How to monetize content: 11 New revenue streams for creators

As you create content online that you're passionate about, making a significant income from your hard work may seem like a very distant goal for the future.

We're here to share how this goal is entirely attainable, and you'll be encouraged to hear that there are plenty of ways to start making more money through publishing content on your own site or social media platforms.

For bloggers, YouTube creators, podcasters, and every other content creator in the game, monetizing premium content comes down to a tailored strategy, a platform to leverage your content, and the marketing skills and prowess to create a memorable brand that people will love and connect with.

• Content creators seek various revenue streams to continue growing their businesses and enter new markets.

• Advertising, licensing, and paid subscription models are some of the most cost-effective ways to monetize content.

• Selling physical and digital products can expand a content creator's audience and create tangible connections with followers.

Content creation is a full-time job, but you already know that! Looking into content monetization strategies is a wise business move as you strive to expand your business and increase revenue.

As an established content creator, you have an audience of like-minded individuals who trust your expertise, enjoy your content, and may spend money to support your new ventures.

Many creators begin selling physical products because they already have a loyal customer base who will buy their products. They can quickly poll their followers on social media platforms and ask for feedback about what products their audience would buy to boost sales.

Best practices for selling physical products

• Choose a product that aligns with your niche and that your audience will love

• Choose a reliable supplier to source products to save yourself potential headaches

Selling physical products is a much more streamlined process when you work with a print on demand supplier like Gelato. Suppliers hold the inventory and handle all the tasks related to fulfillment and shipping, allowing creators to continue creating content and building a loyal following.

Affiliate marketing works when a creator, blogger, or influencer promotes a brand's products and shares their opinions and feedback with followers. For every sale made, the affiliate (creator) earns a commission on the product.

Whether you are already promoting products you love or have a substantial following who trust your advice and expertise, affiliate marketing is a great way to monetize content and grow your audience.

Best practices in affiliate marketing

• Send a monthly newsletter to promote products through affiliate links

• Connect with a large affiliate network like ShareASale, Awin, and CJ Affiliate to market yourself as an ideal partner

• Be selective with affiliate products so you can build rapport and maintain trust with your audience

Licensing is when you create something, like a blog post, podcast, song, or artwork, and allow others to use it for a fee.

In this business model, you create something once and can continue to make money off it for the foreseeable future. This makes licensing a cost-effective content monetization strategy; you just need to create something other people want to pay for!

Some creators sell their content for exclusive rights, meaning one licensee has the only rights and permission to use the content as they see fit. Others license content using limited usage rights, like posting a photo on social media once or using a podcast episode to promote a brand or business in a specific campaign.

Content licensing examples

There are a few different ways you can make money through licensing content, including the following:

• Promoting a product or service via TikTok with partner brands

• Licensing your photos or designs to brands to use for social media posts or in their campaigns

• Licensing existing published content to allow other brands to use your content on their website

The best way to monetize content is by utilizing a content monetization platform to do the heavy lifting. The way a content platform works is pretty simple. Content creators publish their work on the platform, which pays creators to run PPC ads in their content.

Popular content monetization platforms used today include:

• For blogging: WordPress and Medium

• For video: TikTok and YouTube

• For podcasts: Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Tips for Using a content monetization platform

• Share content you're passionate about and authentically believe in

• Disclose all paid partnerships to remain in good standing with the FTC

• Focus on analytics and metrics related to performance to make adjustments as necessary

Some creators join an ad network like Google AdSense, where ads are automatically displayed in your ad space, depending on the behavior of your site visitors. You can also partner with advertisers directly and utilize banner ads that align with your readers' interests and values. This requires more work than Google Adsense and other ad networks, but the payout can be worthwhile.

Paying ads are typically displayed in individual blog posts, in-text, and videos. Some content creators use PPC advertising, where they get paid every time someone clicks on an ad, which can garner impressive revenue over time. These strategies work best if you have substantial website visitors or videos regularly.

Create a space for your community to gain access to exclusive content with a membership or subscription plan. This model allows you to create high-quality content for a smaller, targeted audience, saving time and energy instead of appealing to a larger group.

With a subscription model, you'll collect monthly revenue from those who pay for premium content rather than the free content you post on your blog, social media platforms, podcast, etc.

