Ok, let’s cut through the noise here. Everyone and their goldfish is talking about content creation these days. “Just start posting!” they say. “The money will follow!” they say. *long, tired sigh*
Let me tell you what actually happens when you first start creating content: You spend 6 hours editing a video that gets 12 views (and one of them was your mom).
But wait! Don’t close this tab yet. Because after years of face-planting into pretty much every content creation mistake possible, I’ve figured some stuff out. And none of it is what those perfectly-coiffed influencers are telling you.
Finding Your Sweet Spot (Without Losing Your Mind)
First up – let’s talk about “niches” (ugh, I hate that word, but we’re stuck with it). Here’s what nobody tells you: Your first niche pick will probably be wrong. Mine was “productivity tips for creative entrepreneurs” – which is basically like opening a pizza shop called “food for hungry people.”
What actually works:
– Pick something specific enough that it makes some people go “oooh!” and others go “ew, not for me”
– Choose topics you can talk about for HOURS (trust me, you’ll be doing exactly that)
– Test different angles until something clicks (took me 3 months to realize people cared more about my disasters than my successes)
The Platform Problem (Or: Why You Need to Stop Platform-Hopping)
True story: Last year I tried to be on every platform simultaneously. YouTube! Instagram! TikTok! LinkedIn! Medium! My therapist loved the additional business.
Here’s what I learned the hard way:
– Start with ONE platform (yes, just one, I know it hurts)
– Master it before adding another
– Pick based on what you actually enjoy (hate dancing? Maybe skip TikTok)
But here’s the clever bit – once you’ve got content that works on one platform, THEN you can spread it around. Like that one TikTok that did surprisingly well? Chop it up for Instagram. Turn it into a blog post. Make it work for you, because honey, we’re not working harder – we’re working smarter.
Making Actual Money (The Part You’re Here For)
Let’s talk cash money. And not in that vague “multiple streams of income” way that everyone preaches about. Real talk about what actually brings in the dollars.
What’s Actually Working in 2024:
– Digital products (but not the way you think)
– Communities (but only if you actually care about people)
– Courses (but please, for the love of all things holy, make them ACTUALLY useful)
Quick storytime: Spent 3 months creating this “perfect” course. Launch day comes. Cricket noises. Why? Because I built what I THOUGHT people wanted instead of what they actually needed. Rookie mistake.
The Reality Check About Income Streams
Here’s something nobody admits: Most of your income streams will fail. Like, spectacularly. I tried:
– Merchandise (sold 3 shirts, all to family members)
– Coaching (turns out I hate Zoom calls)
– Sponsored posts (learned that promoting tooth whitening strips while eating chocolate on camera doesn’t work)
But then something clicked…
The stuff that actually worked was so obvious I almost missed it:
1. Small, focused digital products solving SPECIFIC problems
2. Community memberships where people actually get to know each other
3. Affiliate marketing for stuff I actually use (and occasionally break)
Building Your Tribe (Without Being Cult-y)
Everyone talks about “building community” like it’s as simple as adding water to instant noodles. It’s not. It’s more like making pasta from scratch – messy, time-consuming, but worth it when you get it right.
What Actually Works:
– Being embarrassingly honest (shared my income reports, including the months I made exactly $7.42)
– Showing up consistently (even when you’re having a day where putting on pants feels like an achievement)
– Actually caring about your people (wild concept, I know)
The Numbers Game (Try Not to Fall Asleep)
Look, nobody gets excited about analytics except maybe data scientists. But here’s the thing – you need to at least peek at them occasionally. Otherwise, you’re just throwing content into the void and hoping something sticks.
My Bare Minimum Analytics Checklist:
– Which content makes people stick around?
– What actually leads to sales? (not just likes)
– Where do people drop off? (usually when I start rambling… like now)
The Part Nobody Talks About
Can we get real for a second? Content creation can be lonely. Like, talking-to-your-houseplants lonely. You’ll have days where you wonder if anyone’s actually listening. Days where the algorithm seems to hate you personally.
But here’s the truth: If you’re providing genuine value and actually connecting with people (even if it’s just a small group), the money will come. Maybe not overnight, maybe not in the way you expected, but it will come.
The Last Bit (Because We All Need to Touch Grass Sometimes)
Building a sustainable income from content isn’t about being perfect – it’s about being consistent. It’s about showing up, trying stuff out, and not taking yourself too seriously.
Remember:
– Your first try at anything will probably suck (embrace it)
– What works for others might not work for you (and vice versa)
– The best content often comes from your biggest mishaps
And please, for the love of everything, don’t forget to have a life outside of content creation. Some of your best material will come from actually living your life instead of just documenting it.
P.S. – If anyone tells you they’ve never doubted their content strategy, they’re lying. Or they’re a robot. Probably both.
P.P.S. – Yes, I wrote this while procrastinating on editing my next video. The irony is not lost on me.