Creating content on social media is no simple feat. You have to strike a balance between being creative, original, engaging and actionable. This means that, besides your content looking good, it also has to provide value to your audience. 

Despite all the hard work that goes into creating content, many in this industry feel overworked, underpaid and undervalued. But no more! 2021 has shown some major developments in platforms helping their creators monetise. media update's Taylor Goodman unpacks it all here.

So whether you’re a content creator or an influencer, these tools will help you optimise your content and engage with your audience on a deeper level, all while earning some extra dough. Nice!

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get right into it:

Facebook monetisation

Monetisation of short-from videos

If you are a video creator, listen up! Facebook was one of the first brands to push for the monetisation of video content with its new monetisation options. This was centered on short-form videos. 

In March 2021, the social media giants enabled creators to run ads in videos as short as one minute. Facebook elaborated on this, stating that “video creators can now earn money from videos as short as one minute long, with a minimally interruptive ad running at 30 seconds. For videos three minutes or longer, an ad can be shown 45 seconds in.” 

Additionally, the platform also began testing ads in Stories that would appear as stickers and it expanded its requirements for live stream monetisation to be inclusive of more creators.

This effort came as a part of Facebook’s greater focus on short-form content and its attempt to attract creators away from TikTok. 

Community accelerator programme

In May 2021, Facebook announced its Community Accelerator Program. This eight month programme sees its participants “receive training, mentorship and funds to invest in an initiative that extends their community’s positive impact.” 

The programme aims to empower community leaders to uplift and grow their communities. Aside from the mentorship and training, these communities are set to receive USD$50 000 to “help fund work that advances the community’s goals.” 

Stars & Fan Subscriptions

If you’re a streamer, then this one's for you! Facebook’s Stars allow you to monetise your streamed content. 

How? Well, viewers can purchase Stars and send them to the creator in-stream. For each star you get, Facebook pays you USD $0.01.  Additionally, viewers can attach virtual, animated gifts to their Stars. 

*Image sourced from Website Pro USA. 

Fan subscriptions are another way for fans to show some support to the creators that they love. Like their favourite meme page!

When a fan subscribes to a creator's page, they will pay a monthly fee. In return, they have access to exclusive content, a supporter badge and more personal interactions with the creator. 

Twitter monetisation

Super Follows

No, Super Follows are not when you really, really want to follow someone. Rather, it is a subscription-based feature that allows creators to paywall their content and earn monthly revenue. 

Creators can set a subscription fee at $2.99, $4.99 or $9.99 per month (so this would be between R45,44 to R151,83) in exchange for exclusive or bonus content. It is reported that Twitter takes 3% of this revenue after in-app purchases are made. 

To qualify for Super Follows, the user needs to:
  • be over 18
  • have at least 10,000 followers, and 
  • have posted 25 tweets in the last 30 days.
Twitter motivates for this feature, explaining, “With Super Follows, people can create an extra level of conversation on Twitter (sharing bonus Tweets and more!) to interact authentically with their most engaged followers — all while earning money.”

Ticketed Spaces

This feature allows users to generate revenue, specifically through Twitter Spaces, by paywalling certain discussions. 

The pandemic changed the way brands and prominent personalities host events, and Ticketed Spaces are a new take on just that. Twitter elaborates on this, explaining, “Creators can use Ticketed Spaces to host workshops, conversations, or meet-and-greets with their most loyal fans.” 

To qualify for this monetisation option, creators need to:
  • be over 18
  • have at least 1 000 followers, and 
  • have hosted three spaces in the last 30 days. 
Tip Jar

Twitter’s Tip Jar is pretty straightforward. This feature allows creators to receive and send money via different payment services — like PayPal, CashApp or Patreon, to name a few. 

You will know a user has enabled this feature when you see the Tip Jar icon next to their profile.
Additionally, Twitter is venturing into the cryptocurrency market, as users are able to tip with Bitcoin. This is reportedly just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Twitter's cryptocurrency implementation. 

Instagram monetisation

Badges

Similar to Facebook’s Stars, Instagram Badges can be sent to creators, by their fans, to show support during a live stream. 

When a viewer purchases a Badge, a heart icon is displayed next to their name throughout the live stream.

*Image sourced from Later

Additionally, if you purchase a Badge:
  • questions you ask during that live will be highlighted to the creator
  • comments made during that live chat may be pinned by the creator
  • your hearts are highlighted in the comments section during the live, and 
  • your Instagram handle is on a list visible to the creator of that live video for up to 90 days.
So with this in mind, it is not just the creator benefiting off Badges, but their fans as well! This is because if a follower wants to grab the creator's attention, this is a great way to do so. 

In terms of pricing, buying a Badge costs USD $0,99 (R15,05) and buying three costs USD $4.99 (R75,83). Instagram creators reportedly receive 100% of this revenue. 

Bonuses

As Instagram is owned by Facebook, many of its monetisation options are similar to the latter. Bonuses are Instagram’s way of incentivising creators to make Reels, its short-form video offering.

*Image sourced from Social Media Today

In order to qualify for Bonuses, the creator would have to meet certain milestones. Although it is not entirely clear how much a user will earn from a Bonus, they earn money based on the performance of their Reel. 

Native Affiliate Tool

This monetisation tool enables creators to earn a commission off of any purchases that they influence. This does not necessarily refer to an influencer with a big following but rather a content creator that talks about why a person needs to buy from a certain brand or a specific product. 

Instagram explains this tool's functionality, saying, “We’ll begin testing a native affiliate tool that will allow creators to discover new products available on checkout, share them with their followers and earn commissions for the purchases [that] they drive — all within the Instagram app.”

*Image courtesy of Instagram

This tool is not only beneficial to creators but also to the brands that they work with. This is because it can help to see how many purchases an influencer generates throughout a brand’s partnership. 

Additionally, consumers will be able to make purchases that they know their favourite, trusted creators endorse. 

Content creators, what is your favorite platform to work on? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

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If you want to learn more about content creation, then be sure to read What is user-generated content and why you should be using it.
*Image courtesy of Unsplash