Content creation has seen a massive rise in popularity in the last few years. People who are serious about it and have a good niche can actually make full careers out of content creation, but how do they do this?
There are a few ways you can make money from content creation, but you have to get creative and clever in the way you go about it.
Because there are so many content creators out there, you need to find a way to really stand out and get people to want to invest money in your content.
14 Ways For Content Creators To Make Money
1. Selling Art
Kicking off this list, we have one of the most popular ways you can make money from your content: selling art.
When you have a unique and quirky art style, people are more likely to want to buy your art. Lots of people also love fan art and it can sell pretty quickly.
If you don’t have an online store for your art, it’s definitely in your best interest to make one.
2. Subscriptions
There are lots of services and content you can actually sell on a subscription-based level. You can offer monthly subscriptions that offer an extra level of exclusivity to your followers and this is a great way to generate more income.
People love to know they are in the exclusive crowd. It makes them feel special and makes them feels like they are part of a community that isn’t widely shared with every single other person.
3. Donations
Depending on what sort of content you are producing, you can ask for donations from your followers.
Though this is a great way to generate a bit of extra cash, you have to be careful with donations. You don’t want to make it look like you’re asking for handouts and usually, you need a reason or at least a goal for asking for donations.
4. Selling Merch
A bit like selling art, selling merch is another great way to make money if you’re a content creator.
Your followers will love the opportunity to be able to own some unique and fun merch that is exclusive to your brand, so if you can offer this to them, you definitely should!
Merch comes in all shapes and sizes, from t-shirts to hoodies, to mugs, to tote bags. Consider your target audience when you’re producing merch and cater it to what you think they’d like!
5. Branded Sponsorships
Branded sponsorships are when another business pays you a fee and all you need to do in return is advertise and market their product. This is a great way to make money and also get free stuff from other brands.
You can’t just get a branded sponsorship easily though. You need to already have a strong and substantial following in order for you to be approached by these businesses, so keep that in mind before you look into branded sponsorships.
6. Consulting
This option is a bit like teaching, but it’s more personal and lowkey. Consulting lets you offer any skills you may have in a one-on-one setting and you can pass those skills on to others.
Consulting is usually paid by the hour, so you can make a decent amount of money from doing it.
Consulting is also great if you’re having a bit of creative block when it comes to your content. You can make money consulting while you’re working on later content creation.
7. Selling Stock Photos
If you’re an avid photographer, you should definitely consider selling stock photos. You can sell your photos to already existing stock photo websites and you can also create a website specifically for them too.
People are always looking for stock photos and if you can provide high-quality ones yourself, this is a great way to generate some extra income.
8. Content Syndication
Content syndication is when you allow bigger third-party websites to publish your content in exchange for a fee.
Though it’s not as reliable or profitable as some of the other options, content syndication can help in generating traffic to your social media or website, which is great for reach and if you offer any other content services, you can gain more customers.
9. Public Appearances
If you’re well known enough, even in smaller circles, public appearances can be a great asset to your business and brand.
Depending on how popular you are and what sort of events you are appearing at, you can generate money from ticket sales.
Even if you’re not that well known yet, just appearing on the same panel as a more famous content creator can give you a huge reach and you’ll gain more followers on your platforms.
10. Social Media Advertising
This option will mean that you’ll have to spend a bit of money to make money, but you need to get your name and brand out there in order to start making profits.
If you pay for social media advertising, your brand will appear in more places and it will drastically increase your reach and engagement. Even if lots of people don’t end up engaging with your platform, your name and brand will be more widely known.
It might take a little while before it takes off, but it’s worth it in the long run.
11. Direct Advertising
Another form of advertising you can utilize is direct advertising. If you’re making a lot of videos, you can include ads in the videos, which will generate more money for you because the brand you’re advertising will pay you for it.
You do need to be careful about what kind of products and services you choose to advertise though. Make sure it’s something that makes sense with your brand and isn’t something too controversial.
If you’re advertising the wrong thing, it can seriously damage your online reputation.
12. Affiliate Marketing
If you have a substantial following on TikTok, Instagram, and related social media platforms, you can utilize affiliate marketing.
Affiliate marketing is when you advertise for another brand and they pay you a commission for every sale that is generated.
This is a more passive way of making money, but it is effective in the long run. Just make sure that the products and services you are advertising make sense with your own brand and don’t damage your reputation.
13. Selling Exclusive Content
Everyone loves exclusivity, especially your followers! Offering your followers paid memberships for exclusive content is a great way to generate more income and it also gives your followers the sense that they are part of an exclusive community.
14. Online Teaching
And finally, if you have a skill you think is marketable, you can try online teaching.
This option isn’t for everyone, as you will need to actually be able to teach your skill effectively, but if you can, you can set up your rates and prices and gain a good reputation as an online teacher.
Conclusion
If you are creative in your approach and you have unique and quirky content, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t make extra money from it!
Just make a plan, strategize and cater to your audience for the best results!
Hi, my name is Ollie Wilson and I have been a keen blogger since I was a young teen. I was growing up with the rise of YouTube and bloggers, and the people I followed influenced me to start blogging. They were making a lot of money from their blogs, and I wanted that too!
I’ve now had this blog for almost a decade. In that time, I’ve learned how to monetize it to start earning money, which servers are the best for each blog type, and how to optimize your domains.
Now it’s time to share my knowledge and help others create their own successful blogs, just like I wish I had when I was creating my first blog. It can be daunting when you first set up your site, but with my advice, you’ll have a great looking blog in no time. Let’s get started!
