Make Money on Facebook

Below is a practical, step-by-step roadmap that shows the real ways people and businesses earn on Facebook today, how to set each one up, eligibility & policy issues to watch for and a 90-day action plan you can follow. Wherever a platform rule or program detail matters, I’ve linked Meta/official sources so you can double-check current requirements.

Make Money on Facebook

Quick overview — the main ways to earn on Facebook

  1. Platform-funded/content monetization — ads/bonuses paid by Meta for eligible content (merged into a single Content Monetization program). About Facebook
  2. Stars (fan tipping) — viewers buy & send Stars during lives/posts; creators earn per Star. Facebook CreatorsFacebook
  3. Fan subscriptions & membership — recurring monthly revenue from subscribers. Facebook Creators
  4. Commerce & direct selling — Facebook Shops, Marketplace and posts to sell products or services. Facebook+1
  5. Brand deals / sponsored posts — direct deals with advertisers and sponsors (negotiate rates).
  6. Affiliate marketing, digital products & services — link to external offers, sell courses/consulting, or take bookings.
  7. Reels & short-form bonuses — Reels-specific rewards/bonuses and monetization via Meta programs. Facebook Creators+1

(Important: Meta has reorganised programs recently — see the Content Monetization beta summary for the newest approach.) About Facebook

Step 0 — mind the recent changes (short heads-up)

Meta has been consolidating and changing creator programs (for example, in-stream ads and some bonus programs were merged into a Content Monetization experience). Some older features (like onboarding for Paid Online Events) were paused or retired in past rollouts — always check the Monetization section in your Professional Dashboard / Meta Business Suite for the current list of available products. About FacebookFacebook

Step 1 — decide your goal & pick your audience

Actions:

  • Write your primary goal (e.g., “part-time income via affiliate links and Stars”, or “sell physical products via Shops + ads”).
  • Pick a clear niche & audience (e.g., “budget home gadgets in South Africa”, “fitness for busy parents”, etc.).
    Why: each monetization path works best for certain audiences (Stars + live viewers need engagement, Shops needs customers, Content Monetization needs consistent views).

Step 2 — set up the right Facebook assets (Page, Profile, Business tools)

Do this first:

  1. Create a Facebook Page for your project or business (Pages are required for most creator monetization features).
  2. Claim and complete your Professional Dashboard / Meta Business Suite (fill out About, contact email, website).
  3. Add clear branding: banner, profile image, channel description and pinned CTA.
  4. Link your Page to Commerce Manager if you plan to sell with Shops. Facebook+1

How to check eligibility: use the Monetization Eligibility checker in Creator Studio / Meta Business Suite — it shows which features your Page can access. Facebook

Step 3 — create a content & distribution plan (formats + cadence)

Decide the mix you’ll publish and why:

  • Live video — best for Stars, deep engagement, Q&A, product demos.
  • Long-form Video / Watch content — useful for Content Monetization and longer watch time.
  • Reels / short clips — discovery, fast growth and Reels-specific rewards. Facebook Creators+1
  • Text/photos/posts — can also be included in Content Monetization where eligible. About Facebook

Create a simple schedule (example):

  • 1 long video or live per week, 3 Reels per week, 2 value posts per week. Batch produce when possible.

Step 4 — grow your audience & engagement (what actually moves the needle)

Tactics:

  • Post consistently and optimise thumbnails/titles for clicks.
  • Use short clips / Reels to pull people into longer content.
  • Use Facebook Groups and collaborate with creators to cross-pollinate audiences.
  • Use CTAs in videos (subscribe/follow, join a Group, turn on notifications).
  • Run small, targeted ad tests to drive viewers to your best content or to your Shop/product pages (start with small budgets to measure ROI). (See Meta ads billing & setup for details.) Facebook

Measure growth in Creator Studio and switch more budget/time to formats that give the best retention and conversion.

Step 5 — monetization options & exact setup steps

A — Content Monetization (Meta’s merged program)

What it is: Meta now offers a consolidated Content Monetization experience that pays creators for eligible content across formats (Reels, videos, photo/text posts) using a performance-based payout model. Invitations are being rolled out; creators can join via the Monetization tab of the Professional Dashboard / Meta Business Suite. About FacebookFacebook Creators

How to get started (practical):

  1. Produce consistent original content that follows Partner Monetization Policies (see next section). Facebook
  2. Check Monetization status in Meta Business Suite → Monetization. Facebook
  3. If invited, accept the Content Monetization beta from the Monetization tab and follow onboarding steps (link payments/Ad account as requested). About Facebook

Note: Meta may pause or change eligibility for older programs like in-stream ad applications — rely on the Monetization tab for current availability. Facebook+1

B — Facebook Stars (fan tipping)

What it is: fans buy Stars and send them during live videos or eligible content; creators earn per Star (Meta’s documentation describes the payout per Star). Facebook CreatorsFacebook

How to enable & use:

  1. Go to Meta Business Suite → Monetization → Stars (or Creator Studio Monetization tools). Facebook
  2. Enable Stars and set up goals/notifications. Encourage fans during lives to send Stars (thank donors, add on-screen goals).
  3. Use short, high-value live sessions (Q&A, micro-training, product demos) to maximise small tip amounts.

