Haiden Hibbert
Big follower counts get all the attention. But if you’re a nano influencer — with 1,000 to 10,000 followers — you’re in a powerful position to build a real business.
Why? Because smaller audiences often mean higher engagement, stronger trust, and more authentic connections. And those qualities are exactly what people pay for when you package your expertise into digital products and memberships.
Let’s break down how this works (and how you can start).
What Is a Nano Influencer?
Not everyone who creates online thinks of themselves as an “influencer.” Maybe you share recipes, post about your fitness journey, or teach people how to care for plants. If you’ve built a small but loyal community online, you may already be a nano influencer — even if you’ve never used the term.
A nano influencer is generally defined as someone with 1,000 to 10,000 followers on a social media platform. But follower count is only part of the story. What really sets nano influencers apart is:
- High engagement: A larger percentage of your audience actually comments, likes, and interacts with your content.
- Authenticity: Followers often feel like they know you personally.
- Niche focus: Instead of appealing to everyone, you serve a specific community or interest.
A nano-influencer could be:
- A home baker with 3,500 Instagram followers sharing sourdough tutorials.
- A student with 6,000 TikTok followers posting productivity hacks.
- A craft creator with 2,000 YouTube subscribers uploading DIY tutorials.
- A finance enthusiast with 4,000 followers on Xsharing budgeting tips.
- A writer with 1,200 email subscribers sending weekly essays.
If you have an engaged audience in this range, you’re in a sweet spot: small enough to stay personal, but big enough to start monetizing.
Why Being a Nano Influencer is an Advantage
A lot of people assume bigger is always better when it comes to audience size. But here’s the thing: brands, businesses, and followers are starting to realize that smaller can actually mean stronger.
Here’s why:
1. Higher engagement rates
Nano influencers often see much higher engagement than macro influencers. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, nano influencers can have engagement rates up to 4x higher than larger accounts. Why? Because your followers aren’t just numbers — they’re real people who feel connected to you.
2. Authenticity and trust
People follow you because they like you, not because you’re a celebrity. That authenticity builds trust, and trust is what makes someone more likely to buy a product you recommend or sign up for something you’re offering.
3. Niche expertise
Nano influencers often serve a specific niche — whether that’s fitness for new moms, productivity hacks for freelancers, or watercolor tutorials for beginners. That focus makes your recommendations even more valuable to your audience.
4. Better conversions
You don’t need tens of thousands of followers to make sales. If you have 1,000 followers and even 5% purchase a $20 product, that’s $1,000 in revenue. A small but loyal audience can outperform a large, passive one. If you want to dig deeper into this idea, check out our post on how to monetize a small audience.
So instead of worrying about “not being big enough,” lean into the advantages you already have. Your size is actually part of your strength.
The Best Ways Nano Influencers Can Make Money
There are a lot of ways to monetize as an influencer, but not all of them make sense when you’re just starting out with a smaller audience. Let’s break down the main options — starting with the ones that usually work best for nano influencers.
1. Sell Your Own Digital Products
This is one of the smartest (and fastest) ways to start earning. Digital products are things you create once and sell over and over again — no shipping, no inventory, no middleman.
Examples include:
- eBooks or guides (meal plans, travel itineraries, how-to tutorials).
- Templates (social media graphics, spreadsheets, design files).
- Online courses or workshops (pre-recorded or live).
The benefit? You’re in full control of the product, the pricing, and the customer relationship. Plus, it positions you as an expert in your niche.
👉 Want to see how this works in practice? Check out our guide on how to sell digital products.
2. Offer Memberships
Memberships are powerful because they create recurring revenue. Instead of selling a one-time product, you’re building an ongoing relationship with your audience.
Memberships can include things like:
- Exclusive content (bonus tutorials, behind-the-scenes videos).
- A private community where members connect with you and each other.
- Group coaching calls or Q&A sessions.
- Resource libraries that you update regularly.
Even a small membership can add up quickly. For example, 50 members paying $10/month is $500 in recurring income.
👉 If you’re curious about this model, we’ve got a full post on how to monetize a community.
3. Sponsored Content & Brand Deals
This is usually the first thing people think of when they hear “influencer.” And yes, brands do work with nano influencers — especially if you’re in a niche they care about. You might get paid to post about a product, create a video, or share a review.
The challenge? It can take time to land deals, and you don’t have much control over when or how often they come in. That’s why it’s smart to treat this as a bonus, not your main income stream.
4. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing means you earn a commission when someone buys a product through your unique link. It’s a low-barrier way to start monetizing, and it works best when you’re recommending products you already use and love.
For example, if you’re a productivity influencer, you might share your favorite project management tool and earn a percentage of each sale.
Want to learn more? Here’s a solid affiliate marketing guide from Shopify.
The takeaway: while sponsored content and affiliate links can be nice, your real power as a nano influencer comes from selling your own products and memberships. That’s where you’ll see the most control, the most stability, and the most growth potential.
Why Digital Products & Memberships Are the Smartest Route
By now, you’ve seen there are a handful of ways to make money as a nano influencer. But if you want something sustainable, digital products and memberships are where things really click. Here’s why they stand out from the rest:
1. You own the relationship
With brand deals or affiliate marketing, you’re essentially renting your audience to someone else. When you sell your own products or memberships, you’re in control of the pricing, the messaging, and the customer experience. No middleman, no waiting for approval.
