How to Go from ‘Hobbyist’ to Full-Time Influencer (Without Being Fake About It)
If you’re here, reading this, I’m guessing you’re already putting yourself out there online. You’ve thought about it for a while, and you finally came to the conclusion that you are ready to to ditch your 9-5 and become a professional influencer.
You’ve probably got an Instagram feed that feels like you, a community of followers who get excited when you share your latest favorite thing, and maybe you’ve even dabbled in a brand sponsorship or two. You might still be calling it a hobby, but you know you hear this little voice telling you “you can do this full-time”.
And GOOD NEWS, you’ve come to the right place, because I’m going to tell you how to go from “I’m just doing this for fun” to “this is my full-time job, and yes, it pays the bills.” (And no, you don’t have to be someone you’re not to get there.)
When I started sharing our home renovations and projects online, I wasn’t thinking about monetizing. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I was just sharing the process because I loved it, and over time, it became clear that there was something more here. Fast forward to now, and this work supports our family, allows us to employ a team, and has given myself and Chris opportunities we could never have dreamed of.
And I didn’t do it by being fake. In fact, being myself, showing up authentically, was the only way I made it work.
Step One: Get Clear on Why You’re Doing This (It Matters More Than You Think)
Before we get into the strategy (and oh, there will be lots of strategy), you need to get really clear on your why. This isn’t some fluffy, motivational poster thing, it’s practical.
When things get busy (or hard), your why is going to keep you grounded.
Do you have a passion for helping working moms create a wardrobe they love?
Do you want to create a space where new homeowners can get inspiration for projects?
Are you passionate about sharing fitness tips for women with autoimmune disorders?
Write it down. Put it somewhere you can see it. This will help you stay focused when it’s time to make decisions about what partnerships to accept, what content to create, and how to show up. People can feel when you’re in alignment with your why, and it makes them trust you more.
Step Two: Treat It Like a Business (Because It Is)
If you want to go full-time as an influencer, you have to treat it like the job you want it to be. I don’t mean you need a fancy office or a team of people right away. I started with a team of one, me, myself and I. I was the content producer, the copywriter, the photographer, etc. I did everything myself before I had the privilege of expanding to a team. You do need to set up systems and processes that make this sustainable.
A Few Things That Changed the Game for Me:
Dedicated Work Hours: Even if you’re still working another job, carving out consistent, intentional time to work on your influencer business is key. This isn’t “when I feel inspired” time—it’s “show up and get things done” time.
Content Calendar: Planning ahead makes such a difference. Know what you’re posting, when, and why. (And yes, you can leave room for spontaneity—just have a framework.)
Track Your Finances: Open a separate bank account for your business. Track your income and expenses. This helps you feel like a professional (because you are) and it keeps things clean for tax season.
Step Three: Master Affiliate Marketing (Probably My Favorite Revenue Stream)
Affiliate marketing is often where new influencers get their first taste of “oh wow, I can actually make money doing this.” But it’s not just about dropping links and hoping for the best. You need a strategy if you want it to scale.
Here’s What’s Worked for Me:
1. Only Share What You Truly Love
I know, everyone says this—but it’s true. If you wouldn’t recommend it to your best friend (without a commission), don’t link it. Your audience trusts you, and that trust is everything.
2. Make It Easy for People to Shop
Use tools like LTK or Rivr Links to deep link affiliate links.
Create shoppable Story Highlights.
Mention “links are in stories!” regularly so people know where to go.
Design roundup posts or gift guides so your audience sees multiple things they might want.
3. Talk About Why You Love It (Not Just That You Love It)
This is where a lot of people lose their audience. Don’t just say, “I love this sweater!” Tell me why. “I’ve washed this three times and it hasn’t pilled.” “It’s the perfect length for leggings.” That’s what gets people to click—and buy. Create the experience your community didn’t know they needed.
4. Track What’s Working
Most affiliate platforms show you what links are performing. Pay attention! If a certain type of product always does well, give your people more of it. If something flops, no shame, but adjust.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Sell
If you believe in the products you’re sharing, you’re not “salesy”—you’re helping. (Re-read that if you need to.)
