How to become a successful influencer

As a travel vlogger and social media influencer, Christina Galbato got a lot of messages from her online followers. They requested tips for hotels and restaurants, but many sought another kind of advice.

“A lot of what they were asking was: How can I do what you do?” the 29-year-old Manhattan resident recalls.

That’s why Galbato launched “The Influencer Bootcamp,” 20 hours of prerecorded lessons on how others can monetize their social media presence. She charges $700 for a package that includes that course and other tools, such as sample email pitches and access to a members-only Facebook support group. Galbato says she’s on track to take in $4 million in revenue this year.

Successful online courses can diversify influencers’ incomes. “If you want to be a creator, you need to be doing multiple things,” says Mae Karwowski, CEO of influencer marketing agency Obviously.

The influencer marketing business, already a $20 billion industry, is projected to grow as social media users increase and brands seek out online talent to pitch their products on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and other sites.

Darius Moravcik, a 32-year-old technology entrepreneur, documents his journey as a TikTok personality and shows users how he boosted his follower count from zero to more than 35,000 in three months. Moravcik sells his prerecorded class, including roughly eight hours of content, for under $40.

“If you study the formula, anyone can do it,” Moravcik said.

— Bloomberg News