You’ve been stuck in a 9-5 job for years, thinking, “There has to be a better way to make money” without giving up my entire life for it.
Any of these sound familiar?
* “I see creators making real money online but have no clue how they actually do it”
* “My 9-5 pays the bills but I know I could be building something bigger”
* “Every time I open Instagram, someone’s launching another course or masterclass – but I don’t want to be that guy”
* “There’s gotta be a way to make money from my content without feeling sleazy about it”
* “I’ve got skills and ideas, but turning them into income? That’s where I’m stuck”
* “I’ve got a 9-5 and cannot spend 6 hours everyday in a side hustle”
If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place.
I’m going to show you how you can start a content business with just 2 hours of work per day.
No fluff, no scammy tactics—just actionable steps that work.
And here’s what you’re going to learn:
- How to pick the best platform for your content.
- How to define your niche and create a killer profile that attracts followers.
- How to get your first 1,000 followers.
- What to do next: Lead magnet basics and why it’s your secret weapon.
- How to build your funnel.
- How to monetize your audience, both subtly and explicitly.
- The roadmap to keep it all on track.
1. How to Choose the Correct Platform for You
First things first, you can’t be everywhere. Trying to grow on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn all at once will burn you out fast.
Let’s make this simple. Ask yourself:
Who do I want to connect with? Are you targeting entrepreneurs? Fitness buffs? Creatives? What’s your strength? If you’re great at writing, go for Twitter or LinkedIn. If you’re more into visuals or video, choose Instagram or YouTube.Example:
If you’re trying to target professionals who want career advice, LinkedIn is your playground.
Post long-form, story-based content. But if you’re showing off DIY crafts, Instagram is where you need to be.
Pro Tip: Choose one platform, master it, and then think about expanding. Don’t spread yourself thin.
2. How to Start: Your Niche, Your Profile
Your niche is what people will remember you for. It’s not a box you’re trapped in, but a foundation you build on.
Here’s the breakdown:
80% Content for your niche: Pick something you love and are knowledgeable about.
20% Personal content: Share a bit of you—your opinions, your life. This builds trust and relatability.
For your profile, make it clear and concise:
Bio: Use keywords that describe how you help people.
Example: “Helping small business owners build their first website in 7 days.”
Profile Picture: No blurry selfies—use a professional, clear shot.
Call to Action: Tell them what to do next.
“Follow me for tips”, “DM me for a free guide”, etc.
3. Your First 1,000 Followers
Now that your profile’s solid, let’s talk about building your audience. Those first 1,000 followers might feel like a mountain to climb, but here’s how you do it:
- Engage with people in your niche: Leave meaningful comments on posts. Don’t just say “Nice!” —add value.
- Share content that solves problems: Make it actionable and helpful. Think “How-to” guides, tips, or mistakes to avoid.
- Cold DM: Yup, it’s scary, but it works. Reach out to people in your field with a compliment or offer something of value for free.
Example
If you’re a fitness coach, share daily tips like “5 exercises to improve flexibility” and comment on other fitness accounts to get noticed.
4. What Next? Lead Magnet Basics
This is crucial. Followers are just numbers on a screen. Tomorrow, Instagram could delete your account, and poof—years of work, gone. That’s why you need to collect emails.
Why emails? Because they’re yours forever. No algorithm, no platform can take them from you. But how do you get people to give you their email? Simple: Give them something valuable for FREE.
Create a lead magnet—a free ebook, guide, or checklist—and tell people, “Sign up to get this free resource”.
Example:
If you’re teaching marketing, offer a free checklist like “10 Marketing Mistakes New Businesses Make.” Tell people, “Sign up here to get it free.”
And guess what? Setting this up takes 5 minutes using tools like ConvertKit. No tech headaches. Just a quick, simple form that collects emails for you.
5. How to Expand?
Once you’ve got emails, it’s time to build a funnel. Sounds fancy, but here’s how it works:
Top of Funnel (TOF): Free content (social media posts, blogs) that brings people to you.
Middle of Funnel (MOF): Lead magnet or valuable freebie in exchange for their email.
Bottom of Funnel (BOF): Sell something. A paid course, a service, or a digital product.Example:
Post a free tip on social media (TOF) > Lead them to download a free guide (MOF) > Offer a paid service like consulting or a full course (BOF).
6. How to Monetize Implicitly
Here are the subtle ways to make money:
Ads: Place them in your content—this could be a sponsored post or an ad in your newsletter.
Collaborations: Partner with brands or other creators who share your audience.
Affiliate Marketing: Recommend products you actually use and get a commission when someone buys.
Example:
You’re a tech blogger? Review tools like ConvertKit or Canva and use affiliate links. Every time someone clicks your link and buys, you get paid.
