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8 Signs You Need a Social Media Detox

Sarah Winfrey — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 09:00:24 +0000

Everyone's on social media these days. However, some of us take it more seriously than others. And some of us have to take it seriously, because our professional success relies heavily on staying connected. Then there are people who are on their accounts all the time, even when they're trying to do other things, like hang out with actual people. But are you one of those people whose obsessed with social media? How would you even know?

If you're worried about how much time you're wasting on various platforms, here are a few signs that it's time for a social media detox. (See also: 5 Ways Freelancers Can Promote Their Work Without Social Media)

1. You feel anxious when you're not scrolling

When you're not online, do you wish you were? Do you wonder what you're missing, hope that people aren't doing anything fun without you, or just feel anxious when you can't be on social media for a while? This anxiety can be a sign that you need to take a break. You should feel more anxious about missing your real life than you do about your online one. Separating from social media for a period of time can help you realize that the world doesn't end when you're not liking posts and battling trolls.

2. The photos you see upset you

Do you regularly see photos of other people's lives that make you feel sad or envious? Do you wish you had that kind of access to fancy homes, creativity, or style? If you're constantly comparing yourself to people online and feeling like you fall short, it may be time to unplug. Take the time to remember how good your own life is. (See also: How to Keep Social Media From Ruining Your Vacation)

3. You never put down your phone

Is your phone always in your hand or nearby, even when you're supposed to be working or having a real-life conversation? If you can't stop checking social media, it's time to put the phone down and walk away. Your online social life doesn't have to interfere with your real one. Delete some of the apps off your phone until they lose their hold over you.

4. You post about your life before you live it

When you're out living your life, do you stage photos specifically for social media? Are you spending a significant amount of time thinking of pithy statements to tweet? Do you think about what to post, or when, or how, even while you're in the middle of doing something fun or actively engaged in an activity? If you think about staging your life for Facebook or Instagram before you live it, it's time to put the phone in your pocket and enjoy what's in front of you. (See also: 10 Things to Stop Doing on Social Media by 30)

5. You check social media without thinking about it

What do you do when you're bored? Do you automatically go online, just to be sure you haven't missed anything? If your first line of defense against boredom to check your social media accounts, or the first thing you do while you're waiting, you may need to take a break and find other, more meaningful ways to spend your time. Set up other things to do when you would usually check your accounts mindlessly, and take back your time, and your life. (See also: 8 Ways Social Media Tricks You Into Spending More)

6. Social media interferes with your productivity

Are you online when you should be doing something important? Do work tasks get put off or not done at all because you're scrolling and tweeting instead? If social media is interfering with your productivity, or your to-do list never gets done because you're online, make some changes today. Delete your most addictive apps and download a few task management apps instead to keep you focused. (See also: Organize 8 Key Areas of Your Life With These 17 Smart Apps)

7. You make excuses to check in often

When you're out with friends or family, do you find yourself making excuses for checking your social accounts? Maybe you tell them that it's for work, or you go to the bathroom with your phone just so you can check your notifications. If social media has such a strong pull on your life that your loved ones are calling you out and you're making excuses to stay connected, then it's high time to disconnect.

8. You're disengaging from your real life

Do you choose to be online rather than go out with friends? Sure, we all need the occasional evening in, but if you are regularly choosing social media over your friends, or choosing not to go out because you're afraid you'll miss something online, it's time to think about a break. Social media can have a place in your life, but it shouldn't frequently take the place of real-life interactions. (See also: Are You Letting FOMO Ruin Your Finances?)

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This article is from Sarah Winfrey of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Here's How Rich You'd Be If You'd Invested $500 in FAANG 6 Years Ago

Damian Davila — Thu, 31 May 2018 09:00:19 +0000

Warren Buffett said it best: "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." One of those big trees in the investing world is FAANG, an acronym for five high-performing technology stocks: Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google (now Alphabet, Inc.).

Let's find out how a cool $500 investment in FAANG would have fared over a six-year investment period.

2012: Off to a good start

Since Facebook held its initial public offering (IPO) on May 18, 2012, this date will be our starting point. And it's a great one because Facebook's IPO at that time was the largest technology IPO in U.S. history, raising more than $16 billion.

Let's imagine that you allocated exactly $100 to each one of the FAANG stocks. Assuming that you could buy fractions of shares, here's how many shares of FAANG you would have acquired back on May 18, 2012, rounded to the nearest hundredth. In this and all calculations throughout this article, we'll use the closing price.

Facebook: $100 @ $38.23 per share = 2.61 shares
Apple: $100 @ $75.77 per share = 1.32 shares
Amazon: $100 @ $213.85 per share = 0.47 shares
Netflix: $100 @ $9.99 = 10.01 shares
Google: $100 @ $300.50 = 0.33 shares

At the end of 2012, your initial $500 in FAANG would be worth $537, up 7.51 percent mainly due to a 32.43 percent jump in Netflix's stock price over the same period.

2013: Netflix leading the pack

You would have loved watching Netflix's stock price this year, as it went up 297.6 percent year-over-year, closing at $52.60. After 2012, Facebook traded sideways and didn't trade above its IPO price until July 31, 2013. But then it too ended 2013 strong with a 105.30 percent year-over-year increase in price. At the end of 2013, your FAANG portfolio would be worth $1,147.50, up 113.69 percent from the previous year.

2014: A year of stock splits and slow growth

On June 9, 2014, Apple issued its fourth stock split — this time, a seven-for-one stock split. This means that your 1.32 would have become 9.38 shares. Earlier that year on March 27, 2014, Google executed a 100 percent stock spinoff, which is similar to a two-for-one stock split.

All said and done, your portfolio's 2014 year-end value of $1,160.95 ended slightly above that of 2013 (a 1.17 percent year-over-year increase). What caused the small return? On December 31, 2014 the stock prices of Amazon, Netflix, and Google were down 22.18, 7.22, and 4.24 percent respectively from exactly the year before.

FAANG beats the S&P 500 over six years

Let's fast-forward a few years to May 18, 2018 and analyze the performance of our investment in FAANG against the most common stock market bench mark, the S&P 500.

Assuming that you were to hold onto your entire $500 FAANG portfolio from May 18, 2012 until May, 18, 2018, your portfolio would have been worth a cool $5,059.62, a whopping 911.92 percent return over the six-year period. If you had put the same $500 investment in the S&P 500 you would have ended with $1,047.30 at the end of the six-year period. That's a very decent 109.46 percent return over the same six-year period, but far below that of the FAANG portfolio.

Should you invest in FAANG?

If it ain't broke, why fix it, right? After all, the FAANG investing strategy continues to pay off in 2018. However, this doesn't mean that you should put your entire nest egg in FAANG. Here are three key caveats when considering an investment in FAANG.

Investment strategy fit

"Does FAANG match my investment strategy?" This is the biggest question that you should ask yourself before considering an investment in FAANG. If you're very close to retirement age, are very adverse to risk, or require a consistent stream of dividend payouts for income, then FAANG stocks may not be right for you. Make sure to first analyze FAANG from the perspective of your portfolio strategy.

Tolerance for volatility

As FAANG companies continue to push the boundaries of technology, the stock market continues to reward their valuation. However, sometimes the pendulum swings in the other direction. Remember the Facebook CEO's testimony before Congress on April 10, 2018 due to privacy concerns? The price of one Facebook share went from a high of $185.09 on March 16, 2018 to $165.04 on April 10, 2018. Could you have stomached a 10.83 percent loss over a 25-day period?

Overexposure to FAANG

If you hold an S&P 500 index fund, you're already exposed to FAANG. Let's assume that you hold the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares. By owning one share of this Vanguard index fund, your portfolio has an allocation of 3.7 percent to Apple, 2.8 percent to Amazon, 2.7 percent to Google, and 1.80 percent to Facebook.

