Starting to make money online in a sea of creators might feel like a tall order, but the truth is opportunity is ripe for the picking. There’s endless space for creators like you to share your talent, connect with an audience, and offer valuable content – both free and paid.
Want the good news? You don’t need thousands of followers to start making money online. If you have a solid audience base that trusts you and finds your information or product valuable, the only thing standing between you and a sale is understanding what to sell, and how.
We’ve put together 13 ways you can make money online as a creator, with practical tips and advice to help you seal the deal. Some of these methods will even let you earn passive income.
12 ways to make money online
- Use built-in monetization features
- Sell useful templates
- Publish ebooks
- Create UGC for brands
- Sell digital downloads and tools
- Build online courses
- Start a paid newsletter
- Create a membership site
- Make a paid podcast
- Do freelance work
- Offer your time
- License your photography
- Join affiliate programs
1. Use built-in monetization features
As a content creator, you don’t have to look for a ton of ways to make money online; the platforms you make content for are packed full of ways to monetize! While some platforms will allow you to make more than others, they’re all a great place to start for a content creator!
Here’s a quick list of the monetization options you can find on some of the most popular platforms:
- YouTube:Through the YouTube Partner Program, creators can earn a share of the ad revenue their videos bring in. Other monetization options include paid memberships, YouTube Shopping, and fan funding.
- TikTok: The TikTok Creativity Program rewards content creators for making great content. You can also earn through LIVE gifts, making user-generated content, and joining TikTok’s affiliate program.
- Instagram:Unlike other platforms, Instagram doesn’t pay creators based on the views their content gets. That said, you can still make money through Instagram’s affiliate program, paid subscriptions, badges, and bonuses.
- Twitch: Most streamers on Twitch earn money through paid subscriptions from their most dedicated viewers. You can also earn a share of advertising revenue and make money from sponsorships.
What you’ll need
On most platforms, you’ll need a minimum number of followers (or subscribers) to become eligible for monetization options:
- Your YouTube channel will need 1,000 subscribers and a minimum number of watch hours for most monetization options.
- With TikTok, you’ll need 10,000 followers for most monetization options, including the Creativity Program.
- For most Instagram monetization options, you’ll need at least 10,000 followers.
Difficulty
Easy. To earn through a platform’s built-in monetization options, you only need to do two things:
- Keep making content.
- Make your content better.
That’s it. You don’t need to learn any extra skills or use other tools. Just focus on the content you’re already creating and you’ll make money!
2. Sell useful templates
Ready-to-use templates are a priceless commodity for people in all fields who need to simplify their day-to-day.
To create a template that sells, understand what people need, and figure out how you can make their lives a bit easier by doing the heavy lifting for them.
What kind of templates can you create? Off the top of our head: editable CV templates, website templates, content calendar templates, Instagram carousel templates, business plan templates, infographic templates, even templates that can be used on programs like Notion and Canva. The list is honestly endless.
Building a useful template is an excellent way to make money online. Create it once and sell it multiple times without lifting a finger! Because it’s a volume game, we suggest pricing your template affordably to encourage sales. Depending on the complexity of your template, we’d say price it anywhere between $5-$50.
The essence of a template is to be helpful, so you want to be sure you’re giving people what they actually need. Before diving into creation, talk to your audience. Whether via a poll, a survey, or even speaking with them directly, take the time to get to the bottom of their pain points, so you can build the perfect solution for them.
There’s probably already a template (or a few) out there similar to what you’re going to build. Find them, dissect them, and come up with ways to make yours more useful, relatable, aesthetic, affordable, and easier to use. Basically, make it better.
What you’ll need
Depending on the template you’re making, you might need dedicated tools. If you’re making a budgeting template, for example, you might just need a spreadsheet. But if you’re building presets for Lightroom, you’ll have to know your way around that tool.
Difficulty
Medium. To build a useful template, you need some level of expertise you can share with your audience, as well as some knowledge of the tools you’re using. That said, it can be a good first source of passive income for content creators.
3. Publish ebooks
Whether you’re a food creator looking to create a compilation of recipes, or an Instagram master with the inside scoop on how to boost engagement, selling a one-stop-shop ebook can be a great money-making idea.
But how do you know when you’re ready to put it all together in an ebook? When you feel your audience is ready. This means they’re actively engaging with your free content and your community is growing. They might even be asking for an ebook!
The key is to have already built trust with your community by offering free content, such as weekly cooking blogs and video recipes if you’re a food creator. Your followers have had the time to fall in love with your content and personality, which makes it much easier for them to decide to purchase your e-cookbook.
