Indeed, influencers can realistically make money today. It’s important to understand that achieving the status of a profitable influencer involves strategic planning, considerable effort, and a keen understanding of audience needs.

Influencers make money in several ways:

1. Brand partnerships: A popular method where brands pay influencers to promote their products or services. The influencer can receive a commission based on sales or a flat fee for posts or collaborations.

2. Affiliate marketing: Influencers partner with companies and share product links with their followers. Every time somebody buys using their link, they earn a commission.

3. Selling their own goods or services: More directly, influencers can monetize their personal brand by selling items like merchandise or offering services like coaching.

4. Advertising revenue: If they have a significant following on platforms like YouTube, they can earn from ad revenue.

Influencer marketing platforms, such as Flinque, can provide the necessary tools to help optimize these revenue streams. For example, Flinque assists with influencer discovery, campaign planning, performance tracking, and ROI measurement – all important aspects of a profitable influencer career.

Notwithstanding, it’s vital to maintain authenticity while pursuing these money-making avenues. Audiences are increasingly savvy and can detect inauthentic product placements, leading to a decrease in trustworthiness. Irrespective of the platform used, a successful influencer career hinges on building and maintaining a strong, authentic relationship with your audience.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that becoming a profitable influencer doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to create engaging content, grow an audience, and build relationships with suitable brands. Therefore, perseverance and patience are key.