And that's before taking account any other investments you might hold. If you also have another index fund in the technology sector, you probably have an even greater holding of each one of those investments. For example, the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares [Nasdaq: VITAX] has Apple, Amazon, and Google among its top four largest holdings.

There are many mutual funds out there that already include Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Google, or Netflix among their holdings. Make sure to consider how much your existing portfolio already has allocated to FAANG before you add even more shares of these high-growth stocks.

How can you invest in FAANG without breaking the bank

With individual shares of Amazon and Google trading at $1,574.37 and $1,066.36, respectively on May 18, 2018, it is impossible to make the same original investment of $500 to buy all five of the individual stocks that make up FAANG as we did in this experiment.

Still, there is a simple way to start investing in FAANG: exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Similar to an index fund, an ETF tracks an asset or basket of assets. Unlike an index fund, an ETF can be traded several times throughout the day and doesn't require a minimum investment.

There are three key reasons why ETFs make investing in FAANG more approachable for the average investor.

The expense ratio (the percentage of assets deducted each fiscal year for fund expenses) for ETFs is generally lower than that for funds tracking the same type of investment. For example, the Vanguard Growth ETF has a 0.05 percent annual expense ratio, while the average annual expense ratio of similar growth funds is 1.10 percent.
Some brokerage houses charge no trading fees when you stick to in-house ETFs. For example, users of the Vanguard Brokerage Account can trade without fees as long as they buy Vanguard ETFs.
There is no minimum investment, so you could buy as little as one share of an ETF. Generally, prices for one share of FAANG ETFs range from $10 to a few hundred dollars. This prevents you from putting all your eggs in one basket. Remember that historical returns (even as great as those from FAANG) are no guarantee of future returns. So, you still should diversify your portfolio.

Here's a list of FAANG ETFs to get you started on your research, but make sure to look at other lists as well. Buyer beware: By definition, a FAANG ETF is one that offers an investor at least 1 percent exposure to FAANG stocks. While diversification is great, select an ETF that best matches your target exposure to these five high-growth technology stocks.

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This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Characteristics of the World's Youngest Billionaires

Rachel Slifka — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 09:00:07 +0000

According to Forbes, there are 2,208 billionaires in the world today. And just 63 members of this elite group are under the age of 40.

Though the 63 youngest billionaires are a diverse group of individuals with different claims to fame, they do have quite a few things in common. Here are a few characteristics shared by some of the world's youngest billionaires.

1. More than half are entrepreneurs

Over half the billionaires on the under-40 list are self-made, with a majority being in the tech industry. Of course, people like Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Evan Spiegel of Snapchat made the list. So did the founders of Airbnb, Stripe, Uber, among others. But tech isn't the only profitable industry. Several of the billionaires on the list are from manufacturing, design, and medical industries.

2. Inheritance is prevalent

Not all of the world's most wealthy pulled themselves up by their bootstraps. While many of the world's youngest billionaires were self-made, there are also many who inherited their wealth.

Twenty-four-year-old Gustav Magnar Witzøe, heir of Norwegian fish farming company Salmar, amassed a net worth of $1.9 billion after inheriting nearly half the company from his father. Heiress Yang Huiyan is worth over $21.9 billion at only 36 years old after inheriting her father's real estate development company in China. And Norwegian sisters Alexandra and Katharina Andresen — just 21 and 22 years old, respectively — each inherited 42 percent of their family-owned investment company, Ferd, for a net worth of $1.4 billion a piece.

3. Many of them left school to pursue their businesses

School was not the end game for many of the world's youngest billionaires; their business was.

While enrolled in a product design class at Stanford, Evan Spiegel came up with the idea of Snapchat. In 2012, he officially dropped out of Stanford to focus on his growing app. Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard in 2005 to manage the ever-growing Facebook. Even some of the world's more established billionaires, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, all dropped out of school before they graduated.

This isn't to say dropping out of school to pursue a business is the secret to their success: Many billionaires on the list hold at least a bachelor's degree. (See also: 5 Jobs That Pay Over $50K and Don't Require a Bachelor's Degree)

4. They have multiple successful businesses

The world's wealthiest often have more than one claim to fame. In fact, many of the youngest billionaires have worked on several notable and profitable projects on their rise to success.

Garrett Camp, mostly known as the billionaire founder of Uber, was well on the tech scene before he even started the rideshare company. He actually was the founder of StumbleUpon, which he sold to eBay in 2007 for $75 million.

Facebook's third employee, Dustin Moskovitz, worked with Zuckerberg to launch Facebook out of their dorm room at Harvard. After they both dropped out of college, Moskovitz moved to California with Zuckerberg to focus on further developing Facebook. In 2008, Moskovitz left Facebook to start Asana, a project management software — though most of his $12.4 billion net worth comes from his small remaining stake in Facebook. (See also: What Small Business Owners Can Learn From Top Forbes Entrepreneurs)

5. They prioritize hobbies

Norwegian heiresses Alexandra and Katharina Andresen spend most of their time riding horses competitively. Airbnb billionaire Brian Chesky was a former bodybuilder, and 27-year-old Stripe founder Jack Collison prefers to spend his spare time running — a hobby we can all afford.

While many of these billionaires spend a majority of their time overseeing extravagant business operations, they still value taking time for their own interests and hobbies. That's something we should all take to heart.

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This article is from Rachel Slifka of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

12 Gov't Social Media Accounts You Should Follow

Carrie Kirby — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 08:30:09 +0000

In the Trump era, Twitter has become the de facto way that the White House communicates with the American public. But @realDonaldTrump isn't the only government social media account out there. By keeping an eye on various authorities on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, you can stay on top of just about everything: how to save energy, when you can get a deal on park entrance, how early you should get to the airport, and whether you need to board up your windows due to an oncoming storm.

1. National Weather Service

@NWS on Twitter, @nws on Instagram, @NWS on Facebook

What it's good for: Severe weather alerts nationwide, making it valuable to travelers. If you're expecting a hurricane, a blizzard, or a flood, follow one of the local accounts the NWS maintains so you know whether you need to evacuate.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

@CDC on Twitter, @cdcgov on Instagram, @CDC on Facebook

What it's good for: Handy health info such as how to differentiate a cold from the flu, or where to get a yellow fever vaccination. You'll also get warnings about food recalls due to bacterial contamination.

Add @cdcemergency to your follows, too. This is where the CDC puts its warnings about public health emergencies such as epidemics and natural disasters.

3. Department of Interior

@interior on Twitter, @usinterior on Instagram, @usinterior on Facebook

What it's good for: Stunning vistas and wildlife pics from our public lands. You'll also get a heads up when admission to National Parks is free. These accounts will also alert the public if there's a wildfire in a park or if a government shutdown is closing parks.

4. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

@CFPB on Twitter, @CFPB on Facebook

What it's good for: Education on how to recognize financial scams, your rights when collectors call, and any changes in tax laws. Also, you'll probably hear about a major financial data breach here first. (See also: 6 Ways Social Media Can Save You Money)

5. Transportation Security Administration

@TSA on Twitter, @tsa on Instagram, @TSA on Facebook

What it's good for: Your travel questions get answered here, such as, "Can my husband carry on his dead bug specimen?" Turns out, the answer is yes! You'll also find changes in ID requirements and carry-on rules. Watch for warnings about delays at specific airports as TSA rolls out new security screenings.

6. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

@USCPSC on Twitter, @uscpsc on Instagram, @USCPSC on Facebook

What it's good for: Product recalls, and safety warnings you might not have thought of, like the importance of locking up the liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes, especially if you have children or pets that could get into it. If it turns out a product you're using can be deadly, you'll want to know right away. You'll also be exposed to hilarious safety-related memes.

