This article was originally published on Business information.
For many people, creating content online is more tempting than traditional work, recent data according to the influencer marketing and technology platform IZEA.
Fifty-four percent of individuals ages 18 to 60 said they’d quit their jobs if they may make a full-time living as a social media influencer, according to IZEA’s third annual survey of greater than 1,200 U.S. consumers. The study was designed to discover who considers themselves an influencer and who wants to change into one.
There was no generational divide. People of all ages, from baby boomers to Gen Z, said they’d take this step.
“This shift isn’t just a passing trend; it’s changing the future of work,” IZEA CEO and founder Ted Murphy told Business Insider. “It’s evidence of how digital platforms are disrupting traditional employment models.”
In fact, 26% of consumers surveyed said they already considered themselves influencers due to the period of time they spent online. Most of them were still juggling other jobs — 59% of influencers surveyed said they worked full-time.
The percentage of influencers with a household income of over $100,000 has skyrocketed
Many social media users have gained hundreds of followers by sharing their unique experiences on topics like travel, finance, and fashion on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. After creating viral videos, growing their online audiences, and earning profits through brand partnerships, online marketing, and other sources of income, some have even quit their full-time jobs to change into creators.
Part of the appeal of being a full-time influencer comes from the potential to earn money by posting content for brands on social media. The IZEA study found that 36% of influencers surveyed had a household income of $100,000 to $199,000 in 2023, up from 11% the previous 12 months.
More money is expected to flow into the industry this 12 months — Emarketer forecasts US marketers’ spending on sponsored content will grow to $8.14 billion, up 16% 12 months over 12 months.
The industry will be financially unstable, nonetheless, and some full-time influencers BI recently spoke with returned to the corporate worldThey also wanted to profit from collaborating with other professionals, including developing specific skills and working as a part of a team.
“The idea of full-time content creation is often more glamorous than the reality,” creator Mitchie Nguyen previously told BI. “As a full-time job, it can be incredibly lonely.”
Others, nonetheless, saw their online publishing income surpass their 9-to-5 jobs and quit their jobs, like TikTok user and podcaster Ariana NathaniA few months ago, the New York-based influencer left her full-time position at Johnson & Johnson to expand her social media business.
“Leaving my job was a big risk for me, but I hope the extra time and energy I put into it will pay off,” she previously told BI.
The majority of her income now comes from paid partnerships, working with brands like Bumble and About Time Coffee to publish sponsored content. She earned $49,700 from that income stream last 12 months, according to records reviewed by BI.
The IZEA report found that 64% of social media users can be willing to accept monetary compensation from brands to promote their products or services on their platforms. There is also a correlation between the period of time someone spends online and the likelihood of getting paid for posting. Consumers who spend greater than five hours a day on social media are 4.4 times more likely to get paid.
“This statistic shows that investing time into building an online presence and consuming content can translate directly into financial opportunities, reinforcing the significant role social media plays in today’s economy,” Murphy said.