2. Predictable income
Sponsored posts might come and go. Affiliate sales can spike one month and drop the next. But with memberships, you’ve got recurring revenue you can count on. Even a small base of loyal members gives you stability.
3. Scalable effort
Creating a digital product takes upfront work, but once it’s done, you can sell it as many times as you want. Compare that to brand deals, where you’re constantly creating new content for someone else’s campaign.
4. Perfect fit for small audiences
You don’t need thousands of buyers to make this work. For example:
- 30 people buying a $30 eBook = $900.
- 75 members paying $15/month = $1,125 in recurring income.
That’s achievable with a small, engaged following.
5. Long-term growth
Digital products and memberships grow with you. As your audience expands, you can add new products, raise prices, or create different membership tiers. You’re building an asset, not just chasing the next deal.
If you’re curious how this plays out in real life, we’ve got a full guide on how to monetize a small audience that digs into this exact idea.
How to Get Started with Digital Products & Memberships
Okay, so digital products and memberships sound great in theory — but how do you actually get started? The good news is you don’t need a huge budget, fancy tech, or months of prep. A simple, steady approach works best.
Here’s a step-by-step way to think about it:
Step 1: Listen to your audience
Pay attention to the questions people ask in your comments, DMs, or emails. Those are clues to what they’d happily pay for. For example, if you’re a food blogger and people constantly ask for your grocery lists, that’s a product idea right there.
Step 2: Choose a simple format
Your first product doesn’t need to be a massive course or a 100-page guide. Start small:
- A PDF checklist
- A short video tutorial
- A template or swipe file
- A small membership with monthly resources
Simple is easier to launch — and easier for your audience to say yes to.
Step 3: Pick a platform that makes it easy
This is where a lot of people get stuck. They try to stitch together payment processors, file-sharing tools, and community platforms. Instead, look for a tool that handles everything in one place. (We’ll talk about how MemberSpace does this in the next section.)
Step 4: Launch small, then refine
You don’t have to get it perfect on day one. Launch to a handful of your most engaged followers, collect feedback, and improve as you go. The earlier you start, the faster you’ll learn what works.
The goal isn’t to create the “perfect” product right away — it’s to start building momentum. Once you’ve got your first few sales or members, you can expand from there.
How MemberSpace Helps Nano Influencers Make Money
By now, you’ve seen why digital products and memberships are such a strong option for nano influencers. The next step is finding a tool that makes it easy to set everything up — without juggling multiple platforms or complicated tech.
That’s where MemberSpace comes in.
Everything in one place
MemberSpace lets you turn your existing website into a membership business without coding or extra plugins. You can sell digital products, create gated content, and manage recurring subscriptions — all from a single dashboard.
A home for your content
You can add a clean, organized content hub to your site where members access files, links, videos, or posts. If you don’t have a website yet, MemberSpace can provide a free, customizable site so you can get started right away.
You can also share a direct link to your content hub anywhere you connect with your audience — in your social media bios, posts, stories, or email newsletters. That way, your followers have an easy path to sign up and access your products or membership.
Options for how you sell
Whether it’s a one-time eBook, a monthly membership, or both, MemberSpace gives you the flexibility to offer different kinds of products under one roof.
Simple payments
With Stripe integration, you can accept payments securely from anywhere in the world — no chasing invoices or piecing together multiple tools.
Stay in control
Your content and branding remain yours. Your audience engages directly with you, not a third-party platform.
Room to grow
Start with one product or membership, then expand into tiers, bundles, or new offerings as your business grows.
In short: MemberSpace handles the tech so you can focus on creating value for your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a nano influencer?
A nano influencer is someone with 1,000–10,000 followers on social media who has a highly engaged, loyal audience. They often serve a niche community and build strong trust with their followers.
How to become a nano influencer?
Start by choosing a niche you’re passionate about, consistently creating valuable content, and engaging with your audience. Growth in the nano range is less about going viral and more about building authentic connections.
How many followers do nano influencers have?
Nano influencers typically have between 1,000 and 10,000 followers.
What are the 4 types of influencers?
The influencer world is usually broken down into:
- Nano influencers: 1k–10k followers
- Micro influencers: 10k–100k followers
- Macro influencers: 100k–1M followers
- Mega influencers: 1M+ followers
How much do nano influencers make?
It varies widely. Some earn a few hundred dollars a month from brand deals, while others make thousands through digital products, memberships, or coaching. Because engagement is high, nano influencers can often charge more per follower than larger creators.
Do you need a niche to be a nano influencer?
Yes — having a clear niche makes it easier to attract the right audience and create products they’ll actually buy.
Can you be a nano influencer without Instagram?
Absolutely. TikTok, YouTube, newsletters, and even LinkedIn can all support nano influencers. The key is having an engaged audience, not just the platform.
Final Thoughts
Being a nano influencer isn’t a limitation — it’s an advantage. Smaller audiences often mean stronger trust, higher engagement, and better conversions. And when you pair that with the right monetization strategy, you don’t need tens of thousands of followers to build a real business.
Digital products and memberships give you control, flexibility, and the chance to grow at your own pace. And with a tool like MemberSpace, you don’t have to worry about tech headaches — you can set up a content hub, share it directly with your audience, and start earning from the community you’ve already built.
👉 Ready to take the next step? Try MemberSpace for free and see how easy it can be to turn your influence into income.