7. Federal Emergency Management Agency

@fema on Twitter, @fema on Instagram, @FEMA on Facebook

What it's good for: Giving you a heads up when weather conditions may lead to disaster, such as a recent warning to Southern Californians that heavy rain coming in might lead to debris flows in burn areas. In case of tornado, hurricane, wildfire, earthquake, tsunami, or any other emergency, tune in here for evacuation instructions, local phone numbers for help, and other potentially lifesaving information.

8. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

@NASA on Twitter, @nasa on Instagram

What it's good for: Cool videos from the International Space Station, Q&As with astronauts, contests, and job listings. Follow these accounts and you'll be the first to hear about any massive asteroids heading toward Earth or alien attacks.

9. Department of Energy

@ENERGY on Twitter, @energy on Instagram, @energygov on Facebook

What it's good for: Energy saving tips. You'll also find instructions on how to prepare for and avoid power outages during storms. Nuclear power plant emergency or massive blackout? You'll hear that here first, too.

10. U.S. Geological Survey earthquake alerts

@USGSted on Twitter

What it's good for: Popular in seismically unstable regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, this feed will share the most recent quakes all over the world, so you can verify whether the shaking you just felt was a truck going by or an earthquake. If The Big One hits you, you're unlikely to be able to pull up Twitter, but if The Big One hits the area where a loved one lives, you can monitor this feed for details.

11. U.S. Department of State

@StateDept on Twitter, @statedept on Instagram, @usdos on Facebook

What it's good for: A recent post advised citizens to apply for a passport before an impending price increase. You can also find official statements — often on video — to help you stay on top of developments on the world geopolitical scene. If our tensions with Russia and North Korea lead to World War III, this would be the ideal news source.

12. Your local government agencies

Probably the most useful government social media accounts are not national. You'll want to subscribe to your local police department, transportation authority (I recently checked California's to find out the conditions at Donner Pass on my way to a ski trip), and school district. Some cities have Twitter accounts you can use to notify authorities of things that need attention, like potholes and criminal activity.

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This article is from Carrie Kirby of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Everyday Routines of Wealthy People

Emily Guy Birken — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:00:06 +0000

Whether you end each day binge-watching TV until the wee hours, or you drink a kale smoothie before hitting the hay promptly at 10 p.m., your daily routine will certainly affect your ability to achieve your goals.

In fact, many famous and wealthy individuals claim that their daily routines are the driving force behind their success. That's why it's a great idea to learn how trailblazers and top-earners structure their days so you can figure out which of their routines will help set you up for success. (See also: 7 Money Lessons We Can Learn From Beyoncé)

1. Wake up early

While hitting the snooze button until 20 minutes before you absolutely have to leave for work may feel a little more comfortable than jumping out of bed at 5:30 a.m., this habitual procrastination may be costing you. Not only are you more likely to forget something important in your rush out the door, but you start your day already feeling like you're behind and out of control. It's difficult to start tackling work when you're still rubbing sleep out of your eyes, am I right?

This is why nearly 50 percent of wealthy individuals get up at least three hours before their workday starts, according to Tom Corley, author of Change Your Habits, Change Your Life. Having that extra time in the morning gives you the opportunity to plan your day, exercise, or work on a side project — all of which will help you get in the right frame of mind to get to work once you get to the office.

2. Exercise

We all know that we should be exercising, but just because we know that breaking a sweat is necessary for good health doesn't mean we do it. However, Corley found that 76 percent of wealthy people make sure they spend 30 minutes or more every day on aerobic exercise.

These successful individuals recognize that their physical health is the cornerstone of all of their success. You cannot work toward your goals if you're sick. In addition, according to Harvard Medical School, aerobic exercise such as walking, running, biking, or swimming improves both thinking and memory. This means that making sure daily exercise is part of your routine can help you to work smarter. (See also: 7 Ways to Sneak More Exercise Into Your Busy Schedule)

3. Eliminate choices

How many times have you stood in front of your bulging closet wondering what to wear to work that day? While it may seem like a luxury to have lots of choices, it can often lead to decision fatigue, which is when you use up your brain's limited bandwidth on several smaller daily decisions, making it that much harder for you to figure out the right choice on bigger decisions.

This is why many wealthy individuals have voluntarily chosen to eliminate decisions in their day. For instance, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg admits to owning 20 identical gray T-shirts so that he doesn't have to think about what to wear each morning. Similarly, Apple's Steve Jobs was famous for his uniform of black turtleneck and jeans. Adhering to these personal uniforms allowed these extremely influential men to focus their attention where it belongs — on the growth of their products.

Similarly, many successful people choose to eat the same foods each day so they aren't tempted to stray from a healthy or inexpensive diet. This lack of choice means there is no chance of agonizing over whether or not to have pizza for lunch, since the decision has already been made. (See also: Here's How Too Many Decisions Costs You Money)

4. Meditate

Zoning out while playing Candy Crush may feel like a sort of Zen state while you're in the midst of a game, but it's hardly going to offer you the kind of stress-reducing relaxation that meditation can.

For one thing, you'll never fall prey to an in-app purchase in a moment of weakness while meditating. For another, meditation offers everything from improved cognitive functioning, creative thinking, and productivity, to better physical health — none of which you'll get from a rousing round of smartphone gaming.

This is why hugely successful individuals like Oprah Winfrey and Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio make sure to include meditation in their daily routines. The daily mindfulness practice helps these wealthy individuals to keep their minds clear and focused. (See also: 6 Ways Meditation Can Make You a Money Master)

5. Read

Reading has a number of excellent brain benefits, and incorporating a routine of reading a book at bedtime is far better for your sleep health than scrolling through Facebook or Instagram on your phone.

But before you pick up the latest crime thriller or romance novel, consider what kind of reading is going to do the most to help improve your life. According to Corley, 85 percent of wealthy individuals read at least 30 minutes each day for self-improvement. That means they pick up books that will help them to achieve more or help them overcome bad habits, rather than reading solely for entertainment. (See also: 10 Books to Read for a Better Money Mindset)

Create a wealthy life

Having a beneficial daily routine is not a shortcut to riches. Instead, it helps foster the proper circumstances you need in your life to reach your goals and live the life you want.

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This article is from Emily Guy Birken of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: How to Make Money With Facebook Yard Sales

Amy Lu — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 08:30:14 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on how to sell stuff on Facebook Yard Sales, ways to recover from impulse spending, and making money while running errands.

How I Scored Tons of Free Stuff By Building a Small Social Media Audience

Camilla Cheung — Mon, 22 May 2017 08:00:12 +0000

We've all heard of social media stars, aka "influencers," who can quit their day jobs and live off the free resort stays, paid Instagram posts, and endless swag provided by brands eager to advertise to a large digital audience. But what if you don't have a million followers on social media? Can you still reap material benefits?

I spent the last four months building up a modest Instagram following in my spare time. It started as a hobby, but to my surprise, brands started offering me free stuff to review much sooner than I anticipated. I fall into the realm of the "micro-influencer," which is a social media account with a few thousand followers, rather than a few hundred thousand. I currently get so many offers for free products that I can't possibly say yes to them all. You can get free stuff, too, with a few social media tips.

1. Find a niche

A post shared by Camilla (@gracefulfaceblog) on Jul 8, 2016 at 2:05pm PDT

The easiest way to get active engagement from the social media community and attention from brands is by "niching down" in social-media parlance. Finding a small, but dedicated community focused on a niche hobby or product can help you grow the fastest. In my case, I started by focusing on Asian beauty products, which is a very focused, but growing part of the beauty industry. My followers are highly engaged and tight-knit, making any influence in this community incredibly valuable, especially for up-and-coming brands.

If you'd like to get free swag from brands, it helps if the products you'd like to receive aren't overwhelmingly expensive. It's far more likely for a beauty, food, or clothing brand to send you some of their wares than expensive electronics brands, for instance. I see people with just 400 to 500 followers in my niche receiving free products.