Step Four: Start Pitching Brands (And Get Ready to Deliver)
At some point, you’ll want to move beyond affiliate links and into brand partnerships. The good news? You don’t need 100,000 followers to start working with brands. I had brands reaching out before I hit 50k and brands are looking for micro-influencers now more than ever before. What you do need is engagement, a clear brand, and professionalism.
How to Start:
This doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple PDF that includes:
Who you are + your niche
Audience demographics (age, gender, location, etc.)
Engagement stats
Past brand partnerships or examples of your work
What makes you different
2. Pitch Brands You Already Love
The easiest yes is from a brand you already use and talk about. Send a short, kind email introducing yourself and suggesting a way you could work together. Don’t just send them a dm on Instagram saying “Hey I love your products, can we collab”. Be more personal. For help in writing your first pitch, check out our Pitch Template Bundle.
Example:
“Hi, I’m Julia! I’ve been using your paint for years and have shared it organically with my community of DIY-ers and home lovers. I’d love to chat about ways we could work together to get your latest collection in front of my engaged audience!”
3. Know Your Rates
This will evolve as you grow, but do your research and have a baseline for what you charge. And yes, you can negotiate.
4. Overdeliver
When you land a partnership, treat it like gold. Be clear on deliverables, hit your deadlines, and do more than you promised. Brands remember that, and they come back.
Step Five: Build a Community, Not Just an Audience
You don’t need millions of followers. You need your people. The ones who trust you, engage with you, and want to hear from you. Building that community is what makes the difference between “I have followers” and “I have a business.”
How to Do It:
Engage Back: Spend at least 30 minutes a day replying to DMs and answering comments, make people feel seen.
Be Consistent: People follow people they trust. Show up regularly, even when you’re not promoting anything.
Share the Personal Stuff (When It Feels Right): You don’t have to share everything, but letting people into your life makes them feel connected. It’s the difference between following a “content creator” and following a friend.
Step Six: Diversify Your Income Streams (Because You’re a Business Owner Now)
Once you’ve got affiliate marketing and brand partnerships rolling, it’s time to think bigger. Diversifying your income not only protects you if one revenue stream slows down—it also helps you grow sustainably.
A Few Ways to Diversify:
1. Digital Products
Think presets, guides, courses, or templates. What does your audience always ask you about? Package that up into something they can buy.
2. Services
If you have a skill, whether it’s teaching cooking, photography, design, social media strategy—you can offer services. Even consulting for newer influencers!
3. Your Own Product Line
Once you have an engaged audience, you can think about creating your own products. Start simple. Maybe it’s merch. Maybe it’s a small-batch candle line. The possibilities are endless when you listen to your audience’s needs.
Step Seven: Stay Authentic
The fastest way to burn out? Trying to be someone you’re not. You don’t have to say yes to every opportunity. You don’t have to fit into an influencer box. You just have to be you.
Work with brands that align with your values.
Share products you actually love
I’ve found that the more I lean into who I am, my style, my values, my way of communicating, the stronger my community gets. And that’s what makes this job sustainable. Long-term success doesn’t come from being trendy. It comes from being real. Chris love Julia owns moody modern traditional. I know who I am and I know who my community is. I’m unapologetic, I don’t share products I don’t love or use, and I have boundaries when it comes to my mental health and how I show up online and that’s OK.
Step Eight: Surround Yourself with People Who Get It
You’re building a business. And that can feel lonely sometimes. Having a community of other influencers and creators who understand what you’re doing is huge.
They’ll cheer you on.
They’ll help you troubleshoot.
They’ll keep you accountable.
And when you’re around people who are taking this seriously, you start taking yourself more seriously, too.
Go Pro - Join Good Influence(r)
If this post has you fired up to take your influencer journey to the next level, I’d love to invite you to join Good Influence(r).
It’s our signature program for creators by creators who are ready to:
Grow an engaged, authentic audience
Work with brands they’re proud of
Scale their affiliate marketing
Build a sustainable, values-driven business (without feeling fake about it)
Inside, we teach you everything you need to know to go from hobbyist to professional influencer, plus you get access to our private Mastermind community where you can connect with other creators who are doing the work alongside you.
I’d love to walk with you as you build something you’re proud of, see you in class.
