5 Realistic Ways to Make Money on Facebook

Most people use social media for things like catching up with friends across the country, watching sports highlights, or reading the news.

But now you can also use social media to make money, especially on popular platforms like Facebook. With millions of people on the site, it’s easy to see how bloggers, website owners, companies, and even regular people can make money on Facebook.

Some even earn a full-time income using the platform. Even if you’re looking to only make a few extra bucks per month, Facebook may be a good place to do it.

There are several ways to get paid on Facebook. It’s the perfect side hustle for anyone who already spends a lot of time on the platform.

1. Get traffic to your own blog.

One of the easiest ways to make money on Facebook is by using it to generate traffic to your own blog.

Jon Dulin, from Money Smart Guides, uses this method. Like many bloggers, he shares his articles on his Facebook page but he employs a specific strategy. If a shared post does well on Facebook, he’ll use it as a paid ad to drive even more people to his blog.

“Otherwise it’s like trying to catch a fish in the ocean,” Dulin said about his strategy. “You’re paying money for posts that may never turn you a profit. By doing it this way, you are trying to catch a fish in a pond. It is more time-efficient to test ads with a popular post already.”

This strategy works extraordinarily well for Dulin. He’s currently making about $1,000 per month from Facebook traffic alone.

Related: How to Start a Money-Making Blog

2. Manage Facebook ads.

Thanks to the volume of Facebook’s users, ads have become a big part of its business. But many business owners don’t have the time or resources to learn how to use Facebook ads for their business. This creates an opportunity for you to step in and do it for them.

Just ask Tyler Philbrook, who took a course in managing Facebook ads while trying to grow his own blog. Instead, he began managing ads for other business owners and opened his new agency, Party of Three Productions.

“I focus on local businesses, so many of them are already advertising and don’t realize how cheap you can get Facebook ads running,” Philbrook said. “By explaining just a little, people will gladly pay you to do it.”

Today, Philbrook makes $2,000 to $5,000 per month managing Facebook ads for clients.

Related: How to Make Money Running Facebook Ads for Local Businesses  

3. Manage Facebook groups.

Facebook groups are hugely popular for online business owners. But they can take a lot of time to manage, especially once a group reaches a certain size. There might be problematic members or topics that are too controversial, and you may have to do a lot of moderating.

That’s why many group owners hire virtual assistants to manage the groups for them.

“On a daily basis, I approve/deny Facebook requests, respond to students’ questions, monitor for spam, and post weekly threads,” said Drew DuBoff, who earns $4,000 per month for managing eight Facebook groups.

“If you try this out for yourself, I’d recommend networking first,” said DuBoff, who scored his first gig after noticing a group he was in needed help with moderation. “I got booked because I made meaningful connections with course creators, so they were more at ease hiring me.”

Related: How to Become a Social Media Manager (Step by Step Guide) 

4. Sell your own product or service.

If you’re selling a product or service, you can also find customers directly on Facebook. Anything you can imagine can be sold directly on Facebook. You don’t always need to refer customers to an outside blog or website.

For example, Logan Allec from Money Done Right turned to Facebook while trying to find clients for his new CPA practice. He relied on a novel approach — offering his own services to anyone who had created a public post looking for CPA recommendations. He found those through Facebook’s search engine.

“Is this approach aggressive? Of course,” Allec said. “I was promoting myself and my services in someone’s Facebook post that they may have only intended for their friends to see. That said, their Facebook posts were public, and I truly believed that I could provide them with better service than they could find from any other accountant.”

Believe it or not, this approach worked. Allec was able to add $4,000 per month to his income from this method alone.

Chhavi Agarwal, who blogs at Mrs. Daaku Studio, also uses Facebook to find clients.

“I work as a freelance writer, so I’m a part of many Facebook groups where business owners post their requirements and ask for recommendations for a good writer,” Agarwal said. “I use these groups to network with potential clients and have been able to land a few clients in this manner.”

Thanks to her Facebook networking, she’s able to generate between $200 and $500 per month.

Related: 19 Digital Products You Can Sell to Earn Passive Income

5. Sell on Facebook Marketplace.

Facebook Marketplace allows you to sell almost anything on the site, from used baby clothes to cars. There’s no fee for selling, and because people use their Facebook profiles to buy and sell, it’s less spammy than Craigslist.

You have to meet up with people in person to sell your items, but that also means you don’t have to worry about shipping because all transactions are local. How much you make on the site depends on what you’re selling, the photo quality, and if you’re able to find a good local buyer.

Strategies for Upleveling Your Facebook Monetization

You’ll need to take a few steps to build up a reputable online presence so that people will feel comfortable buying from you.

1. Build your brand.

Chances are you already have a personal Facebook page. If you want to make money, you’ll need to establish a business account.

If you have a website where you sell products or services, consider setting up a Facebook page. But even if you’re selling your own services as an individual, it pays to make sure your online presence is professional. Adding a real logo, a headshot, and a succinct, clear description of your business will make you look legitimate. An official website and professional email address are also good to have.

Another tip: set your personal profile to “private.” This can prevent future clients from snooping in your personal life. Also, be mindful of what you say in public forums. You are the face of your brand and you need to be aware of the message you’re sending to potential clients.

2. Build a following.

Having a following is key when you’re selling something. Your followers are the ones who will buy your products, leave reviews, and recommend you to friends. You can even use them as beta testers. Giving them a free preview of your product makes them feel even more invested in it.

Build a following by creating useful and helpful content and engaging with your fans. Doing so will get them to click on your blog or website, sign up for your email list, or follow you on other social media platforms. If people only have one interaction with you, it’s unlikely they’ll stick around for you to sell your products or services.

3. Encourage engagement.

Followers who can’t wait to see your content provide social proof that you’re not just some random person on the internet. If other people trust you, a new client or buyer may too. Trust is a necessity for people to buy what you’re selling.

Facebook groups are especially useful for this. If you answer questions, host interactive Facebook Live seminars, or even start discussions, it demonstrates that you’re responsive, honest, and helpful. That will help you build trust and connect with your audience.

4. Learn to sell.

Now that you’ve got a receptive audience, the final piece is getting them to say yes to your offer.

What works well for selling to one audience may be too aggressive for another. This is where it pays to know who you’re speaking to. Knowing their fears, hopes, and the words they use to describe their problems will make your advertising and selling tactics more effective.

It also pays to network with other business owners to find out what’s working for them.

Related: 21 Inexpensive or Free Ways to Market Your Small Business

Building Group and Page Relationships Is Key

How much money you make using Facebook depends on the services you’re offering, the products you’re selling, and how aggressive you are with your networking and marketing. It also depends on your audience and how much they’re willing to pay for your offerings.

Remember, though, that if you want to make money with Facebook, it’s not as simple as setting up shop and asking for money. As our case studies have shown, it’s possible to make money, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Stay consistent, strategic, and focused, and you can generate anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars per month.

If you’re serious about making money online, Facebook is definitely one of the best places to start.