2. Provide value

Providing reviews or tips to your followers can be one way to engage the community and keep them coming back for more. Even if your social media account is more aspirational and lifestyle-oriented, be sure to think about what you're offering that will keep people's attention, and what would make them likely to purchase the products you showcase.

3. Post regularly

A post shared by Camilla (@gracefulfaceblog) on Aug 2, 2016 at 4:36pm PDT

When your followers know you have new content coming regularly, they're more likely to seek it out and engage with your posts. Your followers will feel like they know you better. Brands will know that you post consistently, and are likely to follow through with reviewing or showcasing their products. This may differ based on the social media platform — you could post several times a day on Instagram without fatiguing your followers, for instance, whereas you may want to post less frequently on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms.

4. Do your hashtag or keyword research

On Instagram and Twitter, make sure you're using targeted, effective hashtags. For other social media platforms such as YouTube and blogs, make sure you do your keyword research so your posts show up in Google search.

5. Create great visuals

A post shared by Camilla (@gracefulfaceblog) on Mar 2, 2017 at 2:36pm PST

If you want brands to be showcased on your account, you need to make their products look good. While you don't have to be a professional photographer, spend some time setting up your photos, and make sure they're clear, well-lit, and pleasing to the eye. Photo editing apps such as VSCO, Snapseed, and Facetune can help you create social media-ready photos without the need for professional photo-editing software. (See also: 6 Instagrammers Getting Rich by Traveling the World)

6. Focus on engagement

Social media isn't all a numbers game, contrary to popular opinion. You may only have a few hundred followers, but if you have a high proportion of your followers commenting and "liking" your posts, you show brands that your followers care about your opinions. To many brands, engagement counts as much as numbers, and in some cases, more. (See also: 5 Social Media Stars Who Earn Way More Than You)

7. Be authentic

A post shared by Camilla (@gracefulfaceblog) on Dec 8, 2016 at 9:37pm PST

Everyone on the social media scene harps on the importance of being authentic, but it isn't always easy when you're putting only your best photos and content out there on the internet. There's a fine line between appearing professional (and thus appealing to brands) and being approachable. Don't be afraid to share a little bit about yourself personally, but don’t veer into the realm of too much information or negativity.

It may seem a little odd to say this in an article about how to get free stuff, but don't be too focused on getting free stuff. Your followers can spot a mercenary attitude a mile away, and your account won't grow if it seems like it only exists to get freebies. I started my account to chronicle my hobby, not to get free products. The free swag was just a nice byproduct of being immersed in a great community.

8. Join influencer apps and networks

The Influenster app is probably the most well-known and popular influencer app, with broad categories such as food, haircare, home goods, beauty, and more. With this influencer network, you receive free samples to review on your social media accounts. The more followers you have, the more likely you are to receive samples regularly, though I started receiving products even when I only had a few hundred followers.

I've also started using Brandbacker, an influencer network that allows you to apply to do brand campaigns in exchange for free products or sometimes paid opportunities.

9. Approach brands directly

A post shared by Camilla (@gracefulfaceblog) on Mar 29, 2017 at 9:33am PDT

Once you have a social media presence and have established your niche, it doesn't hurt to approach brands directly for free samples to showcase. You can approach brands via private message on social media, or look for their marketing or PR contacts via their websites. Send a concise, professional message, and tell them what value you bring to the table. Do you give really helpful, detailed reviews? Or beautiful photography? How can your content benefit the brand?

Smaller brands are often willing to reach out to influencers with smaller followings, but you'd be surprised what response you might get (and the free goodies) if you reach out to larger brands who may have more of a marketing budget.

10. Be clear about expectations

It's exciting to get free products just for putting up a post on social media. Just be sure to set clear expectations, both for yourself and for brands you're working with, about just how much content you will create. Some brands expect you to create several posts across several different social media platforms in exchange for a free item. Others may be willing to send you the products with no strings attached and hope that you'll post something positive about them. It's best to be on the same page to begin with, and try to get it in writing, even if it's just a quick note via private message. And remember, you can always say no. Free products don't pay the bills, after all.

Everyone wants a slice of the social media marketing pie these days, so if you're willing to create great content in exchange for free stuff, it's not too hard to do so. Many small influencers are able to support their hobby this way, without having to shell out too much of their own cash. And who knows, once you've mastered micro-influencer territory, you might even be able to turn your social media account into a paid side gig.

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This article is from Camilla Cheung of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Flashback Friday: 34 Smart Ways to Improve Your Social Media Presence

Chrissa Hardy — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 08:30:08 +0000

Having a social media presence used to be optional, and only for the digital journalism world. But now, having a decent following seems like a requirement if you want to run a business, successfully share your art, and engage with others in your industry. Here's how to improve your social media presence.

5 Surprising Ways Social Media Stars Make Money — Start by learning from the masters. Being a social media "star" is a thing, and they are making more money than most of us. Here are some of their best tricks.

7 Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Image on Social Media — Maybe you spent the first few years on Facebook posting keg party photos and trolling celebrities. Yeah, that's not a good look. If you need to do some cleanup, follow these easy steps.

10 Things to Stop Doing on Social Media by 30 — Those bad social media habits need to be left behind, because tweets and photos don't always disappear, even after you delete them. Employers, family members, and potential romantic partners can see what you're doing, so you might want to act accordingly.

How to Improve Your Finances Using Social Media — Once your social media posts are nice and tidy, use this guide to start bringing in some money on the side. Because once you start gaining a following, it's actually pretty easy!

How to Earn Extra Income With Twitter — Twitter is a great place to connect with people and brands directly. You can also use your account to make some extra money with sponsored tweets and other branded content.

Jumpstart Your Job Search With Instagram — Social media platforms can also aid you in your job search. Curate your feed and you might hashtag your way into a new gig!

This article is from Chrissa Hardy of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Pay with a Selfie: How Safe Are the New Ways to Pay?

Damian Davila — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 10:31:16 +0000

In 2016, more than half of all purchases in the U.S. were made online instead of at a brick-and-mortar store. From selfie-payments to Facebook Messenger bots, there is now a long list of unusual ways that you can pay the water bill or complete your grocery run for the week.

But how safe are these new ways to pay? Let's take a closer look at how some of these new payment methods work, and what you can do to make them even safer.

1. Facebook Messenger Bots

Colorado-based fintech company BillHero was the first to leverage a Facebook Messenger chat bot to pay bills via chat commands. Later on in September 2016, Facebook enabled all of the 34,000 plus developers on the platform to support payments. The social media giant is working with several players in the credit card industry and fintech, including Visa and Braintree, to process all types of payment options.

By opening the gates, Facebook allowed U.S. customers to complete a wide range of other transactions and purchases on Facebook Messenger. In a nutshell: The chat bot lets you know about a product that you might be interested in, and provides a "buy now" button. When you click it, it takes you to a checkout screen with your shipping information and payment method for you to review. Boom! Just like that, you're ready to pay.

But Is It Safe?

Well, Facebook Messenger payment bots are covered by the same level of security as all other Facebook products. All transactions using a Facebook chat bot are encrypted or processed through a trusted third-party payment processor, such as PayPal or Stripe, to protect your payment information, such as your card number or CVV. Also, transaction confirmations from a bot will restrict your information, such as only showing the last four digits of your credit card number.

How to Make It Safer

Your first line of defense starts with your Facebook password. Facebook recommends building a password that has at least six characters and is a complex combination of numbers, letters, and punctuation marks. When a password isn't strong enough, the app will let you know. Also, make your Facebook password different from those you use for your online banking, investing, or retirement savings accounts. (See also: 3 Sneaky Ways Identity Thieves Can Access Your Data)

A second tactic is to turn on login alerts so that you receive an automated alert when someone tries logging in to your Facebook account from an unrecognized device or browser. A third is to require a password or PIN whenever sending money or making payments in Facebook Messenger.

