Influencer – how to earn with a small audience
Influencer marketing offers an opportunity to monetize your online content. Being an influencer today is a profession that can lead to popularity, substantial income, and potentially become a dream job. What can you do to start earning even with a small following on your social media channels?

Who is an influencer?
Just a few years ago, the term “influencer” was practically unknown. Even more unimaginable was the idea of earning money simply by being present on the internet. Today, this concept raises far fewer eyebrows. Still, there is a significant group of people who find it hard to believe that posting photos or videos online could be a source of real income. Influencing is a relatively new profession—understandable, considering that the internet itself only became available in Poland in 1991. Yet now, few people are surprised that you can earn a substantial income through online activity.
One of the most important aspects of an influencer’s work is building and maintaining relationships with the people who follow them on social media.
Influencers create content on specific topics and, through this, build lasting connections with users who visit their profiles. It’s similar to the relationships fans build with actors or musicians. However, influencers are often more accessible—they regularly engage with their followers, share insights into their daily lives, and participate actively in the communities they’ve cultivated.
Micro-influencers – how to monetize a small audience
The internet is seeing a growing number of micro-influencers — individuals running small social media accounts, YouTube channels, or blogs that attract modest but highly engaged audiences. With valuable content, they build loyal groups of followers. For this type of creator, affiliate marketing is the most effective way to monetize their platform.

At webePartners, influencers have several compensation models to choose from:
| Cost Per Sale | Barter | Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|
| commission per sale | products in exchange | pre-agreed rate |
The Influencer Profession – What Does This Job Involve?
The work and responsibilities of influencers vary greatly depending on factors such as the platforms they use, the number of collaborations they engage in, whether they run additional businesses, and whether they work with an influencer agency. Their main task, however, is to create valuable content for their audience. What counts as valuable content depends on their niche, but it can include, for example:
-
entertainment (e.g. Make Life Harder on Instagram)
-
lifestyle (e.g. JBanaszewska on Instagram)
-
educational content (e.g. Jacek Bilczyński on YouTube)
-
beauty (e.g. Maxineczka on YouTube)
There are no rigid rules or templates for content creation. Everything should be tailored to the needs of the audience. Successful content addresses frustrations, expectations, doubts, and needs, allowing influencers to build a loyal community that acts on their recommendations and actively participates in their profile. Other tasks influencers often take on include:
-
hosting Q&A sessions to answer follower questions
-
creating sponsored content
-
responding to messages and comments
-
attending events
-
negotiating collaboration contracts (if they don’t have a manager)
-
collaborating with brands, for example by co-creating products (a common trend in the beauty sector)
What Do You Need as an Influencer? – A Checklist
Being an influencer offers great potential, often allowing people to turn their passion into a profitable career. However, there are certain skills, traits, and resources needed to succeed, including:
-
Creativity, an open mind, and charisma
Creativity is essential in this profession. Whether your niche is home cleaning, baking, makeup, or DIY renovations, you need to present content in a way that keeps people intrigued. Consistently producing engaging and helpful content is key, even when dealing with basic everyday topics. Charisma plays an important role as well — it helps to keep followers engaged and connected to you.
-
Discipline and good time management
Working as an influencer often comes with perks like flexibility and no boss, but these can turn into challenges without discipline. If you struggle to maintain a consistent posting schedule or keep up with your inbox, it will be difficult to succeed.
-
Knowledge and expertise
If you aim to produce informative or educational content in any field, you need to be an expert. Influencers build their careers on trust — your followers will repeat what you say and believe you, so make sure your knowledge is solid and reliable.
-
Staying up to date with trends
Internet trends evolve at lightning speed, especially on platforms like TikTok. If you’re not an active user, you’ll struggle to create content that aligns with current trends, as new ideas and formats emerge daily. Posting trend-based videos with delays or ignoring what’s popular means not only lower engagement but also less visibility due to how algorithms work.

