Grandparents are making big money as social media gurus

New word for you: Grandfluencer. That’s grandparent + influencer for all the folks trading in retirement for social media fame. We’re talking millions of followers, thousands of comments … and a lot of money. One paid post can land a particularly big grandfluencer over $150K. 

Take 79-year-old Lynn Yamada Davis, for example. She rakes in a cozy six-figure salary from her Cooking With Lynja channels. Over 17 million people have watched her build a 10-foot hotdog and make popcorn with a hair straightener. Unusual? Yes. Entertaining? Definitely. 

Offering up some elderly wisdom

You probably assumed the fans of grandfluencers are older adults. Nope, most of their fans are young adults. There are dozens of accounts where elders offer their wisdom. Many of these creators are like warm, motherly and fatherly figures.

You don’t need to be a lifelong entertainer to go viral on social media. The wacky chef cookingwithlynja is a retired MIT engineer. You wouldn’t have guessed that from how naturally entertaining she is in the kitchen.

If you want to know how to unstick a zipper with petroleum jelly, find yourself an internet mom/grandma. Brunchwithbabs is one of the queens of this genre, providing tips and tricks to her 4 million followers.

The internet’s grandpa

Kim Komando with “Old Man Steve” (Komando.com)

“Old Man Steve” on TikTok, 85-year-old Stephen Austin, has over 1.7 million followers. He posts short clips of drinking coffee, eating cookies and talking to his fans from his assisted living kitchen in Dallas.

Steve has been on my show a few times, and he told me he gets a lot of messages from young fans asking him to be grandpa. “Making fun videos gets me up in the morning,” he said.

Grandparents of comedy

More than 5 million people are subbed to Retirementhouse, a group of six 70+ actors who bunker up in a house together to hilarious results. It’s basically “Jersey Shore” — if the cast had back pain and grandchildren to look after.

The group doesn’t scoff at social media trends. They join in on the fun — from doing popular TikTok dances to eating Oreos covered in ranch dressing as a challenge. (Ew.) They also provide some hysterical relationship advice.

Seeing and sharing the sights

At 76, Lindy Moore defies the typical image of retirement. She converted her 2013 Chevy Van into a home. She and her dog, Marley, explore the U.S. while sharing tips and tales with her 36,000 YouTube subscribers on her channel, Lindy’s Awesome Van Adventure.

“I strictly started because I wanted to tell my story. It’s a very different life,” Lindy says. “I had polio when I was 7 or 8. My mother saved me from the lung machine. Through her strength, I learned how to walk again.”

As she got older, Lindy realized she had a choice: Sit around and watch TV — or live every day to the fullest.

Lindy makes around $600 in a typical month through her posts, but if a video gets crazy views, that number is much, much higher. “Let’s say you have a video that gets 400,000 views,” she says. “You could possibly get $10,000.”

She encourages other seniors to make their own channels. “Seniors have so much knowledge and it’s a source of knowledge that’s being lost. All you need is a phone — that’s it,” she says. “Even if you’re making $300 a month, that could be a huge help. That could be life-changing.”

Steps for seniors to become social media influencers

• Identify your niche: What are you passionate about? Could be anything from cooking, gardening or fashion to sharing wisdom.
• Choose the right platform: Different social media platforms cater to varied audiences. For example, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are great for visual content, while X is ideal for short, snappy updates.
• Create a compelling profile: Your profile should be clear, engaging and reflective of your personality. Include a good profile picture and a bio that succinctly describes who you are and what you share.
• Learn the basics: Familiarize yourself with the platform. There are many free tutorials available online tailored to beginners.
• Be consistent: Post content regularly. Mix it up with videos, images, and text posts and remember growth takes time.
• Build a connection: Respond to comments, ask questions and participate in conversations. 
• Stay authentic and positive: People watch reality TV for the fake stuff.
• Keep learning and evolving: Social media trends change rapidly. Stay updated with the latest trends and continuously adapt your strategy.
• Be patient and persistent: Building a following takes time. Stay consistent with your efforts, and don’t get discouraged by slow growth.

Remember, becoming a social media influencer at any age is about connecting with people through shared interests and experiences. Your unique perspective as an older adult can be your biggest strength.

TikTok.com/@omsteve, YouTube.com/@l.a.v.alindysawesomevanadv3428, TikTok.com/@retirementhouse