From passion to profit: How to monetize your expertise with videos on social media

Posting videos on social media is one of the easiest ways to reach others—especially since users spend an average of 151 minutes of their day on social media platforms.

Enter influencer marketing. While this isn't a new concept, influencer marketing really gained momentum in the 2010s after the launch of Instagram. Today, it's a $21.1 billion industry.

The industry is an additional bonus to the marketing funnel. But how do you get in on the action? Let's explore how you can monetize your expertise with videos on social media.

Rethinking influencers: It's about expertise, not likes

An influencer is someone who has a unique perspective or specialized knowledge and a large following. They create content that is both informative and entertaining, which generates significant engagement from their followers.

Successfully creating videos for social media is about more than just having a large following or going viral. If you have a unique perspective or specialist knowledge, you can monetize videos where you share this information.

For example, a podiatrist can review orthotics to give the product additional credibility—despite not having a big social media following.

» Outperform AI with thought leadership content.

Action! Getting started with video creation



To get started, you need to understand:

• Why you want to create videos
• Who your target audience is
• What content you'll create

Almost everyone has unique knowledge that can be appealing to others, often tied to their daily lives, work, or hobbies. Whether you're a surfer creating surfing tutorials or a psychologist sharing mental health advice, it's your expertise that grabs attention and creates interest.

This will help you to choose a niche or topic that aligns with your expertise and audience.

What video equipment will you need?

Creating videos for social media is as simple as pressing record on your phone. There's no need to buy fancy equipment. As you progress, you can invest in more advanced equipment like better editing software, lighting, cameras, mics, or even a green screen.

» Choose experts over writers for more impactful content.

Choosing the right stage: Platforms for monetizing expertise



Here, you're spoilt for choice: from LinkedIn and Twitter to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Every platform has a unique user base and characteristics.

Here's a breakdown of which types of videos are best suited for each platform:

• TikTok: The leading platform for influencer marketing, TikTok thrives on short, creative, and entertaining videos. It's perfect for showcasing your creativity, humor, and unique talents.
• Instagram: The second most popular influencer marketing platform, Instagram offers various short, medium, and long formats that allow you to share videos on virtually any topic.
• YouTube: With a massive global audience, diverse content formats, and various monetization features like ad revenue, memberships, and sponsored content, videos on YouTube can be a lucrative revenue stream.
• Facebook: Live videos, interviews, product demos, customer testimonials, and longer-form content perform well on Facebook.
• Twitter: Known for its short-form content and real-time updates, quick, attention-grabbing videos work best here.
• LinkedIn: Ideal for content related to career development, industry insights, and thought leadership. Videos that offer tips, tutorials, interviews with experts, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your work are a good idea.
• Pinterest: Videos on Pinterest are often more instructional and informative, so focus on DIY projects, recipes, tutorials, and step-by-step guides.

Taking a shortcut through expert marketplaces



If you're new to creating videos, it might be wise to focus on one platform initially because handling all of them can be overwhelming. Alternatively, you can join a video creator or expert marketplace.

Granted, you'll find that many marketplaces aren't worth it—either because you get no work from it or your initial video inexperience counts against you. However, managed marketplaces like Entail's assist you throughout the entire video creation process.

All you have to do is film the video yourself and let us take care of the technical work, including:

• Selecting topics
• Creating briefs
• Structuring and editing videos
• Publishing videos on your social media profiles

This means you can build and monetize your brand while getting the training and technical support you need.

» Ready to take the next step? Sign up to become a creator today.

The value of monetizing your expertise with video

Monetizing your expertise with video on social media goes beyond financial gains. You can also enhance your personal branding. For instance, if two professionals have the same expertise but one actively engages with the community through social media content, that individual can strengthen their personal brand and become recognized as an authority in their field.

This increased visibility can lead to more career opportunities and higher earning potential, even in a traditional employment setting.

Understanding the difficulties of monetizing videos

Getting your foot in the door

The overall process of monetizing social media content creation can be rewarding but challenging. You have to navigate challenges like not getting substantial views or followers at first.

These barriers are often platform-specific. For example, on Instagram, a large following is usually essential to get views. In contrast, having a lot of followers isn't necessary for a video to go viral on TikTok. Regardless of the platform, you first need to generate views and engagement to monetize your videos, which can take time.

Success takes time

Creating successful video content takes commitment. It's difficult to become successful in the beginning, and expecting instant results is unrealistic. You can't plan to be the best right away. Achieving excellence takes hard work.

Learning how to create quality videos and understand each platform takes effort. This investment may not yield immediate returns, so you have to persevere and stay dedicated.

» Learn more about creating authentic and expert content.

Get paid for sharing your expertise on video

The power of video to showcase your expertise and build your personal brand is undeniable. It involves more than just going viral or gaining lots of followers. True success comes from understanding your audience and offering unique insights.

In a world increasingly driven by visual content, there's no better time to harness the potential of videos and make your mark.