7. How to Monetize Explicitly
Want to get more direct? Here’s how:
DIY (Do-It-Yourself): Sell courses, templates, or guides that teach people how to do something on their own.
DWY (Done-With-You): Offer a service where you do it with them (eg. helping them create a masterclass)DFY (Done-For-You): Offer a service where you handle things for them (e.g., website design, social media management).
Example:
If you’re a designer, offer a DIY course on “How to design your first logo” for beginners. Or go DFY and create logos for clients.
8. Roadmap
Here’s the simple roadmap to follow:
- Pick your platform.
- Nail your niche and build a profile that sells.
- Get those first 1,000 followers through engagement and content.
- Use a lead magnet to collect emails.
- Build a funnel and start selling.
- Monetize with ads, collabs, affiliates, or your own products.
It’s a process, but trust me, with just 2 hours a day, you can build something that generates income while you sleep. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see results.
If you want to understand this whole roadmap with more examples, and depth you can buy our Creator Kickstart 2025 Playbook here. It’s FREE for initial 20 copies.
Your 8-Week Game Plan to 1,000 Followers by January 2025
Alright, now that you’ve got the strategy down, it’s time to make it happen.
Over the next 8 weeks, I want you to commit to working just 2 hours a day to build your content business. By January 2025, you’ll have your first 1,000 followers and be well on your way to making money online.
Here’s your week-by-week plan:
Week 1: Choose Your Platform and Niche
Choose one platform that aligns with your strengths (Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).
Decide on your niche—what topic you want to be known for. Focus on something you can consistently create content around.
Set up your profile: Write a clear bio, upload a professional profile picture, and add a call to action.
Time investment: 2 hours/day on brainstorming and setting up your profile.
Week 2: Create 5-10 Content Ideas
Think about the problems your audience faces and how you can help solve them.
Create a list of 5-10 content ideas that will deliver value (tips, how-to guides, industry insights).
Write your first few posts and schedule them out using tools like Hypefury or BlackMagic.
Time investment: 2 hours/day on creating and scheduling content.
Week 3: Engage, Engage, Engage
Now it’s time to get noticed. Start engaging with others in your niche. Leave thoughtful comments, retweet, or share their content.
Cold DM a few people you admire. Compliment their work and start building relationships.
Time investment: 1 hour/day on content, 1 hour/day on engagement.
Week 4: Create Your Lead Magnet
Design a lead magnet—a free guide, checklist, or mini-ebook that solves a specific problem for your audience.
Use ConvertKit or a similar tool to set up a simple email collection form.
(Remember, this will take just 5 minutes to set up).
Time investment: 2 hours/day on creating your lead magnet.
Week 5: Promote Your Lead Magnet
Promote your lead magnet on social media. Add it to your bio and tell your followers, “Hey, grab my free [lead magnet] to help with [specific problem]!”
Use your content to drive traffic to the lead magnet.
Time investment: 1 hour/day promoting, 1 hour/day engaging.
Week 6: Consistency and Engagement
Focus on posting consistently and engaging daily.
Keep building relationships in your niche by commenting, sharing, and DMing.
Start experimenting with different types of content (videos, carousels, threads, etc.).
Time investment: 1 hour/day creating content, 1 hour/day engaging.
Week 7: Grow Your Email List
Continue pushing your lead magnet and grow your email list. Every new email is a potential sale.
Keep engaging with your audience and ask for feedback on your content.
Time investment: 1 hour/day promoting, 1 hour/day engaging.
Week 8: Review and Prep for Monetization
Review your progress. Do you have 1,000 followers yet? If not, keep pushing!
Start thinking about how you’ll monetize. Will it be through affiliate marketing, services, or a course? Begin drafting ideas for your first product.
Time investment: 1 hour/day reviewing and creating, 1 hour/day engaging.
Final Thoughts: Setting Yourself Up for Success in 2025
Here’s the truth: It’s not going to be easy. The next 8 weeks will require focus, consistency, and hard work. It might even take you the first quarter of 2025 to fully see results.
But remember, this isn’t about overnight success—it’s about setting up the foundation for long-term growth.
By the time you have a solid lead magnet and a growing email list, you’ll start making your first dollar.
It may be just $10 at first, but that $10 will turn into $100, then $1,000. And before you know it, in a few more weeks, you’ll hit $10,000—and you’ll be so proud of the 2024 you who took the leap and put in the work.
Start now, stay consistent, and 2025 will be the year you finally break free from the grind.
Grab our “Creator Kickstart 2025” playbook for FREE before 20 spots are over!Free Download: Creator Kickstart
Access the playbook now to become a successful creator in 2025, even if you’re a complete beginner
It’s more detailed than this blog and has got examples for all 4 platforms (Instagram, X, Youtube, Linkedin)👇
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