Writing an ebook can become an endless process if you let it. The more you look at it, the more editing you might think it needs. And if you’re not careful, you might end up needing to restart, over and over again. So, don’t aim for perfection. Aim for good enough, then put it out there and learn for your next one.
You’ve got to make sure that the way you share the information is as top-notch as the information itself. Prioritize the aesthetics, the readability, and the design of your ebook beyond just the words.
People like a well-branded package that’s easy on the eyes and a pleasure to navigate. Work with a graphic designer, and even send your ebook to friends and family for feedback before putting it out there. A second set of eyes is always a good idea.
What you’ll need
All you’ll need to write an ebook is a word processor, an idea, and some time. Some writing skills will definitely help, too!
Difficulty
Hard. Just getting a first draft of a book done can take months, and that’s not counting the time you’ll spend reviewing it. Turning your idea into an actual book people will want to read takes skill and time.
4. Create UGC for brands
Don’t have a big following? No worries. UGC (user-generated content) is more about your aptitudes as a content creator rather than the size of your community.
A UGC creator gets paid by brands to create authentic-feeling content about their products. Said content is then posted on the company’s channels for marketing purposes, rather than the creator’s own social media account.
To succeed at UGC creation, you need to feel somewhat comfortable “acting” if you’re asked to create organic-looking social media content, like product review videos. Otherwise, you might work on blog posts, how-to guides, and testimonials.
To find opportunities as a UGC creator, check out platforms like Trend, Insense, and Influee.
To get hired for UGC gigs, companies will look at your ability to create high-converting content, not your audience size. This is why we suggest taking the time to build up your content creation skills – everything from photography, video, scriptwriting, acting, to editing. There’s a lot more that goes into creating high-quality content than meets the eye.
What you’ll need
All you’ll need to make UGC is an account on a platform like TikTok or YouTube and a brand that’s willing to pay you to make that content.
Difficulty
Easy. If you’ve already got content creation skills, you don’t need much more to make UGC. Give your content a little extra polish and you’ll make money in no time.
5. Sell digital downloads and tools
Digital downloads are expected to reach $560 billion in sales in 2024. That’s … huge. But what are they exactly? Anything from pricing calculators, beats and instrument samples, clip art packs, sound effects, craft patterns, Lightroom presets – sky’s the limit here.
Unlike physical products, digital downloads can be delivered quickly and easily to your customers online. As long as they have a computer or mobile device, they can instantly access your product once they’ve purchased it. With no inventory, rent, production, or shipping, this is a hassle-free way to sell products online and make some extra income.
Digital downloads and tools also allow you to multiply yourself – meaning you might not be able to help 100 people decide what to price their service at, for example, but 100 people can download your calculator and do the math on their own. This frees up your time to create more helpful tools, allowing you to earn even more money.
We suggest taking the time to understand what people really need before jumping into creation. Tap into your audience and keep an ear out for what people are looking for and asking of you!
If you want to hook people, consider offering part of your product for free, then gating the rest. For example, let customers use your pricing calculator for free two times before they need to pay, so they can really feel the value off the bat.
Look for niche markets and communities that are looking for highly specific tools and create something for that space. You’re almost guaranteed a sale as you’re less likely to have competition, and it can be a fun challenge.
What you’ll need
To sell digital products, you’ll only need two things:
- A product, which you can create with free online tools.
- A place to run an online store, like Gumroad or The Leap.
Difficulty
Varies, depending on the downloads you’re making. Some will need a higher skill level to make, while others just need you to put the knowledge you already have into practice.
Know what will make it much easier for you to build and sell your digital products? The Leap.
The Leap is part online storefront and part AI-powered product builder. Whether you’ve never built a digital product before or you’ve run your own online store for years, The Leap is for you.
Create and sell digital products in minutes using The Leap!
6. Build online courses
The e-learning market is expected to be valued at $374 billion by 2026. People enjoy learning in the comfort of their own homes, on their own schedule, whether it be for professional development or the love of a hobby. So, for creators who want to share their knowledge with an audience, selling online courses can be a home-run revenue stream.
Want to teach woodworking? Sewing? Guitar? How about a crash course in social media or how to code? There are infinite topics to choose from. Keep in mind though, there are many free YouTube videos and tutorials on other platforms covering the same topics, so you’d need to consider how your paid course offers greater value and enjoyment than what’s ungated online.
