Dear reader,
Before I share how I earned my first $1 online, read this:
What you just read is a screenshot from my digital note. The 10th one still doesn't make sense to me, but anyway, check date, the last edit was made in 2018.
I wrote that while being employed full-time in a demanding job. Things worked well for me, but deep down I've always been a creative person and I don't think that it's right to not have enough infra, info and tools to develop that side of me.
So glad that things have changed for good, and there are many platforms to harness the power of internet. To not even try to explore them would be a missed opportunity, and I don't want such regrets on my deathbed.
Since you are here, you are probably driven by the same insane passion that drives me - earning from doing things one loves. You are probably a fellow creator too, and if so, I understand the emotional highs and lows you go through when things don't work the way you planned or because of limitations beyond your control.
This post is not about if you should never give up or quit. It's about trying and making the most of what is available to you.
So here is my story so far without any sugarcoating. There are things I have failed at, and there are things which might work for me. Use this article as a signpost and then YOU DECIDE how you want to earn your $1 online and more.
#1 Knowing What You Want
When I started taking my "hobbies" a little more seriously to the point of converting them for some side income, I was clear on two things - first, my inclination is for digital products - ebooks, comics, videos, wallpapers etc, and second, that I prefer to work alone. This clarity didn't dawn on me immediately. It was only after working on few commissions and saying no to some that I realized which direction do I really want to go.
So, here's a small exercise for you:
Think through the question - "What do I really want?"
Here are a few pointers to help you decide:
Creating physical stuffs vs digital stuffs or both
Working alone vs collaborating
Working full-time vs side hustle
When you gain some clarity on what you want to do, the "how" is eventually figured out.
#2 Building Digital Assets
When I registered my domain - https://sangitaekka.com/ towards the end of 2018, I wanted two things - one, to own a piece of the internet as a portfolio which would be free of any algorithm and under my control, and second, to integrate a blog - https://blog.sangitaekka.com/ because I wanted to write and share about art, movies, books, learning, and more!
Once you are clear on what you want, the next step is to build digital assets and monetise them. It could be a website, a social media handle, a YouTube channel, an Etsy shop, or anything similar.
My website, or my blog to be precise is my first digital asset which could be monetised.
It took me only one attempt to be on Google AdSense program which made me eligible to run ads on my blog posts. But how successful was the whole effort?
My Google AdSense earning so far is < $1.
Still, it remains as an asset and I can further populate, relink, and share the timeless posts I have made so far.
You may not need a website. People may reach you via DMs or comments on your social media handles, or you may already be in a circle which appreciates what you create. The point is - look at things which are already with you, your strength areas, and then build on it.
#3 Diversify Offerings
Sometime around August of 2018 my first Instagram account was hacked because of a mass attack originating from somewhere in Russia. I lost around 500ish followers and all my attempts to get my account back led to nothing.
2019 was eventful in terms of personal losses and changes in career, and I could barely do much for my creative side. By the end of that year, my decision was firm. I had decided to give myself a chance, take a risk, and so, I left my job.
2020 was a blur, for most of us, and while I was adjusting to lockdown, I juggled with freelancing, a digital marketing series, and started a video tutorial series for GIMP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Ici2YgQNk&list=PLTCVP93erR4Pv4gEDa1hu5a7lSZKIKIjy
Writing the Colour Theory ebook was an unintended output I am proud of, and now it sits as a listed product on 3 platforms.
This is what diversification does to your work. You gain insights on new platforms, gain access to the community of those platforms, and find some pleasant surprises too.
Think of how you too can diversify your offerings as well. Can you reach out to a new community, or play with a different art media? Be creative in the variety your work can offer and see where it goes. Experimenting is the key.
My earning this year from diversifying digital products is < $50.
#4 Content Entrepreneurship
Earlier this year, I got an advice from a fellow Redditor who said, and I quote:
"Numbers mean absolutely nothing when it comes to income. A high following count does not equal high monetary gain."
For better or worse for the influencer culture, anyone who is trying to grow an audience is often automatically assumed to be trying to be an influencer. The truth cannot be farther from that. Sure, social media numbers matter, but converting someone to buy your product is a much bigger task.
20 people who are willing to buy what you offer are better than 20,000 followers without any customers. Numbers matter, but make sure it works for you. The number of customers increases eventually.
Nurture the small fanbase you build.
Content entrepreneurship can also be interpreted as an evolution of diverse offerings. When you diversify, most likely you are bound to make a switch to another platform, with its own rules of monetisation - ads, subscriptions, or a mixed model, and while you are at it check the payment support of the platform in your country.
Repurpose your content. Learn to market and sell. Be creative with what is already working for you, and adapt.
#5 So Far So Good
A few days back I was talking to a friend of mine who is into trading. He had called because he made some massive profits. Honestly, I am happy for him.
When I told him about how I have diversified my portfolio with ebooks, newsletters, and videos, he was convinced that I would be generating "good money" by next year.
I wish I had the same belief as him, and though the future is always uncertain, I do look back to the <$1 earning and the online earning so far this year. You never know.
So, got to keep working, trying, failing, learning, and trying again.
I hope this personal account was useful to you. Do note, that while I made the decision to quit my job, I planned my finances for the next two years and also created assets to take freelance or full-time work in future. So, before you take the plunge, think it through, get all the help you can get from your family, friends, or partners.
And most important of all, irrespective of the final results - keep trying!
I will see you next time with some more information on art community and creator economy. Bye for now.
Love,
Sangita
Social Handles:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SangitaE007
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwilldieanartist/