What is a nano influencer, and how can you make money on social media without a large following? This guide will offer a clear nano influencer definition and explain why brands love working with content creators that have “small” followings.
If you want to share what you love online and earn an income for it, becoming a nano influencer could be for you. Keep reading for an introduction to nano influencer marketing so that you can get started today.
So What is a Nano Influencer?
When you think of an influencer, you most likely think of someone with a large following on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. These influencers may have hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers. However, thanks to the rise of nano influencer marketing, you can make money on social media with a smaller following.
A nano influencer is someone who has an audience between one thousand and ten thousand followers. Even though their following may be considered small, they can still make major waves in the influencer marketing space as a nano influencer.
If you’re a nano influencer, brands want to partner with you now more than ever. The reason is that the number of followers someone has is not the only criterion for a successful brand campaign. Brands also care about an influencer’s engagement rates with their following.
The Perks of Being a Nano Influencer
As the unsung heroes of influencer marketing, nano influencers often boast high engagement rates. Since you have fewer followers, you can connect with them on a more personal level, and brands appreciate the closeness you have with your audience.
Nano influencers are known for responding to comments and direct messages from their followers, which boosts their success with social media algorithms. With a high engagement rate, brands know that a campaign with a nano influencer can yield a ton of success.
Another reason that nano influencer marketing is successful is because most nano influencers are extremely focused on their niche as content creators. In fact, the reason you might have a smaller audience could be because your niche is so specific, and that’s a good thing.
For example, an Instagram account about making quilts will only appeal to followers who also have an interest in quilting. Mega lifestyle influencers, on the other hand, often move through several niches, which creates a more diverse audience.
As a nano influencer, your audience becomes like a close community. Your audience follows you to learn something or engage with a specific community that matches their interests. In the example of a quilting Instagram account, followers come to meet other quilters and learn new techniques.
As a nano influencer, you can be more personal and informal with your followers, even getting to know them as friends. This creates a more authentic relationship between you and your audience. Your social media is less filtered and more real, which creates more trust.
Brands want to capitalize on your close-knit relationships with your audience, which is why nano influencers can have tons of success with sponsored content and brand deals.
With a captivated community, you can have a significant impact on your follower’s buying habits. As a nano influencer, when you recommend a product or service to your following, your followers trust you.
Nano influencers can make good income through brand deals because they offer brands a specific audience that lines up with the brand’s ideal demographic. With the quilting example, brands in the fabric and arts and craft industries would benefit from partnering with several nano influencers in that niche.
How to Make Money Through Brand Collaborations as a Nano Influencer
The key to making money through brand collaborations as a nano influencer is to work with the right brands. Remember, you’ve built trust with your audience, which means that they expect high-quality product recommendations that align with your niche.
You will see more success with brand campaigns if you work with brands in your niche as opposed to brands that feel disconnected from your audience. In the example of a quilting Instagram account, a great partnership for the nano influencer would be with a brand that offers quilting supplies.
To reach your income potential as a nano influencer, take time to research brands in your niche. Consider the products that you already use. If brands reach out to you about partnership opportunities, ask yourself if your audience would identify with the brand before you agree to a collaboration.
How to Become a Nano Influencer
The best way to become a nano influencer is to choose a niche that you are passionate about. Look to your work, hobbies, and unique experiences to determine your niche.
Additionally, think about the long-term impact of your niche. Make sure that your niche is a topic that you could talk about in-depth and still generate content ideas for years to come.
Once you determine your niche, choose the social media app that you want to grow your following. In 2024, the top apps are still TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Take time to explore existing content in your niche across social media apps. Where would your content fit the best?
As you pay attention to other content creators in your niche, ask yourself a few questions, such as:
How are you similar to these creators? How are you different?
What unique quality do you bring to the niche that no one else is doing?
How can you make this niche your own?
Your answers to these questions will begin to guide your content creation.
The key to success as a nano influencer is to be authentic and show up online as yourself. You are not trying to attract an audience of millions. Instead, you are trying to attract followers that have the same likes, personality types, and quirks as you do.
Creating High-Quality Content
When you first get started as a nano influencer, it will take trial and error to figure out what kind of content you enjoy posting and what draws in an audience. As you experiment, it’s important to prioritize high-quality content.
Even though you don’t have an audience of millions, that does not mean your content should be low-quality. Your image and video quality should be crisp and your sound should be high-quality.
You do not need to invest in expensive gear and gadgets to create high-quality content. A smartphone will typically offer great video and sound quality when you’re first getting started. Filming near windows will also provide enough light before you’re ready to invest in professional lighting equipment. Find more tips on how to create quality social media content through Mavely University influencer courses.
Making Money as a Nano Influencer
There are several ways to make money as a nano influencer, including:
Affiliate marketing
Sponsored content and brand collaborations
Selling products
Selling courses
Offering exclusive content in membership programs
Generating ad revenue
The sky is the limit for the nano influencer. In the ever-changing landscape of social media marketing, having a huge following is not the most important thing when it comes to making money as a content creator.
You can earn a great income as a nano influencer when you focus on building an authentic community with your followers and staying true to your niche.
Get Started as a Nano Influencer with Mavely
Have you wanted to grow a following online and make money as an influencer, but you’ve been intimidated to get started? The good news is that you do not need to grow an audience of millions to make money. To get started as a nano influencer, sign up for Mavely! Our platform is completely free and helps connect nano influencers with brands. We even have resources from industry experts to help you along the way.