A lot of it will come down to how your course is branded, how digestible and accessible the content is, and the additional resources you offer (think PDFs, interactive quizzes, and downloadable resources).
If you’ve got an idea in mind, try an all-in-one platform like Thinkific that allows you to create your course website, upload your content, and distribute it to people worldwide.
Before you jump into filming, take a few hours to thoughtfully map out the curriculum you’d like your course to follow, as well as the milestones you want your students to reach along the way. Putting together this course outline will keep you organized.
Also, remember that people like to consume content differently. To build an inclusive course, try creating content in different formats to cater to everyone’s learning preferences. Think video, audio, transcription, and even PDF summaries of your lessons.
What you’ll need
To build an online course, you’ll need something to teach. That can be skills you’ve picked up as a content creator, a specific bit of knowledge from your day job, or a hobby you’ve had for years. After that, you’ll just need a platform to sell your course through.
Difficulty
Easy. While building a curriculum and filming your course takes time and effort, you don’t need any extra technical expertise.
7. Start a paid newsletter
A digital newsletter is a great way to demonstrate your expertise and build a meaningful relationship with your audience. There’s something charmingly “old school” about this format, in that it requires little more than good, honest writing and useful information to be a success.
How do you know if it’s for you? If you have knowledge in something that you feel you can speak on consistently, and you like to write.
The only catch is that there are many unpaid newsletters out there, so you’d need to think about what you can offer your community that they can’t get elsewhere. Think exclusivity! Things like behind-the-scenes content, closer access to the writer, more in-depth information, and so on.
Tip: You can also ask your community what they’d want more of, so you have a good idea about what they’re willing to pay for.
Check out email marketing platforms like Mailchimp or more journalistic publishing platforms like Substack to decide where you should host your newsletter subscription.
Before committing to sending a recurring newsletter (daily, weekly, or monthly) be sure that you have the time to send it out that often, and enough information to carry you through.
If this is a side hustle to earn some extra money online, and you have a full-time job, ask yourself if it’s really feasible for you. To maintain trust with your audience, you need to be true to what you say and offer excellent value every time.
What you’ll need
Some writing skills, an email list, and a paid newsletter platform.
Difficulty
Medium. Leveling up your writing skills can involve some serious work and building an email list for your newsletter can be tough.
8. Create a membership site
A membership site offers gated content to members of your community who choose to pay a subscription fee for additional content and perks. This can look like first access to promotions, bonus content, unfiltered interviews, etc. It has great potential to help you make money online.
To get to this point, however, you’ll need to have an existing, engaged audience who are ready to be shepherded into a paid community. That can take some time, so if you’re a newbie creator, don’t expect a membership site to bring you your first $100.
Overall, it’s an excellent way to earn money online when the moment is right, and when you as a creator have ample time to nurture your community.
To create an accessible membership site, consider offering different pricing tiers.
For example, maybe for $5/month, someone can join the community with early access to product launches and promotions. For $10/month, they might get access to all your downloadable resources for free. And for $20/month, they get access to you and your expertise via monthly 1:1 consultations.
This can look a million different ways, but consider this route to get people in the door, and work on upselling them later!
What you’ll need
A platform that lets you take payments in exchange for access to exclusive content, like Patreon, or your own website.
Difficulty
Easy. The best way to start a membership site is to take some of the content you’re already making and make something similar — perhaps a longer version — you can put on your membership site.
9. Launch a paid podcast
While advertising is a very common way to monetize your podcast, if you have a captive listener base who are ready to dole out some extra monthly dough, a premium podcast subscription can be very lucrative.
As you likely know, free podcasts are prolific today. So, if you want to monetize yours, it’ll need to offer something beyond what your listeners can find in your free episodes. Using platforms like Patreon to run your subscription service, you can offer your audience perks like behind-the-scenes content, subscriber-only episodes, early access, video content, unfiltered episodes, access to you and your community, ad-free content, and more.
Giving exclusive access to you is a definite selling point. Open up the floor to your audience and get them involved in the discussion with formats like AMAs, or live chats on platforms like Discord where fans can suggest topics and ask you questions. Especially if you have an engaged fanbase, the opportunity to get that close to you and your content can be very exciting.
Like any subscription-based membership, it’s common to have more than one subscription option to be financially accessible to all and offer different levels of commitment. You might have a Tier 1 subscription for around $10 a pop that offers early access to episodes, extended episodes, and access to past archives. And then a Tier 2 subscription that offers all that plus access to a private community and exclusive merch.
What you’ll need
Tools and software to record your podcast episodes, as well as a platform where you can host them behind a paywall.