2. MasterCard Selfie Payments

Speaking of passwords, MasterCard believes that they cause too much hassle and presents the option to pay with a selfie. The "selfie pay" technology was first tested in the Netherlands, the U.S., and Canada and will be rolled out gradually across the world throughout 2017.

Through a smartphone app, shoppers can confirm a purchase by taking a selfie and letting the facial recognition software verify their identity. According to MasterCard, 71% of users rated "selfie pay" highly during trials.

But Is It Safe?

To prevent somebody from just holding up a picture of you and getting away with a $1,000 shopping spree, the app requires you to snap the picture after you blink or shake your head. Then, the app compares the selfie with stored algorithms of your face to identify you. During the trials, 73% of users believed that "selfie pay" will reduce fraud and 90% of them would use it in the future.

How to Make It Safer

Since "selfie pay" is still in the process of being rolled out, there's little that we can do as of right now. If taking selfies isn't your cup of tea, MasterCard also plans to provide a fingerprint confirmation option with the app and is currently testing voice and cardiac rhythm recognition.

3. Amazon Dash Buttons

Connected to your home's Wi-Fi, the Amazon Dash Button allows you to reorder many of your favorite products with a simple click. To set up each Amazon Dash Button, you'll need to download the Amazon app on your Android or Apple device, connect the Dash Button to Bluetooth, and also enter your Wi-Fi information. Some Dash Buttons don't support Bluetooth connection, and use your smartphone's Wi-Fi connection or speakers instead.

Currently, the button is only available for Amazon Prime members, costs $4.99, and provides you with a $4.99 credit after your first order. There are hundreds of products to choose from including Charmin, Doritos, Greenies Dog Treats, and Red Bull! Once you click the button, an indicator light will turn green when your order is successfully placed, or red if there was a problem.

But Is It Safe?

A device that connects seamlessly to your Wi-Fi, smartphone, and Amazon account — what could go wrong? While there are plenty of folks that have hacked their own button to do anything from turning on lamps remotely to ordering pizza with one click, there are currently no reports of malicious hackers tapping into another person's Amazon Dash Buttons.

How to Make It Safer

Turn on the "order protection" feature on your Dash Button to prevent a new order from being placed until your prior order is delivered. This way you can prevent your spouse or son from tripling an order of detergent on the same day.

Consider turning on the email notifications of your Amazon orders so that you can cancel any orders that you don't recognize.

And it should go without saying, but set a strong password for your Wi-Fi and update that password at least once a year.

4. Chip Cards

No other new form of payment has generated more discontent from American consumers. From the confusion about swiping or inserting, to the awkward conversation with cashiers while waiting for your card to be processed, there is a list of reasons these metallic chips are considered an annoyance by many.

However, the reality is that chip cards are far from being a new way to pay. They have been reducing fraud in over 130 nations around the world for several years. So, the U.S. is just playing catch-up. As of April 2016, Visa had issued roughly 265 million U.S. chip-enabled credit and debit cards, and MasterCard had upgraded about 70% of its U.S. debit and credit cards to the chip format.

But Is It Safe?

The evidence clearly indicates that chip-enabled cards reduce fraud. Visa has reported that among the U.S. merchants who were suffering the most instances of card fraud at the end of 2014, those that began accepting chip debit and credit cards saw instances of card fraud fall 18.3% as of the fourth quarter of 2015. On the other hand, some of the U.S. merchants who opted not to upgrade payment terminals to process chip cards experienced an increase in instances of card fraud of 11.4% for the same period. (See also: 4 Ways Chip Credit Cards Make Life Easier)

How to Make It Safer

Simple: Opt to use your chip-enabled cards over those without a chip, and choose merchants with chip-enabled payment terminals over those who are still holding out. As with everything else, strength comes in numbers. Only when chip cards have become the norm across the nation can we all reap the enhanced security benefits of chip technology.

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This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Is This News Story Fake? Here's How to Tell

Amanda Meadows — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 10:00:06 +0000

Fake news has become an issue with real life consequences in recent years. Regardless of your politics, you don't want to be the dummy who shares a conspiracy theory from NewzGuzzlers.info, do you? That's just embarrassing. Here are six ways to determine if your news source is real or fake:

1. Scrutinize the URL

You might wonder if that's just a cosmetic detail — There are so many desirable URLs that are already taken, so why not trust a website with a strange name? Well, they're not all just weird-sounding. Many are downright misleading.

For example, look at WashingtonPost.com.co. Catch that extra ".co" at the end? That's just one way a fake news publisher can piggyback on the credibility of an established outlet. Many people might not see it, and are swayed enough by the clickbait that they overlook it. If the name is similar to a real source, open a new tab and look at the original.

Bias Alert! Just as well, look for biased keywords in the URL. CoolLiberals.net or ConservativeEagle.web are clearly names that suggest a hard lean to one set of ideologies. While it might not be 100% fake news, these sites usually take a kernel of real news from a credible outlet, removing important context and replacing it with baseless opinion.

2. Look up the Author

Before you continue reading an article you're suspicious of, ask this: Who wrote the article, and why? If the piece was written by "staff" or "anonymous," those are red flags. Many fake news websites use pseudonyms, or the article might show up as written by "staff" because all the articles are going through one administrator on a bare-bones website. If there is an author name near the top of the page, Google them. If you can't find a website, Twitter account, Wikipedia page, or bio of them on the Internet that match the information on the article byline (a brief writer bio hosted by the website in question), they may not be a real person.

Bias Alert! If the article or video is from a real person, look at their writing history across the Internet. Do they all fit a narrative strongly for/against an idea, a person, or group of people? Do they consider themselves a "truther" for something? That's a sign that they care more about pushing an agenda than the facts. Google what reporters and academic experts say about the topic before you decide if they are a reputable source.

3. Check the Quotes

Quotes are key. If an article is being shared as news but does not cite any persons in quotes, that is a big red flag. If the writer has reported on a real news event with no citations, it's really an opinion article and should be taken with a grain of salt. If it's supposedly "exposing" a new event or making an accusation without any citations or quotes, it's definitely fake news. If you want to verify whether a statement from a public official is true or not, always check PolitiFact.

Bias Alert! Having quotes in a story does not make it true. Remember what we learned from #PizzaGate and Google any names mentioned in the article to see if they are real public figures. If the source is cited as "anonymous" or someone "close" to the perpetrators in question, be suspicious. That brings us to…

4. Google the Claim

If you can't believe the headline, or it feels too irresistibly good to be true, it's probably at least somewhat false. Take the keywords of the headline and Google them to see if any major news outlets have written about it. Is it on your local news at 10 p.m.? If the only other outlets making the claim are similarly other off-brand news sites like "NationalTimes" or "Newspeople," you've got a fake headline. Google it before your friends have to debate you on Facebook. But beware: Don't believe Google's autocomplete, as that can actually make it even harder to find the correct news and take you deeper down a rabbit hole of lies.

Bias Alert! Was this tip upsetting because you don't trust the "Mainstream Media" with basic fact-checking? That is actually a bias. If you only read websites that only tell you what you believe, you have set yourself up for misinformation.

5. Read the Comments

After you've tried the above methods, scroll to the bottom for the comments. Do you see a lot of people sharing links to other conspiracies? Do you see people saying "This is fake!" or "This has been debunked?" That's a good sign that you've got fake news. Again, try Googling the claim to be sure.

Bias Alert! Did the headline make you feel strongly in any way? In the comments, do you see posts with strong feelings of anger and calls for action to hurt or target someone or a group of people? That's a sign that, at the very least, the article you're reading was designed to prey on readers' emotions and biases so they may overlook factual errors or missing context.

6. Use These Browser Extensions

Finally, another great way to combat the spread of fake news is to install a browser app that will help alert you that a website you're viewing might be a fake news site. If you use Google Chrome (which I recommend), download the apps B.S Detector, or Fake News Alert. These will both help you in the moment with pop-up warnings as you land on any fake news or otherwise suspicious websites.