Subscription content examples

• Create a membership site through Patreon, where your community can gain access to exclusive content

• Offer premium content through paid podcast episodes

Tips for creating subscription content

• Launch an exclusive email newsletter for your paid community that provides more value

• Upsell additional products or services to your current audience who already benefits from your content

If you enjoy public speaking, this is a great way to earn extra cash in your niche.

Speaking on relevant topics, issues, and trends at local and virtual events is a great way to network, expand your audience, and build your empire. If you can find paid speaking opportunities, that's even better!

Preparing for public speaking

• Speak to your target audience and know the general audience you'll be interacting with

• Share stories to target the human experience and to make connections

• Promote yourself on social media as a public speaker and gauge interest

If you don't have the bandwidth to create and maintain subscriptions or membership plans, creating a space on your website where your followers can donate money is an easy alternative.

If you've built a loyal following, they may be open to sending you money because they enjoy your high-quality content. Many creators use platforms like Patreon or PayPal to accept community donations.

To make donations feel more personal, consider going on a live stream and thanking your followers individually for making them feel special and appreciated for donating their money.

Digital products are ideal for creators and bloggers because it's an extension of your existing content. If you're a blogger who writes content about digital marketing, you can easily create a relevant eBook that solves specific problems that businesses may encounter. This is one example of utilizing your knowledge base to create more value and income.

Digital content examples

• Online courses that are relevant to your niche and showcase your expertise

• eBooks that help solve your target audiences' problems (how to pack for a European vacation, digital marketing strategies for small businesses, creating a time capsule wardrobe collection, etc.)

Tips for creating digital content

• Focus on creating high-quality content that provides value

• Start small and scale up as interest builds in your offerings

• Market your products on your website and social media platforms, providing an inside look to entice people to buy

Sponsorships pay many creators' bills because they can leverage their audience to win significant deals with major brands and companies willing to pay the big bucks.

Sponsorships and brand deals work by an agreement between a creator and a company or brand, where the creator receives payment for promoting products or services of the company.

Sponsored content can include a blog post or social media campaign about a product that you've used and would recommend to your followers. Sponsorships can also include product reviews, where you create a detailed review about your experience with a product and make recommendations for followers.

Leveraging sponsorships

• Start small - connect with brands you love and pitch your ideas

• Create a media kit to send to brands to showcase your social reach and ROI

• Accept sponsorships that are in line with your niche and your audience

As a creator or influencer, you've already established yourself as an expert in your niche by creating content people trust, relate to, and want more of. To continue to generate revenue in their niche, many creators pivot to online coaching or consulting as an additional revenue stream.

Coaching can include creating an online course or offering 1-on-1 sessions with clients who want to start a content business or launch their own website. Whether your expertise is in digital marketing, travel content, fashion, or beauty, leveraging the content you've already created is a cost-effective way to add a new revenue stream to your business model.

Monetizing content is a feasible way to generate revenue as a content creator. From sponsored content to referral links, working with major brands, or selling digital products, there are many great opportunities for creators to leverage their audience and the high-quality content they offer.

Selling physical products designed from your own content is a popular content monetization strategy that can generate impressive revenue if you do it right. Selling high-quality custom print on demand products is a unique way to connect with your audience and followers tangibly.

At Gelato, we offer reliable print on demand services where creators don't have to worry about holding inventory or fulfilling and shipping orders. We handle everything post-purchase so you can focus on what you do best - offering premium content to your followers. Get started with Gelato today.

Content monetization is a way of earning additional income through the content you create online. Content creation includes blogging, video creation, podcasts, streaming, and much more, and it can be tailored to specific audience demographics around the world.

Content monetization is a recurring revenue stream that can create significant profits for any online business.

Depending on your strengths and niche, there are several viable ways to start monetizing content for your business.

If creating content is your bread and butter, consider affiliate marketing programs or sponsored content for brands you love. You may want to teach and interact more with clients on a personal level; if so, creating online courses, coaching, or consulting are all solid choices.

For artists and creatives, creating and selling physical products, from art to custom hoodies, is an easy way to leverage their skills, connect with their followers, and monetize content and designs they've already created.