So, you’re scrolling through social media, watching influencers live their best lives—showcasing perfectly filtered mornings, sipping their post-workout smoothies, and jet-setting across the globe. You might wonder: “How much are these content creators really making? And how can I get in on this?”
Truth is, while ad revenue and sponsorship deals are part of the puzzle, many successful creators are cashing in by doing something genius—they’re private labeling their own products. This approach not only boosts their income but also builds their personal brand. Let’s dive into the numbers, how creators make their money, and why private labeling might be your secret weapon to level up your content creation game.
The Basics: How Much Do Content Creators Make?
Before we get into private labeling, let’s look at how much content creators are getting paid from traditional income streams. While it’s no secret that a select few creators are making millions, the reality for most influencers is more modest—but still pretty decent. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, the average creator makes between $50 and $1,000 per month depending on their platform, audience size, and engagement(FitBiz).
Ad Revenue (YouTube and TikTok)
YouTube creators make money through ads shown on their videos. The platform pays them based on CPM (Cost Per Mille or cost per 1,000 views), which can range from $2 to $10, depending on the content’s niche. On average, a YouTuber with 100,000 views on a video might make between $200 and $1,000, but after YouTube takes its cut (45%), the payout is more like $110 to $550.
TikTok’s payouts? Let’s just say they’re much smaller. TikTok’s Creator Fund typically pays 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views, meaning 1 million views could net you around $20 to $40 .
Sponsorships and Brand Deals
This is where creators really start to make bank. Sponsorship deals with brands can range from $10 to $100 per 1,000 followers, depending on how engaged the creator’s audience is. Big influencers (1 million+ followers) can make $10,000 or more per post with major brands.
But here’s the twist—one-off sponsorships are great, but they don’t offer long-term income. That’s where private labeling comes into play.
Chapter 1: Private Labeling—The Secret Sauce to Big Earnings
Private labeling is where creators take things to the next level by creating their own products. Essentially, a creator partners with a manufacturer to produce a custom-branded product they can sell to their audience. Whether it’s supplements, skincare, or even clothing, private labeling gives creators ownership over their product and more control over profit margins.
This strategy allows influencers to build long-term revenue streams by selling products directly to their audience, keeping a larger cut of the profits than they would with brand deals.
Chapter 2: How Private Labeling Works (And Why It’s a Game Changer)
1. Pick a Product That Aligns With Your Brand
The first step in private labeling is to choose a product that fits with your content and audience. Are you a fitness influencer? Think protein powders, BCAAs, or recovery supplements. If you’re in the beauty space, skincare or makeup products could be a huge hit.
Here are some of the most popular products content creators are private labeling:
- Supplements: Pre-workouts, protein powders, vitamins, and adaptogens. For example, fitness influencers like Whitney Simmons and Buffbunny have partnered with manufacturers to create private label supplements, boosting their income beyond simple sponsorships.
- Skincare and Beauty: Think facial serums, makeup lines, and haircare. Beauty gurus like Jeffree Star and Huda Kattan launched their own makeup lines, transforming themselves into multi-millionaires.
- Clothing and Merchandise: Creators in the lifestyle or fitness space often sell branded activewear, hoodies, and T-shirts. Gymshark, initially a small brand, skyrocketed thanks to partnerships with influencers who private-labeled their own lines.
Pro Tip: You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Find a manufacturer who offers white-labeling services, which allows you to brand pre-existing products as your own.
2. Work with a Manufacturer
Once you’ve picked your product, you’ll need to partner with a GMP-certified manufacturer (if you’re dealing with supplements or skincare) or a reliable clothing supplier. Many companies specialize in helping influencers create private-label products, handling everything from production to packaging.
Private labeling means you have the power to tweak the formula, customize packaging, and set your price. A good rule of thumb? Aim for a product that aligns with your audience’s interests and solves a problem for them.
3. Launch Your Product to Your Audience
This is where content creators have a serious advantage. You already have a loyal audience, so marketing your product is just another day on the job. Your followers trust your recommendations, making them more likely to purchase something you’ve created personally. Plus, using your platform to promote your own product is significantly cheaper than traditional advertising.
4. Maximize Profit Margins
One of the biggest benefits of private labeling is the profit margin. Whereas sponsorship deals pay a flat fee, private labeling gives you the ability to scale your earnings. For example, if your private-label protein powder costs $10 per unit to produce, but you sell it for $40, you’re looking at a 75% margin per sale.
Fun Fact: According to Fortune Business Insights, the global supplement market is expected to hit $308 billion by 2028, meaning there’s plenty of room for creators to carve out their own piece of the pie .
Chapter 3: Examples of Creators Crushing It with Private Label Products
1. Whitney Simmons – Alani Nu
Whitney Simmons, a fitness influencer, partnered with Alani Nu to create her own line of supplements. With over 3 million followers on Instagram, she leveraged her audience to promote products like pre-workout powders and protein bars. Alani Nu’s revenue skyrocketed to $100 million in 2021, largely driven by influencers like Simmons promoting their private-label products .
2. Huda Kattan – Huda Beauty
Huda Kattan started as a beauty blogger and transitioned into launching Huda Beauty, now valued at $1.2 billion. By private labeling her own makeup line, she turned her audience into a customer base, making her one of the most successful beauty entrepreneurs in the world .
3. Jeffree Star – Jeffree Star Cosmetics
Jeffree Star used his YouTube fame to launch Jeffree Star Cosmetics, now a multimillion-dollar makeup brand. Private labeling gave him full control over product quality and allowed him to build a cult following that translates into massive sales whenever he drops a new product.
FAQs About Private Labeling for Content Creators
1. How much does it cost to start private labeling a product?
It depends on the product, but most creators can expect to invest between $5,000 and $20,000 to get started. Supplements, for example, require higher initial costs due to FDA regulations and certification requirements, while clothing or beauty products can be launched with a smaller budget.
2. Do you need a huge following to start private labeling?
No! While having a larger following certainly helps, nano- and micro-influencers (with 1,000 to 50,000 followers) can still be successful with private labeling, especially if they have a niche and highly engaged audience.
3. How long does it take to launch a private-label product?
It usually takes 3 to 6 months to develop, manufacture, and launch a private-label product, depending on the complexity of the product and manufacturer timelines.
Final Thoughts: Making Bank with Private Labeling
Private labeling isn’t just a side hustle—it’s a strategy for content creators looking to maximize their earning potential and build a long-term business. By selling products that align with your brand and audience, you can create a new revenue stream that you control. Whether it’s supplements, beauty products, or apparel, private labeling lets you own the process, keep more profits, and build a sustainable business beyond ads and brand deals.
So, next time you think about monetizing your platform, consider going beyond sponsorships. Create something your audience loves, and who knows? You might just build the next billion-dollar brand.