Bias Alert! While having these bots helping you suss out poor websites is very helpful in the short-term, you shouldn't only trust pop-ups. Learn how to tell real from fake on your own. Even when reading a news outlet like The Washington Post or The New York Times, you might run into a piece that is biased, or missing information, or using a source you have reason to suspect is not credible. These fake news-identifying skills are useful throughout your media consuming life.

What to do next? Whenever you see a Facebook friend share an onerous fake news link, flag it as false news so Facebook can drop it from its feeds. Friends don't let friends share fake news!

This article is from Amanda Meadows of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Companies With the Highest Paid Interns

Paul Michael — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 10:00:09 +0000

Tell people you're an intern, and most will assume you're either working for free, or barely scraping by. After all, interning is about gaining experience, and that in itself is valuable to the future employee. But tech giants and financial powerhouses are willing to pay big bucks to get the most talented interns. Here are 10 companies that offer some of the highest intern salaries in the U.S. today.

1. Facebook

Currently worth over $350 billion dollars (and expected to one day be worth $1 trillion), Facebook has the money to pay interns well. Glassdoor reports that a Ph.D. software engineer intern can expect to earn around $9,000/month, with a regular software engineer averaging $8,467/month. If you're curious, that equates to over $100,000 per year… for an internship!

Even on the lower end of the spectrum, an analyst intern can make $3,000–$4,000/month, which is still way more than minimum wage. When you consider most interns are still living at home with their parents, it's not a bad gig at all.

Potential Earnings: Up to $9,000 per month

2. Amazon

If you have worked hard enough to earn your MBA, Amazon is a good place for you to get your internship. Glassdoor data shows that an Amazon Summer MBA intern earns $9,053 per month, which equates to over $108,000 per year. Just behind, at $8,934/month, is the product manager intern. And if you look at the list of internship positions and salaries at Glassdoor, you can see that overall, being an intern at Amazon is very lucrative — with dozens of positions reporting between $8,000–$9,000 per month. Considering how massive Amazon is, and how it continues to dominate the way we spend money and consume entertainment, it's clear that the company is investing heavily in talent now to continue this success.

Potential Earnings: $9,053 per month

3. Google

If you're seeing a trend in the high paying tech internships, you're not mistaken. Tech companies are looking for good software engineers, and they're ready to pay big bucks for them. A software engineer intern at Google can expect to earn over $7,000 per month, with some internship positions coming in at $113,000 per year! Of course, you need to be very savvy in the tech industry's most wanted positions; this is not something you can land straight out of college with a sociology degree. But for those with the right skills, the money is there at Google. And it is also famous for treating its employees very, very well.

Potential Earnings: $7,152 per month

4. Citigroup

According to Glassdoor, the top paid interns at Citigroup are earning up to $116,000 per year, which is equates to $9,667/month. If you're wondering what kind of work that entails, these two words should sum it up nicely — Wall Street. At Citigroup, money is everything, and everything is about making money. Interns who are seeking roles in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, and asset management, are richly rewarded for their efforts. At the lower end of the spectrum, summer analyst interns can make anything from $17 an hour, all the way up to $25 an hour, which is still nothing to be sniffed at.

Potential Earnings: $9,667 per month

5. Snapchat

It's an app that is dominating the social media world, and the company behind it is making news for its internship programs. As hard to believe as it is, Snapchat not only pays interns up to $10K a month, but it adds an additional $1,500 per month for housing expenses! As that is usually the biggest expense any of us have to pay, the interns at Snapchat have the bulk of that $120,000 annual salary to spend on pretty much whatever they want. If this is making you think about re-evaluating your career choices, you're not alone.

Potential Earnings: $10,000 per month (Plus $1,500/month for housing)

6. Two Sigma

If you haven't heard of Two Sigma, you will soon. And the reason they top the list of intern salaries, by quite a margin if you include the monthly housing reimbursement (and additional $5,000 relocation expenses), is that they are at the intersection of technology and finance. Two Sigma is an investment management firm that uses science and technology to make people some serious money. What's more, they're currently hiring for over 80 positions at the their offices in New York, Houston, London, and Tokyo. If you're in the business of software engineering or trading, you may want to hit them up.

Potential Earnings: $10,400 per month (Plus $5,000 per month for housing)

7. Pinterest

Coming in at more than Facebook and Google, Pinterest is offering a combined $11,040 per month ($132,480 a year) to interns who have a talent for, you've guessed it, software engineering. Described as a "catalog of ideas" by CEO Ben Silbermann, Pinterest was started in 2010 and is relatively new to be a giant in the app scene. Certainly, it's not as ubiquitous as Facebook, Google, and Twitter, and yet it is forking over more than all of them to acquire top intern candidates. And as it is located in both New York and California, that $3,000 a month to help with housing is definitely a huge plus.

Potential Earnings: $8,040 per month (Plus $3,000 per month for housing)

8. Palantir

The intern position of forward deployed engineer pays a hefty $8,172 per month at Palantir; and if you know what that position actually does, you're already way ahead of most of us. Another tech firm that values software engineers, Palantir has been rewarding its interns with big salaries for many years now. Founded in 2004, this software firm specializes in big data analysis, and originally had a client list comprising of federal agencies of the U.S. Government. In 2014, Forbes maintained that Palantir was "among Silicon Valley's most valuable private technology companies." It is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA.

Potential Earnings: $8,172 per month

9. Quora

Not unlike Google, Quora is a search engine that delivers results based on the questions you ask. And as it's a tech firm, you know by now what the highest paid interns there are doing: software engineering. A typical intern in this position at Quora can expect upward of $8,000 per month, but there are also positions in product design, data science, and product management. The company appears to have an excellent culture, too, with great employee feedback and solid growth.

Potential Earnings: $8,086 per month

10. Groupon

Famous for giving people great deals on everything from window tinting to adventure holidays, Groupon is an app most of us have on our phones. After all, who doesn't like saving money? But when it comes to interns, Groupon is ready to splash it around, paying $8,000 per month to software engineers, and upward of $7,000 per month to product managers. On the lower end of the scale, business analyst interns can get around $3,000 per month. Full-time employees of Groupon reportedly get unlimited vacation time, although taking months off at a time would probably not serve you well.

Potential Earnings: $8,000 per month

Salary data found on Glassdoor.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Social Media Stars Who Earn Way More Than You

Nick Wharton — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:30:15 +0000

Did you know that there are thousands of people out there earning incredible amounts of money through social media? That's right, social media stars can make thousands, even millions of dollars per year through sponsored posts, original content, and consistent engagement with their followers. Here are five social media celebs who might make you want to quit your job to go full-time on Instagram!

1. Brandon Stanton

In 2010, Stanton lost his job and decided to start taking photos of random people in New York City. At the time, he had no idea that posting Humans of New York on Facebook would lead him to over 12 million likes and a career in public speaking, photography, and writing. It has also lead him to amazing contributions to local and international charities.

Stanton takes beautiful portraits and captions them with touching stories. These photos and stories were so sharable that many of them went viral on Facebook in just a few hours.

While Stanton hasn't publicly disclosed his income, he has expressed on a Reddit thread that he was never in it for a payout and he gave over a half a million dollars to charity in a six month period alone.

His work on collaborations, occasional magazine spreads, speeches, and media appearances keep him afloat. Stanton added, "I signed two book deals which pay the rent. Also, I live cheaply."

The man is an inspiration to millions and he continues to showcase different people's fascinating life stories through his work. His 50-day trip to 10 countries in the Middle East helped to shed light on the situation in the region. If you haven't seen his work, check out Humans of New York on Facebook and Instagram.

Followers: 17.75M (Facebook), 5.5M (Instagram)

Platform: Facebook & Instagram

Earnings: Undisclosed

2. Sean McBride

This Snapchat master earns his money through drawing and photo mash-ups on the popular video-based social media platform. He taught himself how to draw by learning from other artists' work and today he can make tens of thousands of dollars from a single advertising deal on his Snapchat account.