Difficulty
Easy. Recording a podcast is one of the easiest ways to make content — which is why there are so many out there.
10. Do freelance work
Freelancing is a good way to start earning money online while you simultaneously take the time to build your creator brand. What can you freelance in? You could be a freelance graphic designer or freelance writer. You can manage social media accounts or build mobile apps. Basically whatever you can lend your expertise in.
To find clients, you’ll need to put yourself out there and reach out to companies and individuals you want to work with. We also suggest connecting with other freelancers in your niche to keep an ear out for open gigs. It’s also key to know your rates (and that means knowing your worth). Consider your expertise, experience, and years in the industry to pre-determine your rate, but also keep in mind that you might need to be flexible depending on the opportunity.
Start by making meaningful connections with both prospects and other creators, because at the end of the day, you’re in the people business and you never know who might pass your name along. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but to land the gigs you want, you’ll need to make your value known and take time to penetrate your field.
After you’ve freelanced for some time, you’ll have a well-branded website that shares a bit about yourself, your expertise, and your credentials, a page that showcases your services and your rates, a portfolio of past work, and testimonials from happy clients. This will help you close the deal, and with platforms like Squarespace, building your own website is easy as pie.
Sometimes you’ll have four gigs at once, other times you might have no work at all. During the lull, we suggest using that time to research the companies you want to work for and the right person to speak to. In a personalized message that includes your portfolio, let them know that you are actively looking for freelance opportunities as well as the value you can bring to the table.
What you’ll need
A skill you can use as a freelancer. Beyond that, you need a list of customers, which you can build through content.
Difficulty
Hard. Making money online as a freelancer depends on having a skill a customer is willing to pay for. As a content creator, you likely have one of these skills already — like videography or marketing — but building an online business out of it can be difficult. Not to mention that you’ll have to spend time on fulfilling requests from clients.
11. Offer your time
If you like working with people, offering 1:1 consulting services can be a great way to earn money online. It’s more time-consuming than automating your knowledge in something like an ebook or online course, but many find working with real clients to be very fulfilling.
This more individualized coaching role allows you to charge more as well. To determine your pricing, consider your education, years of experience, and current success in the field. You can also look at what other consultants charge for reference.
To help break the ice and answer any questions people might have, try 15 to 20-minute discovery calls that allow prospects to learn more about you and your offer. While this might not be sustainable long-term, it’s a good tactic to close some initial clients and get the ball rolling. Once you’ve secured business and are able to collect testimonials, they might not be necessary.
Stay up to date on the latest knowledge, trends, and skills in your field through courses and certifications. It’ll ensure you remain relevant and competitive in your market, demonstrating not only a passion for your expertise, but a responsibility to your clients to offer the greatest value.
A contract is always a good idea. Be sure that you and your client are aligned on what to expect from the session(s) with you, any cancellation policy you might have, the cost, etc. Get it all down and ensure both parties are on the same page.
What you’ll need
A perspective or expertise that entices people to pay for time with you. You could work as a life coach or offer your advice on more technical topics.
Difficulty
Easy. The actual consulting itself is as simple as taking calls from clients and helping them through whatever they need help with.
12. License your photography
Many photographers earn money online by selling their work through online sites like Shutterstock, Getty Images, and Alamy. Companies and agencies search for photos to fulfill their content needs (whether that be for digital, social, or print media), which can be anything from clever images that represent abstract ideas to landscapes to lifestyle photography.
We suggest working on the type of photography you love, because typically those photos are the best. But you can also research what’s currently selling the best and aim to penetrate that category with your own spin on things. This is a very crowded online space, so try to differentiate yourself via the quality or uniqueness of your photos.
You don’t need to be a seasoned professional photographer to sell your photos, but there are some basic techniques to be mindful of, like framing, focus, exposure, and lighting. You’ll also want to be sure you’re using good equipment to produce a good-quality photo. That can be an iPhone, so long as you know how to use the features and have good editing software.
It’s not enough to just post your photos in a marketplace, so you’ll need to be an active participant in driving traffic to your photos! One way to do this is to share your photography on your own social media channels like Instagram, where you can post relevant hashtags and follow people who you hope to see your work. Building this community and awareness of your talent will help you monetize it down the line.
While you should always prioritize quality over quantity, it’s important to be consistent with your photography production to keep your brand top of mind for potential buyers. There’s no exact math to it, but think about the accounts you follow on Instagram that appear the most in your feed – they probably post pretty regularly, right? The more photos you upload to marketplaces, the more options you give potential buyers to choose from.
