When determining which social media platform pays the most, it’s clear that TikTok stands out, especially for those just starting their content creation journey.
The best-paying social media platform isn’t the one that pays the highest rates to creators. You need to factor in all the available opportunities too, their variety and credibility. It also depends on the kind of original content you are creating and uploading. YouTube is ideal for mid-length to long videos, like recipes or lectures. Tiktok is perfect for short, viral content that has the potential to trend. Instagram reels and stories are like no other, but it has more of an artistic focus.
How to make Money Online with a small following
Which platform pays the most, and how do you earn?
Tiktok
Tiktok has a significant niche for itself. It offers a broad range of monetization opportunities, particularly through the Tiktok Creator Fund, which pays creators based on the engagement and reach of their content. The average earnings for Tiktok creators can be quite variable, with top earners making significant amounts, but most find themselves in a more modest earning bracket.
The only other video-focused social media network that comes close to YouTube in terms of popularity is TikTok. It has already crossed the one billion mark in monthly active users, which is a commendable feat considering it was launched just six years ago.
The primary source of revenue for seasoned TikTok users is the platform’s Creator’s Fund. To be eligible as a shareholder in the subscription funding, you need to have at least 10,000 subscribers and 100,000 views on your videos in one month. It is also region-specific.
Established users can join Tiktok’s Creator Marketplace to get in touch with brands and businesses that are willing to pay you to promote their products or services. Influencer rates are a little less than what YouTubers can make, but they are still considerable. For instance, users with millions of followers easily make upwards of $2000 per sponsored post.
YouTube
YouTube presents a platform for those looking to earn a more substantial income, particularly for content creators with a large and engaged following. The platform’s monetization through ad revenue and the potential for earning through channel memberships and other revenue streams make it an attractive option for those aiming for higher income levels.
YouTube is well-known when it comes to video uploads. Over 2.5 billion people are active on the platform and If your content goes viral on YouTube, it has the potential to reach almost every user. Its monetization policy is heavily dependent on the number of views and subscriber count. To simply qualify for earnings with the YouTube Partner Program, you need to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours.
Your subscribers can then opt for paid fan subscriptions to get access to exclusive premium content from which you can earn money. By displaying ads on your videos, that is if your videos get thousands or millions of views per month, you won’t be able to earn much this way. For instance, micro-influencers who have reached 1000 views on their video will probably pocket around $5. These days, YouTube Shorts are all the rage.
There isn’t any list of minimum requirements to start earning from Shorts. Just upload a short video, and you can get a decent payout if it’s successful. Did you know that the platform reserves 45% of its YouTube Premium revenue for Shorts creators? The amount of money you receive greatly depends on the views for your Shorts. It can range from as little as 10 cents per 1000 views to as high as $25 per 1000 views.
Facebook and Instagram
They may not be leading in direct payments to creators, and offer opportunities for income through brand partnerships, sponsored content, and other indirect revenue streams. The average earnings on these platforms can vary widely based on a creator’s niche, audience size, and engagement levels.
With over 2 billion monthly active users on Instagram, content creators have a great earning potential here. If your account has thousands, even millions, of followers, then you stand a chance to make insane amounts of money.
Did you know that the most prominent influencers pocket more than $200,000 annually for their marketing efforts? Their rates per sponsored post can go as high as $10,000, so depending on their posting frequency, they can even make millions!
But you don’t need to be an influencer to get paid on Instagram. With a creator account, you can make a decent living on the platform. Are you a photographer or an artist? Maybe you are into videography or modeling? You can easily become a content creator on Instagram.
Once you start getting enough video view count, you will be able to run IGTV ads and earn over 55% of the revenue. You can also make money during Instagram Live.
Twitter / X
Twitter is now called X after being acquired by Elon Musk. This rebranding will possibly be followed by various money-earning opportunities for creators.
Currently, there is an ad revenue-sharing program for your tweets with replies over a certain threshold. You will have to apply for their monetization program to be eligible. For now, we just need to wait to learn about more opportunities on this platform.
Conclusion
Each platform has its unique advantages and caters to different types of content and audiences.
The amount of viewers has often been used to gauge how much bank you’re making on social media. But as more payment options become available, gifts, sponsorships, subscription models, and more, the focus on views has slacked.
Understanding pay-per-view models and other revenue streams is crucial, but recognizing that each platform has its unique advantages and challenges is equally important. Whether it’s Tiktok’s virality, YouTube’s ad revenue model, Instagram’s brand partnerships, or another platform’s niche opportunities, the key is to find where your content resonates the most.
Coach