According to Forbes, McBride can earn several thousand dollars per image! Who is paying Sean all of this money for Snapchat images? Brands like Taco Bell, Disney, and numerous television networks have been his sponsors, and many of his deals have been for over $30,000. Not bad for an online artist!

McBride goes by the name of "Shonduras" on Snapchat, he is the platform's first big celebrity, and he's one of the first people to make real money from Snapchat art. If you love Snapchat, you might want to follow Sean to get some ideas on how to become a successful Snapchat artist.

Followers: Undisclosed

Platform: Snapchat

Earnings: $100K+ per week

3. Brittany Furlan

Brittany has made her fortune through her wildly entertaining short Vine videos. Her quirky and fun clips have earned her 9.8 million followers and a lucrative career in acting and social media.

The vines have led her to create a new sketch show with Seth Green. In December of 2015, Brittany told The New Yorker that for every million followers she gets, she can add another $5,000 to the price tag for a branded Vine.

Using this calculation, it's not unlikely that Furlan is earning around $49,000 for a six-second vine posted to her 9.8 million followers. That's equal to nearly a half a million dollars per hour!

Followers: 9.8 million

Platform: Vine

Earnings: $49K per video

4. PewDiePie

The granddaddy of all Internet earners, it is estimated that PewDiePie's gaming channel generated over $12 million in 2015, according to Forbes. The amazing thing is that Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg is earning his income by playing video games and publishing them on YouTube.

The next time your parents tell you that gaming is a waste of time, you may want to lead them to Felix's YouTube channel and tell them that you're trying to make a career out of it.

Subscribers: 45.5M

Platform: YouTube

Earnings: $12M per year

5. Rhett & Link

These two southern boys have a hilarious and extremely entertaining YouTube Channel featuring "Good Mythical Morning," a sort of off-the-wall morning show for people who want to have a good laugh with their coffee.

According to Forbes, the duo earned over $4.5 million from YouTube sponsorships and ads in 2015 working with numerous brands including Wendy's, Gillette, and Toyota. These guys are my personal favorite on this list and I find myself tuning into Good Mythical Morning whenever it appears in my feed.

Subscribers: 4.1M

Platform: YouTube

Earnings: $4.5M per year

Can Anyone Do It?

Of course, just like any superstar career, it is possible for pretty much anyone to make money from social media, but the fact is that it's highly unlikely to be as successful as these stars. These people are just like the actors who walk the red carpet in Hollywood, in that they've made it where few people have ever gone before. They've struck gold and that's not easy to replicate.

While it may not be easy to earn a full-time income from social media, it's an exciting prospect, and if you're passionate about it, hopefully you'll be inspired by these people who are really making a living at it.

Have you ever made any money from social media? Share your experience in the comments below!

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Stocks Every Recent Grad Should Own

Tim Lemke — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:30:19 +0000

If you're just fresh out of college, you may be broke and not yet in a position to invest. But if you find a little extra cash, or are fortunate enough to be gifted some stock as a graduation gift, there are a number of great options that have a great track record of solid performance.

These are stocks that have rarely let investors down over the course of decades, and they often pay great dividends, too.

If there's a list of stocks that recent grads should consider owning, these 10 should be included.

Microsoft [Nasdaq: MSFT]

Bill Gates' old company made headlines recently when it bought the professional networking site LinkedIn. It's now a massively diverse tech firm with PCs, tablets and phones, software, and a popular video game system.

Coca-Cola [NYSE: KO]

Yes, we know that America is supposed to be moving away from sugary drinks. But this company has managed to sell a ton of Coke while diversifying its product line to include everything from Dasani water, to Powerade and Honest Tea. Coca-Cola shares have been in positive territory for eight straight years, and with a market cap of nearly $200 billion, it's likely a long-term winner.

Apple [Nasdaq: AAPL]

Shares of this technology company have dipped about 20% in the last year, but that's all the more reason to consider buying now. This is still one of the largest, most influential and inventive companies out there. Chances are, if you are a recent college grad, you use Apple products. So go with what you know, and reap the financial rewards. (Disclosure: I own some shares of Apple.)

Facebook [Nasdaq: FB]

Okay, full disclosure: I bought some shares of Facebook stock a while back, and I have no complaints. Shares are up more than 40% in the last year, as the company continues to bust through earnings predictions. Facebook has 1.65 billion active users, and the company could vault to new heights with recent investments into virtual reality. Social media may be a fad, but Facebook will be here to stay.

Procter and Gamble [NYSE: PG]

Do you wash your clothes and your dishes? Do you brush your teeth? Do you use paper towels? P&G sells products that people all over the world use every day. This is one of those stocks you can practically "set and forget" and see a very solid return nearly every year. A dividend yield of more than 3% doesn't hurt, either.

AT&T [NYSE: T]

Admittedly, this is not the most exciting stock in the universe. But it's reliable, with a good dividend and not much volatility. AT&T recently hit a 52-week high amid reports that it's bidding for some of Yahoo's assets. But any share growth is a bonus for this company that's now dishing out a 4.8% dividend yield. (Disclosure: I own shares of AT&T, gifted to me in the 1990s!)

Johnson & Johnson [NYSE: JNJ]

Like P&G, Johnson & Johnson is a dividend aristocrat, meaning that it has paid out and increased its dividend every year for 25 straight years. This is a big company that's neck deep in the growing health care sector, and it sells a lot of products, including shampoo, soap, and hand lotion, that people use all the time. JNJ shares are up 18% this year, and has had just 13 down years since 1975. A 2.7% dividend yield is also a selling point.

Wal-Mart [NYSE: WMT]

When you have revenue approaching half a trillion dollars (yes, trillion with a "t"), you are a company worth investing in. Wal-Mart does well when the economy is doing well and folks are spending money. Wal-Mart does well in slow economic times, when shoppers are looking for low prices. There is some concern about the long-term future of brick-and-mortar retail, but Wal-Mart right now has more than four times the revenue of Amazon.

Sysco Foods [NYSE: SYY]

If you've ever eaten at a restaurant, you've probably gotten food from Sysco. This is another dividend aristocrat that has seen shares rise 19% in 2016, while boasting a healthy dividend yield of 2.5%. It's been one of the most reliable stocks for decades, and people aren't going to stop eating at restaurants anytime soon.

Amazon [Nasdaq: AMZN]

The world's top online retailer can be frustrating, because founder and owner Jeff Bezos has always focused more on growing his company than worrying about profitability. Some shareholders got frustrated with Amazon and left last year, but now shares are up over $700, nearing an all-time high. In addition to massive online sales revenue, Amazon has made a killing from its web services subsidiary, which pulled in $604 million in profits last year. One of these days, all of Amazon's reinvestment will likely pay off with massive profits that will send shares to even bigger heights.

Have you ever been gifted (or given) shares? What stocks were they?

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This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Ways Social Media Can Save You Money

Kyle James — Tue, 17 May 2016 09:00:10 +0000

While using popular social media platforms is a fun way to stay connected with family and friends, perhaps the most useful benefit is tapping into a new way to save money. Whether it be through negotiating a lower monthly bill, scoring a coupon, or finding the best local deals, with just a little bit of effort you can use social media to save hundreds of dollars every year. Here are some easy to implement tips to get you started in the right direction.

1. Learn to Negotiate a Lower Bill Via Twitter

Most large companies these days have employees who do nothing but monitor their social media feeds and respond directly to customer inquiries and complaints. Because of this, when it comes to negotiating a lower monthly bill, Twitter has become an excellent way to start the conversation. For example, I was recently able to do this with the folks at Verizon by accident when I responded to a friend's Tweet discussing cheaper cell phone services. Within minutes of my Twitter response, I had a Verizon representative send me a message via Twitter asking if they could help lower my bill. With their proactive help, I was able to lower my bill by $10 a month.