Influencer Categories by Audience Size and Specialization
Influencers are divided into several categories based on their reach and specialization:
-
Micro-influencers – have between 1,000 and 50,000 followers. They are often more engaging and maintain a close relationship with their community.
-
Macro-influencers – have between 50,000 and 500,000 followers. They offer a larger reach but may have slightly lower engagement compared to micro-influencers.
-
Mega (celebrity) influencers – have over 500,000 followers. They are the most recognizable, but their engagement may be lower, and the cost of working with them is usually higher.
-
Industry-specific influencers – are specialists in a particular field and enjoy high trust within their niche.
-
Nano-influencers – have fewer than 1,000 followers but are highly engaged and maintain strong relationships with a small yet loyal community.
Each type of influencer offers different advantages to brands depending on their marketing needs and goals. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for selecting the right influencer marketing strategy.
Influencer – Inspiration Across Different Industries
As mentioned earlier, influencers operate in a wide range of industries, so everyone can find a niche that suits them. Below are several online creators from various sectors to inspire you when building your own online presence.
| Beauty | Lifestyle | Entertainment |
|---|---|---|
| RedLipstickMonster Maxineczka Zmalowana | LadyGuguBlog Janina Daily | MakeLifeHarder Tu_Okuniewska JedenRysunekDziennie |
| Food | Travel | Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| WroclawskiePodróżeKulinarne WybierajZdrowo MałaCukierenka | Traveliciouspl TheTravellingOnion BusemPrzezŚwiat | ArchitektPorządku UlaPedantula |
Is It Worth Being an Influencer?
Wondering whether it’s worth becoming an influencer? Many people don’t realize that it’s not an easy job. To some, it might look like it’s just taking photos or posting InstaStories—but that’s only a small fraction of the work. The main task of influencers is to create valuable content for their audience. And that value is crucial here. Today’s internet users are constantly bombarded with content—from entertainment to health to politics. With so many options, audiences choose what meets their needs or sparks their interest. That’s why content must be high-quality to capture anyone’s attention. Besides delivering content, influencers must also nurture their community. This includes responding to comments and messages, holding Q&A sessions, sharing snippets of their lives, and engaging with followers through questions and discussions. Additionally, many influencers work with brands, which involves creating sponsored content, negotiating and signing contracts, attending events, or collaborating with companies on products.
Is Influencer Work Demanding?
In the work of an influencer, technical skills and knowledge of photo editing and video editing software are crucial. All activities must be planned in advance to ensure content is posted at the right moment—such as on a specific day promised to followers. Sticking to deadlines is especially important when working with brands, since contracts typically include strict timelines. This makes influencer work highly dependent on good time management.
Think that’s all? Absolutely not! Once the content is created, edited, and published, it can’t be left without “care.” Influencers must reply to comments and messages, save questions and content ideas suggested by their audience, communicate with companies interested in collaboration, and manage many other “behind-the-scenes” tasks that followers often don’t see.
How Does an Influencer Earn Money?
Influencers have multiple ways to earn from their work, which is good news for anyone considering a career in this field. With diversified income streams, content creators do not have to worry about losing their entire livelihood if one revenue source suddenly fades. So how do influencers make money?
Sponsored Content – The Foundation of Influencer Income
The first and most popular method is collaboration with brands. What does this involve? In exchange for agreed compensation, an influencer may:
-
record and upload a video to their channel,
-
create a post on Instagram,
-
prepare a TikTok video.
The format of the content, the final look of the photo or video, and how the product is presented are all agreed upon before the contract is signed.
If you’re starting in influencer marketing, you need to understand that authenticity is now a key value for users. This is why it’s crucial to partner only with brands that:
-
fit the type of content you create,
-
are worthy of your recommendation,
-
you genuinely know and use their products.
If you promote brands whose products you haven’t tested — or worse, didn’t like — you risk losing the trust of your audience forever. And it’s thanks to that trust that you’re able to earn money on social media.
How much do brands pay for influencer partnerships?
It all depends on factors such as:
-
the size of the creator’s audience
-
the number of views they generate
-
the level of engagement — comments, likes, shares, and so on
Typically, the rate for a single YouTube video can range from a few hundred to several tens of thousands of złoty. The situation is similar for Instagram posts, TikToks, or InstaStories. Barter deals are also common, especially in categories like fashion or cosmetics.
Collaborations with major companies
Another way to earn through influencer marketing is by working directly with brands. These collaborations can involve:
-
co-creating products
-
participating in brand-organized events
-
visiting the company’s headquarters to see how products are made
For instance, the YouTuber known as Lamakeupabella created her own cosmetics collection in collaboration with Glam Shop. This brand is known for working with various online creators, such as Adrianna Grotkowska, Zmalowana, and MsDoncellita. Another strong example is EKIPA ice cream — a collaboration between Karol “Friz” Wiśniewski, his Ekipa team, and the company Koral. At their peak, the ice creams were so popular that they disappeared from freezers within minutes of stores opening.
These types of partnerships also don’t follow any fixed pricing rules. Payments can reach hundreds of thousands of złoty for a jointly created product, and creators often receive a percentage of each unit sold.
Own online stores
How to become an influencer – a step-by-step guide
To become an influencer, follow the steps below:
Choose your niche – Find a topic you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in. It should be interesting to others but narrow enough to help you stand out. The volume of content uploaded online today is enormous, and users can choose whatever suits them best. That’s why you need something distinctive to make your content the one people want to consume. What could set you apart? A niche subject, an unusual content format, exceptional visuals, and so on.
Build your community – Start by creating an account on your chosen social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or TikTok. There are plenty of options, so it’s worth picking the platform that best matches the type of content you want to create.
-
YouTube is great for longer formats that let you explore topics in depth.
-
Instagram works well if you enjoy photography and staying in constant touch with your audience.
-
Twitter is perfect for creators who love concise posts and real-time interaction.
-
Facebook may seem less relevant these days, but it’s unmatched when it comes to building tight-knit communities — thanks to groups.
-
TikTok lets you unleash creativity, experiment with performance, and deliver engaging ideas through short videos.
Of course, you can mix platforms freely. Most YouTubers and TikTokers also run Instagram or Facebook accounts — and it works extremely well for them.
Grow your following – Publish original, interesting content on a consistent basis, interact with your community, reply to comments, and stay active on other accounts in your niche. Make sure your profile descriptions provide all key information about who you are and what content you create. A strong profile photo also matters more than many people think — it can genuinely attract new viewers.
Collaborate with other influencers – Follow and connect with influencers in your field to get fresh ideas, support each other, and expand your reach.
CHECK YOUR EARNING OPTIONS

Take action!
We know that posting your first photo, recording your first video, or sharing your first story can be stressful. Showing yourself online can feel intimidating because you expose yourself to others’ opinions. But it’s worth pushing through and giving it a try. If this path is right for you, every next step will feel easier until eventually you gain confidence — just like the top creators.
Become an influencer and see for yourself that passion and online presence can truly turn into substantial earnings!