Quick example: Meta’s docs state the payout per Star (see the Stars page for the exact rate and regional details). Facebook Creators

C — Fan subscriptions (monthly memberships)

What it is: recurring monthly payments from fans in exchange for perks (badges, exclusive posts, subscriber-only Group access). Facebook Creators

How to set up:

  1. In the Monetization tools, look for Subscriptions and follow the setup flow. Facebook Creators
  2. Define member perks (exclusive videos, behind-the-scenes, discounts).
  3. Promote memberships in videos, lives and posts (“Join for Rxx / month for weekly exclusive content”).

D — Facebook Shops & direct product sales

What it is: set up a Shop (Commerce Manager) to sell products on your Page & Instagram; connects to checkout or your website. Facebook+1

How to set up:

  1. Open Commerce Manager (via Meta Business Suite) and create a Shop — add products, descriptions, images, pricing and shipping rules. Facebook
  2. Connect product tags to posts and Reels so viewers can tap to buy.
  3. Use Shop ads or organic posts to drive traffic to product pages.

E — Facebook Marketplace & Groups (sell direct)

What it is: quick local sales via Marketplace or selling in buy/sell Groups. Good for second-hand, pick-up items, or promotion of local services. Facebook+1

How to use:

  • List items with clear photos, honest descriptions and pricing. Offer tracked postage if shipping. Use a separate Page or profile to manage inventory and replies.

F — Brand deals + sponsored posts

What it is: negotiate promotions with brands for posts/videos or product integrations. Often more lucrative per campaign than platform payouts.

How to get them:

  • Build proof (views, engagement, case studies).
  • Prepare a one-page media kit (audience demographics, engagement, typical deliverables + rates).
  • Reach out to brands or sign up with influencer marketplaces.

Important: disclose paid relationships clearly to comply with policies and local advertising rules.

G — Affiliate links, courses & services

  • Share affiliate links inside posts, pinned comments and newsletters (disclose affiliate links).
  • Use Facebook to promote your own digital products (courses, ebooks) and services (consulting, coaching).
  • Capture leads from Facebook to an email funnel which usually converts much better than cold traffic.

Step 6 — eligibility, policies & what will get you de-monetized

  • Partner Monetization Policies / Content Monetization Policies are the rules for earning money — follow them. Violations can remove monetization access. Facebook+1
  • Use the Monetization Eligibility checker inside Creator Studio / Meta Business Suite regularly to see if your Page is compliant. Facebook
  • Meta has recently cracked down on reposted/unoriginal content and spammy behavior — repeatedly reposting others’ videos without meaningful transformation can lose eligibility. Keep content original or add clear, substantial commentary/editing. The Verge

If you lose access, Meta provides an appeals flow in Business Help. Facebook

Step 7 — payments, reporting & tax

  • Meta pays creators through the payout system it uses (payments setup happens during monetization onboarding); keep payout and tax info current in the Monetization/AdSense or payments settings. About FacebookFacebook Creators
  • Keep accurate records of all earnings (Ads/Stars/subscriptions/sponsorships/sales) for tax reporting — consult a local accountant for VAT/income reporting in your country.

Step 8 — measure, iterate & optimize

Key metrics to track in Creator Studio / Business Suite:

  • Views & watch time (for content payouts).
  • Engagement: likes, comments, saves, shares (drives distribution).
  • CTR on posts with product tags or links (conversion).
  • Revenue per format (Stars, subscriptions, shop sales, ad/bonus payouts).
  • Use A/B tests for thumbnails, CTAs and live formats; double down on what grows watch time and conversions.

90-day action plan (exact tasks you can follow)

Week 1 — foundation

  • Create or optimise Page + Professional Dashboard.
  • Fill About + contact + link to your website/shop.
  • Check Monetization Eligibility in Creator Studio and note missing items. Facebook

Weeks 2–4 — content & audience

  • Publish a minimum viable content pack: 4 Reels, 2 long videos, 1 Live.
  • Start a simple content calendar (batch produce).
  • Promote across Groups and short ads to test traffic (small budgets).

Weeks 5–8 — monetization & funnels

  • Apply / accept any invited Content Monetization program if available, enable Stars and Subscriptions if eligible. About FacebookFacebook Creators+1
  • If selling, set up a Shop or list best items on Marketplace and tag products in posts. Facebook+1

Weeks 9–12 — optimise & scale

  • Review analytics: double down on top 20% of content giving 80% of engagement.
  • Pitch 3 brands or join 1 influencer marketplace.
  • Start an email list off Facebook (collect leads via link) to control your audience outside the platform.

Short templates & copy you can use now

Live Stars CTA (script):
“Hey everyone — if you’re enjoying this, you can support the show by sending Stars — every Star helps me make more content like this. Thank you to everyone who’s sent Stars so far!”

Membership pitch (short post):
“We just launched our members club — monthly perks include X, Y and Z. Join today to get exclusive posts and members-only Q&As. [link to membership signup]”

Shop post (product tag + CTA):
“New release:

— built for [benefit]. Tap the product tag to buy or click the link in the bio to see all colours.”

Final notes & cautions

  • Don’t rely on one income stream. Combine content monetization, fan support, sales and brand work. About Facebook
  • Keep your Page healthy (no policy violations): it’s the difference between sustainable income and sudden demonetization. Facebook
  • Check the Monetization tab regularly — Meta changes programs and eligibility; the Monetization panel is your single source of truth.