This experience led me to investigate other companies that respond quickly via Twitter, and sure enough I found many that did — namely Dish Network, DirecTV, AT&T, and Sprint. Simply send a direct Tweet to the company, or respond to someone else talking about the company, and drop the hint that you're seriously considering leaving the company for a cheaper alternative. In many cases, you'll quickly get a response with actionable ways to lower your bill. Could be a phone number to call, or even better, the company representative will personally help you lower your bill.

2. Use Facebook Messenger to Ask for a Coupon

Facebook Messenger has also become a great tool to score a deal or coupon. Simply visit the retailer's Facebook page, click on the "Message" button, and send them a polite message asking if they have a coupon code for free shipping or perhaps 15% or 20% off your purchase. Most big-name retailers have staffers standing by to respond to your message, often within minutes. The best part is they are armed with exclusive coupons and are ready to hand them out. After all, they know you're very close to completing your purchase and will often throw you a bone to do just that. So when you can't find a coupon in the more traditional ways, be sure to use Facebook Messenger to avoid paying full price.

Also, if the retailer does not have a current coupon to hand out, I've had some let me know via Messenger when a new coupon was going to be released. I'd then wait and make my purchase with the money saving coupon in-hand.

3. Instagram Descriptions Often Have Coupons

Using Instagram to save money with coupons is not something that immediately comes to mind for most shoppers. But the fact of the matter is many retailers and restaurants are starting to use their Instagram profile pages to drop new coupons and deals. For example, I just recently used a coupon on the Dunkin' Donuts profile page to get a free cup of coffee with my doughnut purchase. The key to making this work is to follow your favorite shops and restaurants and get in the habit of checking their Instagram page before you complete your purchase.

4. Search Pinterest Boards for Deals

When it comes to saving money, Pinterest is a great tool but requires a different approach. Because Pinterest is a very static platform, searching for deals/coupons with hashtags is going to leave you frustrated with the lack of results. Instead, you'll want to search "boards" for deals and coupons to particular retailers that users have pinned. Boards are essentially a collection of saved pins and are often kept up-to-date by users. To make this happen, you'll type in your search in the search box, hit the filters button to include boards in your search, then hit enter. By doing it this way, you'll typically get the newest pins which includes a majority of coupons and deals that have yet to expire.

5. Become a Hashtag Superhero

By becoming proficient at using the underrated Twitter hashtag (#), you can quickly find where the best deals are located for specific items. For example, let's say you're in the market for a new mountain bike. A fantastic way to search the entire Internet for a great deal is go on Twitter and search #MountainBike #Deal (or #Sale), or #MountainBike #Coupon. Often Twitter users will combine hashtags when searching, like #MountainBikeCoupon and get frustrated with the results. But if you make it a habit of breaking-up the hashtags, you'll end up with a large list of discounts and coupons that you can use to quickly find the best deals.

Also, a great way to localize your search, especially for larger items that are expensive to ship, is to add your hometown to your search query. So sticking with the mountain bike example, do a Twitter search like this: #Sacramento #MountainBike #Sale. You'll end up with search results that can easily lead you to the best current deals and sales in your area.

6. Use Live Chat the Right Way

Most online shoppers are familiar with the live chat feature that many websites operate. Have a question about the product, or want to know more about sizing? The live chat operator typically has the answers. But have you ever started a live chat session for the sole purpose of saving money? If not, you should try it as it often works. I like to start the chat sessions with a question about the product as I don't want it to seem like a gratuitous discount hunter.

Once I chat them up a little bit, I'll politely ask if they have a coupon code I can use on my order. Maybe shipping is a little costly, or perhaps a competitor has a slightly cheaper price — both solid reasons to ask for a coupon. In many cases, the operator has a few coupon codes they can hand out at their discretion. So the bottom line is to be polite, have a real conversation, and you stand a great chance of getting a coupon code you can use to save money.

How do you use social media to save money?

This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Ways to Score a Last-Minute Coupon

Kyle James — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:30:30 +0000

As any frugal shopper can attest, there's nothing worse than paying full-price when all your attempts to find a coupon come up empty. Fortunately, with a little outside-the-box thinking, there is almost always a way to score an online or in-store coupon and save significant money in the process. Here are six such ways that'll keep you from paying full-price on darn near anything. (See also: 4 Coupon Rules That Stores Let You Break)

1. Use Live Chat and Ask

If you're shopping online and all of your attempts to find a coupon code for a particular retailer fail, try starting a live chat session and ask for one. Most large retail websites these days employ live chat operators that are standing by to help you with your purchase or answer any questions you might have. They also often have a list of coupon codes at their disposal that they can hand out at their discretion.

Politely start a conversation, chat them up a little bit, then ask if they might have a coupon code for 20% off or perhaps free shipping. Make this a healthy frugal habit and you can save significant money over the course of a year. Retailers where this really works includes Lands' End, Home Depot, Old Navy, Office Depot, Shutterfly, and LL Bean.

2. Use a Competitor's Coupon

If you're shopping at Michaels and you can't find a printable in-store coupon, just look for a JoAnn, AC Moore, or Hobby Lobby coupon instead as they'll happily accept competitor coupons. Other popular stores that will accept competitor coupons include Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, JoAnn, Office Depot, Sports Authority, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Walmart.

When shopping in-store, the best way to gain quick access to these coupons is to arm your smartphone with a free coupon app from RetailMeNot or CouponSherpa. Then simply do a quick search for competitor coupons and save some easy money.

3. Abandon Your Virtual Cart

This tip is by far the most passive aggressive way to score an online coupon when you seem destined to pay full-price. It also takes a little patience, so it might not work if you need the item tomorrow. Many online retailers will try to entice you back by sending you a coupon via email if you leave, or abandon, items in your virtual shopping cart.

For this to work you need to have an account with the retailer so they have your email address in their system. Then simply add the item(s) you want to buy to your online cart, then logout and wait for your coupon. If you're going to get a coupon to come back and finish your purchase, you'll typically get it within 24 hours. Retailers that have been known to send out coupons this way include Bed Bath & Beyond, JCPenney, Best Buy, Williams-Sonoma, Office Max, and Land of Nod.

4. The Stores That Hand Them Out

Are you aware that some store employees are armed with coupons that they'll happily scan for you when checking out at the register? For example, if you forget to bring in your "20% off any 1 item" coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond, just politely explain the situation to the checkout employee, and more often than not, they'll pull one out from behind the counter and scan it for you.

A good way to judge whether the store you're shopping at might have a coupon ready to hand out is the frequency of their coupon offerings. If they always seem to have a coupon except for the day you happen to be shopping, there's a great chance an employee can get you one if you ask. Besides Bed Bath & Beyond, stores where you should definitely ask include Kohl's, Harbor Freight, Macy's, and Michaels.

5. Hit Up Facebook for a Coupon

Another great way to find a coupon for a specific retailer is to hit up their Facebook page. All you have to do is send them a message politely asking for a coupon for some extra savings. Most large retailers have employees monitoring their Facebook presence and responding quickly to message requests. By quickly, I mean often within 30 minutes. You can either search Facebook directly to find the stores page or look for the Facebook icon on the retailer's homepage and click directly on it.

6. Tweet for a Coupon

Twitter is another excellent way to communicate directly with a retailer in an attempt to score a coupon. This is due to the fact that most Twitter feeds are constantly being monitored and a quick response is almost guaranteed. From the specific retailer's Twitter page, click on "Message" and type your coupon request. Be sure your request is polite and conversational and not demanding in tone.

Your chances of success rise substantially if you've had a previous bad customer service experience with the retailer. Briefly explain what happened in your Twitter message and often times the retailer will give you a coupon to make up for your bad experience.

How do you avoid paying full-price when a discount seems completely unavailable?

This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

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