The internet is more than just web browsing and using social media. It’s not for consuming content and getting informed.
Although its primary purpose was to connect people worldwide, much has changed since it was first introduced in the 1980s.
The internet has come a long way. Today, it is also a platform for creators to showcase their skills, connect with like-minded individuals, and make a living doing what they love.
You don’t need to work a 9–5 job anymore. You don’t need to go anywhere to find opportunities. It is right there in front of you.
You only need to know how to capitalize on the opportunities.
If you have a creative skill, you must use the internet to show your work.
You need to leverage the information and social platforms to pursue your passion. In other words, you need to be online.
“It sounds a little extreme, but in this day and age, if your work isn’t online, it doesn’t exist.” ― Austin Kleon, Show Your Work.
Start the new year with your creative journey.
You might be unsure of where to begin. You might have doubts and fear. You might not know what the outcome would be.
But you need to start.
I started my first blog in 2016, which failed horribly. Then, I quit. I thought online writing wasn’t for me.
In 2020, I decided to give it another go. But I felt good this time because I wasn’t afraid to fail. I didn’t care about what people would think. I was passionate about writing online.
This gave me the courage to start.
I wrote over 20 articles with only a few views. I kept going even though people didn’t know about my work.
My persistence in writing online brought me several opportunities. I built an audience, wrote hundreds of articles on topics I liked, and gained financial success doing what I love.
If you have creative skills, you must build your online presence.
The competition is fierce. Nobody will know who you are until you show them. You can’t expect people to find your work by themselves. You need to start taking action that helps them find you.
Start creating online.
Here are a few ways to begin as a new online creator.
Work for free
Many creators expect the rewards before they show their best work.
For example, writers start a blog and expect to make thousands of dollars in the first few months. They look at promising YouTube videos, saying it’s easy to make $10,000/month with your blog. So, they expect the rewards too soon.
I made the same mistake of wanting the money before creating, learning, and understanding the game.
I didn’t make a single dollar until I wrote over a hundred articles.
Create for free. Let people see your work before they buy from you. Let them know about you and what you can give them.
Start a blog and write articles for free. If you are a digital creator, post your pictures/designs/videos on social media for free.
It’s about building an audience first.
Start an email list
This is the best way to build your audience, even if you are just starting.
An email list helps identify people who like and appreciate your work. You will be able to communicate and send your work directly to these people.
Use free email-building platforms like Substack to begin.
Ask people to join your list. Let them know about the type of content they will receive from you.
The best way to grow your email list is by giving away freebies. Everyone likes free stuff. So, create a small product like a PDF guide, video course, or e-book to get people’s emails in exchange.
Start building an email list from day one.
Publish daily
Create something every day.
It can be small or big. Anything that keeps your flow going.
You don’t need to overthink the publishing process, especially when you are beginning.
Publish something that helps your audience find your work. When you are consistent, they look forward to finding what you published.
Consistency is powerful. It helps you produce a high volume of work and allows you to learn from and improve your mistakes.
Monetization and freedom
You are ready to monetize your work when you have created a good amount of work and built an audience.
Build a paid product. Give your audience something with immense value. Make an offer they can’t decline.
Find clients for your work. When you create online, you find opportunities. People will want to work with you. They will come to you.
I’ve received many writing opportunities only by posting on Medium and LinkedIn. Clients come to me and offer freelancing jobs because they read my blog.
You can create courses and consult others to help them succeed in their creative journeys.
There is nothing like making money doing what you love. Creative work is challenging. But once you learn to monetize your work, you will be on the path to financial freedom.
Start now
The time is now.
Start, even if you are not ready. If you wait for the perfect time, you will never start. If you wait for the perfect idea, you will never find the courage to work with what you have.
Do what you can. Use what you have.
Practice in public. Fail in public. Learn in public. Succeed in public.
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