you in an emergency situation ?
Social media gives freelancers and digital entrepreneurs an unbelievable amount of flexibility to seek out what works best for their goals and working style.
Social Media Downsides for Earning More
Like with everything, there are some downsides to relying on social media to earn money with your side-gig or freelancing business.
- So many choices-It can get overwhelming, there are so many opportunities that it’s hard to know which opportunity makes the most sense for your goals.
- So many competing voices-There are a lot of people sharing advice on what you should and shouldn’t do, what to consider and the resources you should use. USE DISCERNMENT.
- If the promises they make are too good to be true, than they probably are.
- Have there been complaints about this person?
- Are they advocating for something that benefits them (low pay as i referenced in my freelance episode) or something that is ultimately harmful?
- If they’re selling products do they have a variety of products from free to high ticket that allows you to choose a resource that helps you where you’re currently at vs. being forced to purchase something that is ill-suited for your needs?
- Time Suck-If you don’t have a process for your social media activity and consumption…you’re going to find yourself wasting a ton of time if you’re not careful.
- Trolls and Phishing Attempts-There will be jerks that you might cross paths with and you do have to be careful of fraudulent leads. Here’s an example of something that happened to me this year. A company reached out to me on LinkedIn that seemed legit. I actually checked the profile but, something about the logistics around the scope of work didn’t make sense. They wanted for me to accept a check that was more than what I should have been paid. I actually Google this and used the word scam to see it was a scam. It was.
- Platforms eventually end-One day Facebook will be gone and all of the platforms that we currently use will be gone or will be changed in significant ways. It’s just the way of things. As much as I have loved using Twitter, it’s clear that the resource and space that I enjoyed is on its way out and that it will be time for me to look for something new.
For freelancers who understand how social media can work for them, your favorite social media platform can be an incredibly lucrative resource to grow your side-hustle. I don’t want to hear the following from people: I’m too old (you’re not), it’s too complicated (it’s not) will I have to be active on social media all day? Nope.
17 Action Steps You Should Take
- You can preschedule content and spend 15 minutes a day looking for opportunities. Don’t make it complicated.
- Be prepared for when opportunity knocks
- Have your resume ready and update once a month
- Keep your personal website updated
- Don’t make people guess what area you are an expert at, have interest in or create content on. Keep it super clear.
- Understand how people are looking for what you have to sell. Whether that is services or products. Do a survey using a tool like Survey Monkey and use the free option. Only ask 3 quick questions.
- Host and design unique spaces that allow you to highlight your and OTHERS expertise. It could be. Twitter Space, LinkedIn or Facebook group, or a community hosted via Circle.io
- Design a unique to your brand hashtag
- Publish the content that highlights your expertise and areas of interest. Create the work you want to get paid for on your OWN platform.
- Follow thought leaders in your space.
- If you’re a freelancer, follower editors on your favorite platforms. They post leads all the time.
- Be clear about the goal of the content that you’re posting on your profile
- Are you sending people to a resource in order to build your email list and get in your brand’s funnel?
- Are you trying to get potential clients to sign up for calls
- Are you looking to collaborate with brands that will help your audience and pay you?
- Are you trying to sell products such as courses, books, pre-recorded workshops or intensives?
- My point? Be intentional with your social media activity.
- Have your Media kit ready and update it once a month
- Be clear about what you will say “yes” and “no” to so that you don’t waste your time.
- Search hashtags such as:
- #freelance
- #hiring
- #collaborate
- You may need to play around with the right hashtags for the content space that you’re in.
- Host a collaborative online event with other folks in your space and highlight your expertise:
- Workshop
- Online mini-conference
- Share opportunities with others without expectations-I share freelance writing opportunities on my Twitter feeds that pay $300 or more a post. Why? Because I got stuck at $250 a post for a really long-time and it was so freaking frustrating. Now, whenever I see a writing opportunity that pays over $300-I share it. Any niche.
Social media can make you money, but it’s important to be intentional and take consistent focused action.
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