How Older Women are Becoming Successful Bloggers and Influencers

When you think about social media influencers or bloggers making money online, you probably envision someone who is young, cute, attractive, or quirky. There are also a substantial number of women over 50 who have tapped into the potential of the online world and are thriving monetarily.

Many senior ladies are using the internet to supplement their retirement income by building virtual businesses, while others have reinvented themselves to create the lifestyle of their dreams.

My personal journey as a lifestyle blogger

I’ve been fascinated with computers ever since I was gifted a Windows 3 PC in the late 1990s, I’ve been I’m a longtime voice actor and first used my PC to write animation scripts. My husband died in 2001 leaving me a widow with two kids. It made me realize I needed an additional source of income to continue living in Los Angeles. I worked in direct sales for a decade and then sold memberships to a national networking organization.

Blogging came into my view in 2008 after I took an online class. It taught me how to set up a WordPress site and for several years I designed simple sites for other entrepreneurs. It was lucrative but I found that I enjoyed writing on my own blog rather than setting up other people’s sites because the technology constantly changes, and some clients are demanding.

I finally settled on a lifestyle/travel blog for active older women over 50 which is what you are reading now. I monetize it by inserting affiliate links, writing sponsored posts, and running an ad network. I have also created social media profiles on popular platforms to promote my site and drive traffic to it.

Brands began to take notice of my site as my traffic grew. They offer me campaigns and send free products to review. I accept them if they are relevant and helpful to my audience so I wouldn’t lose the trust of my readers. It’s been a fun and flexible way to make income. I love that I can do it from anywhere in the world.

The pandemic’s impact on influencer marketing

Blogging is still lucrative but ever since the pandemic, influencer marketing has shifted to social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and sometimes TikTok. Many campaigns require that influencers post on them. The larger following you have, the more money you can make but micro-influencers can also do well. The most important thing is to spend the most time on sites where your audience is engaged.

The power of videos and podcasts

People of all ages watch videos on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok to find out how to do something, get information, or be entertained. Attention spans are short these days so there has been a push to make short videos like Reels on Instagram or Shorts on YouTube.

Podcasts are also powerful tools for promotion as people can listen to them when they jog, travel, or drive to work. I had a podcast for a while and interviewed many authors and thought leaders. We had an audience but I believe my older audience wasn’t as keen or savvy on how to access podcasts and decided to focus on building my YouTube channels instead.

What are the best social media sites to be on?

Social media platforms come and go all the time and it’s impossible to be on all of them. If you want to earn income as a social media influencer or blogger you must first discern who your target audience is, what sites they engage with online, and where they spend their money.

Linkedin is one of the best platforms to be on if you have a traditional business and want to network with colleagues or potential customers. It’s the go-to for people who work in corporations and small businesses but can also be helpful for people in entertainment, travel, consulting, or other fields.

If you are selling something that is visual, Instagram is a powerful network. You can post Reels or photos of products, memes, destinations, art, pets, or other interests that people search for. You can only include one link to a website in your Instagram bio so many people insert a “Link in Bio” that takes viewers to multiple links and promotions.

Facebook pages or groups and YouTube often work well for influencers marketing to an older crowd because both sites are popular with that demographic.

TikTok is another popular platform. It has a smaller audience of older viewers but is growing.

Don’t let age keep you from making money online

Age is just a number, right?

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