What you’ll need
Photography skills and some time to put together enough of a portfolio to license a variety of photos. You’ll probably want to do some market research to see what you can bring to the table.
Difficulty
Medium. Tons of people and companies need photos for their projects or their marketing campaigns. There are also a ton of photographers to compete with.
13. Join affiliate programs
Affiliate marketing is all about promoting the product or service of a brand via your own platform. It’s an excellent way to earn money online if you do it right. By right we mean authentically.
Your followers trust that you always share the most honest information with them, so we suggest only affiliating yourself with brands and products that you actually like and use. While you might be able to make extra cash promoting something, when your followers see that it wasn’t great, you’ll begin to lose them, along with other partnership opportunities.
Creators are nothing without their integrity, so always be sure that what you promote aligns with your brand’s mission and values. Ask yourself questions like: Would I use this? Would I pay for this? How does this connect to my creator brand? Does the quality of the product or service match the quality of my other output? Have I tested this product long enough to form an actual opinion on it?
Additionally, according to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), all affiliates must disclose that there is a financial relationship with the brand they’re promoting, calling attention to all links as affiliate links. Learn more about the FTC’s guidelines for endorsements here.
Finally, ask your affiliate partners if they’d be willing to share a discount code for the product you’re promoting. This will really help push conversion, and it’s a nice way to thank your community for trusting your recommendations and giving them a try.
What you’ll need
Enough of an online following to send some sales towards the brands you work with.
Difficulty
Easy. Once you’ve built an audience, all you need to do is add affiliate links to your content every once in a while.
How much do creators earn?
According to Influencer Marketing Hub’s 2023 Creator Earnings Benchmark Report, nearly half of content creators earn $15,000 or less a year. Note that this includes both part-time and full-time creators, showing that putting more time into your content creation career doesn’t necessarily guarantee a higher income.
About 10% of creators earn between $50,000 and $75,000, and another 10% of them earn between $15,000 and $25,000.
Note that the niche you’re in can have a huge impact on how you make money online. Niches like tech and business are some of the most profitable (though they’re also some of the more competitive). Food & drink and fitness are also pretty lucrative.
So while most creators don’t earn a full-time income from their content, they can still make a good bit of extra money.
What about the top-earning creators?
The average creator might not make six figures, but some creators definitely do. Creators at the top of their game are making a lot more than a full-time income, often running a massive, lucrative business supported by the content they create. Here are just a few examples of these top creators and how they make money, pulled from the Forbes Top 50 Creators list:
- Mr. Beast, the YouTuber with the most subscriptions, earned $82 million from his YouTube channel and his various business ventures, including Feastables, a chocolate and snack brand.
- Charli D’Amelio, one of the top creators on TikTok, earned $23 million through her content and other pursuits, like her own venture capitalist firm.
- Emma Chamberlain, who has over 15 million followers on Instagram and runs the Anything Goes podcast, earned $20 million through her social channels and her tea and coffee brand.
Make it rain
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make extra money from your knowledge and expertise. To do it right, it all boils down to building a trusted audience and offering something helpful, authentic, and unique. What might start as a side hustle can eventually become a lucrative revenue stream if you keep at it. Just remember to see the big picture – the why you’ve chosen to become a creator, not just a dollar sign.
Making money online FAQ
How can I make money online as a beginner?
New to the scene? No problem. Even beginners can make money online – it’s all about the time and effort you put in.
How much time? As a rule, 32% of creators who make $100-10,000 online spend more than 10 hours a week on content creation.
While being a more seasoned creator does have its perks, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have the opportunity to start making money online as you build your brand. While you might not sell an ebook or monetize your podcast right out of the gate, you can earn cash by freelancing, creating UGC content for brands, selling templates, or even licensing your photography.
Can you make money online fast?
To a degree, yes, but be wary of the lofty “overnight millionaire” promise. Get-rich-quick schemes are just that, schemes. Instead of thinking about how to make money fast, work on making bank slowly and honestly. It might take some time, but better to do it right and set yourself up for longevity.
Like all successful relationships, it takes time to build an audience founded in respect and trust. We recommend focusing on the quality of your content and nurturing your community, which will grow organically once it’s clear that you’re in the online space for the right reasons, and that means more than just cash.
The online world is an interpersonal space where integrity will win every time. So, don’t squash the dream of earning an income by trying to take the shortcut.
Follow The Leap on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for more monetization tips for creators. We also make a newsletter.
