This Is Your Blueprint for the Initial 30 Days

The primary focus during the first month is to establish consistency. It’s about determining your writing topics and the appropriate platforms. Think of writing as a form of exercise — the initial week can be the most challenging to establish as a habit. You need clarity on your subject matter and target audience (niche). Additionally, it’s vital to identify the optimal platforms for your content.

Let’s first examine the importance of consistency.

Determine how many days you can realistically dedicate to writing. Can you commit to 30 minutes a day? Or perhaps once a week? Make a resolute commitment; this is for your growth.

Next, let’s delve into content ideas. This is often where novice creators get stuck, believing they need the "perfect concept." In truth, that’s not the case. I recommend this exercise: think about what acquaintances might say about you. Not your closest friends or family, as they might have a biased perspective. Instead, consider the observations of someone who knows you just enough to pull out themes you can build upon.

Lastly, let’s discuss publication platforms. Many newcomers gravitate towards Medium due to its initial financial incentives. However, if your niche doesn’t fit, consider alternatives such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or Quora.

As you conclude your first month, remember this vital advice: consistent publishing is paramount. Next, focus on your niche, followed by selecting the right platforms. The combined user base of the platforms mentioned is nearly a billion monthly users.

Most creators don’t struggle with attracting traffic; they struggle with maintaining consistency.

You Have Two Key Focus Areas for Months Two Through Six

During this four-month period, we will center our efforts on several key aspects. In the first month, you should have started to:

• Build a portfolio of work
• Narrow down your niche (or niches)
• Establish a writing routine

Now it’s time to build on these foundational elements. Initially, I made the mistake of becoming overconfident, thinking I had everything figured out. By month three, I had garnered over a million views, but soon found myself at a standstill. I want to prevent that from happening to you.

First Priority During This Phase:

The primary focus now is to start cultivating an email list. You’ve likely heard this before, but often without guidance on how to proceed.

To establish an email list, you’ll need:

• An "invitation" (like a footer or call-to-action)
• A landing page (to promote the email list)
• An incentive (such as a free course, digital download, or report)
• A welcome sequence (to set expectations)

The invitation should address the reader’s pain points related to your niche. For example:

"Interested in discovering the simplest way to meditate? If so, my complimentary guide will equip you with the skills to achieve the peace of mind you deserve."

Within the CTA, link to your landing page, which can be easily created using any email service provider’s templates. Keep the design straightforward and clearly outline the benefits.

Next is the incentive. This could be an eBook, a brief video, or a report. I suggest compiling some of your blog posts into a PDF as your incentive, ensuring it addresses a specific problem for your audience.

Finally, the welcome sequence can span five days and follow this structure:

1. Introduction: Thank them for subscribing, provide the incentive, share about yourself, and outline what’s next.
2. Problem Discovery: Discuss the significant challenges you've faced in your niche and invite readers to share theirs.
3. Problem Solution: Explain how you tackled the previous day’s problem and what’s achievable for new subscribers.
4. Solve Another Problem: Continue to provide value by addressing another issue, offering additional downloads or resources.
5. Call to Action: Encourage subscribers to engage with your offerings, such as joining a webinar or sharing on social media for rewards.

Now that you have a system for building your email list, let’s move on to the second priority.

Second Priority During This Phase:

Let’s summarize where we stand:

• You’ve been consistently creating content for about six months.
• You’ve started to develop an email list.

With these tools, it’s time to achieve your first legitimate sale as an entrepreneur — a pivotal moment for transformation.

I suggest creating an eBook and pricing it under $10 for several reasons:

• It's relatively quick to create.
• Simple to upload to a digital marketplace.
• Easier to generate sales.
• It opens the door to further possibilities in this industry.

While $10 won’t make you wealthy overnight, it will spark awareness of your potential as a creator. Trust the process.

Months Seven to Nine: Amplifying Income and Reach

In the upcoming months, we’ll accelerate our efforts. The previous months required significant learning and experimentation. Acknowledge your perseverance.

The next few months will be crucial for establishing a substantial monthly income, enabling us to move closer to replacing our day jobs — which is the ultimate goal, right? We’ve acquired essential skills: generating traffic, mastering email marketing, and making our initial sale.

Now, we’ll shift our focus towards enhancing our value.

How to Boost Your Monthly Income as a Creator

Consider this metaphor: Imagine it’s Super Bowl Sunday, and you’re watching the game. How much would it cost just to view it? If you’re paying for broadcast, it might be around $20. But what if you wanted to attend the game live? That could cost hundreds, or even thousands, for luxury seating.

Here’s the takeaway: Accessibility influences pricing. When you create a course, you might charge $199. If you offer group coaching, it could be $499. One-on-one coaching might cost $999, while consulting agreements could reach $9,999.

For example, I have a digital marketing consulting contract valued at $10,500, where I conduct weekly check-ins and manage their entire digital advertising setup.

How to Expand Your Reach as a Creator

As a creator, you’re effectively running a business, and every business aims to grow. This growth requires you to reach new audiences. To achieve this, take what you've built and share it across new platforms. Consider these user statistics:

• Medium: ~60 million monthly users
• Quora: ~300 million monthly users
• LinkedIn: ~310 million monthly users
• Twitter: ~400 million monthly users

As previously mentioned, traffic challenges are often self-imposed. Repurpose your content across different platforms by:

• Sharing snippets of articles as tweets
• Transforming lessons from your articles into LinkedIn posts
• Answering questions on Quora and elaborating them into Medium articles

By breaking down a single piece of content into multiple formats, you’ll enhance your visibility.

Remember: Attainability does not equate to ease. I wholeheartedly believe that with a clear objective, anyone can become a prosperous online creator. However, it won’t necessarily be straightforward.

The journey of content creation is reminiscent of hiking. Much of it will involve uphill battles, pushing beyond your perceived limits. There will be moments of exhaustion, but eventually, you’ll reach new heights. The view from the top will be rewarding, only to descend and face the next challenge.

The key is to keep progressing. Some days will be faster, others slower. The most crucial aspect is persistence.

Closing Reflections

This year-long, step-by-step framework is designed to help you become a well-compensated content creator:

• Month One: Identify your niche, select a platform, and hone your consistency.
• Months Two to Six: Continue content creation, start building your email list, and make your first sale.
• Months Seven to Nine: Elevate your standards and pricing by offering more access. Expand to additional platforms and adapt your content accordingly.
• Months Ten to Twelve: Collaborate with fellow creators, explore new opportunities, and present your work on podcasts to reach broader audiences.

Ready to enhance your earnings?

If you aspire to thrive and earn more through your passion — regardless of your background — take a look at my comprehensive guide.