The online world is not just for young people. There are many Baby Boomers using it to earn extra income. After all, we pretty much invented the Internet. We may have difficulty editing videos on our smartphones, but we’ve found ways to sustain ourselves online to improve our lifestyles.
If you search on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or in the blogging world, you’ll see over 50 influencers in abundance. Some are there just for fun, while others, like me, are using the online world to supplement our Social Security so we can enjoy the rest of our lives with less stress.
My story in a nutshell
If you are one of my blog subscribers, you may already know that I’m also an actress. For the last 40 years, I’ve voiced hundreds of cartoon characters, mostly in the anime genre. Acting is fun but incredibly unpredictable. Ageism is rampant in the entertainment industry.
I was widowed at the age of 47 when my husband of 23 years died of brain cancer. At the time, I was a single mom with two pre-teen children. I hooked up with an old flame and lived with him for 15 years until he died of pancreatic cancer. Both worked in the film industry, and I didn’t inherit anything other than a small life insurance payout from my husband that only lasted a year living in Los Angeles.
I could have given up my acting career and found a “real job,” but I wanted to be present for my kids, so I chose to work freelance instead. I sold makeup, promoted an entrepreneurial forum, designed WordPress websites, and now make money online as a blogger and social media influencer.
That’s right, at 69, I am an influencer. I don’t have millions of followers. My audience is considered in the creator space to be micro, but I make a few bucks doing it, and it gets me by.
Opportunities to make money online are endless
I love being a blogger and have been able to connect with other bloggers in my demographic, both online and in person. They’re people I would have never met otherwise. Some bloggers journal their observations and life events, while others, like me, use blogging as a tool to not only express myself but to earn income.
My modes of monetization include affiliate marketing, which means I add product links in my posts that are relevant to my content. I earn a very small commission if a reader purchases something at no extra cost to them. A link may direct users to a site like Nordstrom, Macy’s, or Amazon, where they would likely shop anyway. I put no pressure on them to buy, but if they happen to purchase during a specific time frame, I get paid.
This is much better than trying to recruit team members into a multi-level marketing company or harass family and friends, which I did for 10 years selling cosmetics.
Another way I make money online is by running an ad network on my blog. I’m connected to SheMedia, which is a woman-empowering company that helps bloggers like me optimize my business. The company holds webinars and in-person events where we learn and connect with others in our space. The ads that pop up on this blog are from SheMedia. I get paid when someone clicks or purchases.
Through blogging and my social media presence, I’ve been privileged to work with many brands doing sponsored posts and advertising campaigns. Brands often send me free products or services to review. It’s like getting Christmas presents throughout the year, but I only work with companies that I believe in and give honest reviews of my experiences. It’s fun.
I also have a YouTube channel and am active on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Recently, I became an Amazon influencer. I’ve been an Amazon Associate for many years, which has allowed me to create product links for my content. As an influencer, I can create videos that are placed directly on the Amazon platform. I don’t have to create traffic to them as it’s sent directly to Amazon product pages.
All I do is demo a product that I already own that can be purchased on Amazon. It’s an amazing and profitable program. To become an Amazon influencer, you must have a social media presence on either Instagram, TikTok, or elsewhere. Once accepted, you can upload three videos that must be approved by a person from the company. Amazon gives you three tries to do this.
Once accepted, you are free to upload as many videos as you like. They are also reviewed, but instead of a person checking them, it’s done using AI (artificial intelligence). A video may still be rejected, but unless you seriously violate company standards and get kicked out of the program, you simply delete the video. Visit my Amazon Storefront here to see what I’ve been creating on the platform.
The videos I upload can also be used on my social media profiles, where I can add affiliate links. It’s a passive source of income after the initial work of creating the video until the product becomes unavailable.
Some people make money online by creating product UGC videos. UGC is short for user-generated content. You don’t need a large social media presence to do this. Companies are looking for everyday people to produce video reviews or photos that the brand can use for their advertising campaigns. You set a price with the brand and then give the company your content after you get paid. It’s important to sign a contract ahead of time so you don’t get ripped off.
In the contract, which you can create, make sure to establish a time frame for ads to run rather than sign away use in perpetuity. I made that mistake with an adult diaper ad that ran on Facebook for an embarrassing amount of time, as I don’t wear diapers myself.
Other ways to create income online
It’s impossible to list all the ways you can create income online in this post, but here are just a few.
Sell physical products either on your personal website, Etsy, Postmark, eBay, or other online platforms.
Create a YouTube channel. Once you have enough followers to reach monetization eligibility, you can create income from the Google ads that display on your channel. You can also ask for donations. Some people make a killing with niches that people are looking for, such as how to take care of tropical fish, crochet tips, or even something obscure like how to play a Chinese Guzheng.
Many Baby Boomers are authors and sell books on Amazon and other book publishing platforms.
Check out my list of book recommendations written by or for Baby Boomers on Amazon.
You can also monetize your business with an email newsletter. In fact, having a list of subscribers outside of social media is essential, as those platforms could disappear and your list will go with them. I use Mailchimp and MailerLite, which are affordable and easy to use.
Whatever your passion or interest is, you can find a way to make money with it online. Do a Google search or look for it on YouTube to see how you can monetize it. You’ll be surprised at the possibilities.
Have you been successful in making money online? Please leave a comment below and tell us how you did it.
So interesting. I’ve made zip on my blog, and after all these years, I’d love to change that.
It takes a lot of work Laurie and it’s best to pick and choose carefully what you want to promote, but it can pay off.
As a journalist, I like to see influencers be clear about what they promote and how they’re paid so there’s a distinction between advertising copy and information. However, I’ve seen some websites where it looks like the articles are straight from advertisers. I think this really confuses consumers.
The FTC requires disclosure somewhere on the post when a blogger or influencer is being paid. Some people do not comply and could get penalized. Some posts may be advertorials that are posted directly by brands but those must be disclosed as well.