Whether it’s through Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, DMs is where you develop strong relationships with other people.You could be yourself and show up with what you know, and people will still be willing to work with you. Sometimes, you know more than you think. The person you might want to help can be at day 0, while you’re at day 100. Your goal is to bridge that gap.Don’t be afraid to develop strong relationships with the people who are commenting or engaging with your work. You never know, they might be your next client.

DMs on any social media

Share the tools that you’re using online. You never know who will find value in it. If people ask you to share it, that means that they are willing to pay for it.It may not be much, but sometimes those first dollars count because it makes selling online less scary.

Using platforms that allow you to upload your resources

If you have invested in a program that you would recommend to others, ask the founder if they have an affiliate program. This way, it becomes a win-win situation. You genuinely promote their program, and you get paid if they end up signing up because of you.

Platforms where you share your journey

<figure><img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/0*xS8V3brtECG" width="680" height="453"></figure>I bought my very first online course back in July 2020.When I attended the pre-sale webinar, the instructor guaranteed that her students would earn 5k/month within six months of taking the course. I was excited to learn about these strategies.Some students did it. Others, like me, weren’t able to do it. Not because I didn’t go through with it, because I did. But sometimes, your core values can get in the way of online entrepreneurship.I’m lucky to learn about the things that I’m not willing to do online early on. Even though it feels like I wasted money on that course, but since then, I’ve realized the creative entrepreneurial journey won’t be easy as advertised.Eight months later, I’ve learned something about making your first dollar on the internet (in a way that feels good) as a new creator.You don’t need a website, a newsletter or a big audience to make this happen. But, you do need patience, self-trust and <a rel="noopener" href="https://medium.com/swlh/creators-boost-your-confidence-and-earnings-by-investing-in-yourself-67c57018dda4" dir="ltr">self-confidence</a>, and believing that money can come from anywhere.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">DMs on any social media</h1>Whether it’s through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, DMs is where you develop strong relationships with other people.I reached out to someone on DM on Twitter out of curiosity based on his content. As we talked more and more, we realized that we have a lot of things in common. We decided to hop on a Zoom call out of pure interest as I looked for new online friends.At this time, I wasn’t charging for anything. I told him about my plans to have coaching services to help beginner creators with their mindset.We had an almost 2-hour call of getting to know each other and sharing each other’s struggles.The very next day, he presented himself as my very first paying client, despite knowing that I don’t know what I’m doing. I was honest and told him what I know and my plans. Sure enough, he was willing to take that risk with me.That’s when I realized that you could be yourself and show up with what you know, and people will still be willing to work with you.Sometimes, you know more than you think. The person you might want to help can be at day 0, while you’re at day 100. Your goal is to bridge that gap.Your prospective customer doesn’t need to know the Steps C to Z. They only need to know the step A to B and B to C while you’re learning the D to Z in the meantime.So, don’t be afraid to develop strong relationships with the people who are commenting or engaging with your work. You never know, they might be your next client.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">A creator-centred platform that allows you to upload your resources</h1>I accidentally made $40 in March.One day, I created an excel sheet where I tracked the topics of my writing. I wanted to know what categories I was writing about to see if there was a pattern in my topics. I also wanted to know what topics are resonating with my audience.I decided to make a short video showing my Twitter followers for fun. The video caught the attention of some people. They also started asking me if they could have a copy of the template.Someone suggested I sell it, but I felt uncomfortable doing that.I didn’t put much work into it because it was for personal use, so I didn’t want to sell it.Instead, I put the blank writing template and the link to the video I created on a <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jerinenicole" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">donation page</a>. This way, I could give the template for free, and people could “buy me a coffee” if they enjoyed it. On the first day, I earned my first $40.Share the tools that you’re using online. You never know who will find value in it. If people ask you to share it, that means that they are willing to pay for it.It may not be much, but sometimes those first dollars count because it makes selling online less scary.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">The platform where you share your journey</h1>I thought that affiliate marketing is only for bloggers.I didn’t realize the power of this until I joined the community called Ship30for30. I loved that community so much that I always bragged about it in public. I didn’t realize that by doing that, I got people excited to join the community.One day, someone messaged me asking if I have an affiliate link because I inspired them to join the community.How cool is that?If you have invested in a program that you would recommend to others, ask the founder if they have an affiliate program. This way, it becomes a win-win situation. You genuinely promote their program, and you get paid if they end up signing up because of you.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Final Thoughts</h1>Money is abundant online.When I started, it felt impossible to create my first dollar. Granted, it took me eight months, about $3000 and an emotional roller coaster ride to do so. But I wouldn’t change it for the world because of the things I’m learning.You never know where that money will come from, so learn and experiment. Sometimes, there are better places to earn money than the usual advice (services, online courses, and ebooks), especially if they don’t align with your values.As a creator, <a rel="noopener" href="https://medium.com/swlh/why-creating-is-your-number-one-priority-as-a-new-creator-f2ab39dc1346" dir="ltr">your focus is to create</a>. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t earn money here and there without deviating from practicing your craft.You need to create, show up, and the money will come.If you enjoyed this article, check out <a href="http://jerinenicole.substack.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">The Roaming Heart</a>, my 2-min newsletter on simple &amp; intentional living as a multipassionate creator.

When I attended the pre-sale webinar, the instructor guaranteed that her students would earn 5k/month within six months of taking the course. I was excited to learn about these strategies. Some…

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Entrepreneurship

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I bought my very first online course back in July 2020.

When I attended the pre-sale webinar, the instructor guaranteed that her students would earn 5k/month within six months of taking the course. I was excited to learn about these strategies.

Some students did it. Others, like me, weren’t able to do it. Not because I didn’t go through with it, because I did. But sometimes, your core values can get in the way of online entrepreneurship.

I’m lucky to learn about the things that I’m not willing to do online early on. Even though it feels like I wasted money on that course, but since then, I’ve realized the creative entrepreneurial journey won’t be easy as advertised.

Eight months later, I’ve learned something about making your first dollar on the internet (in a way that feels good) as a new creator.

You don’t need a website, a newsletter or a big audience to make this happen. But, you do need patience, self-trust and <a href="https://medium.com/swlh/creators-boost-your-confidence-and-earnings-by-investing-in-yourself-67c57018dda4">self-confidence </a>, and believing that money can come from anywhere.

Whether it’s through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, DMs is where you develop strong relationships with other people.

I reached out to someone on DM on Twitter out of curiosity based on his content. As we talked more and more, we realized that we have a lot of things in common. We decided to hop on a Zoom call out of pure interest as I looked for new online friends.

At this time, I wasn’t charging for anything. I told him about my plans to have coaching services to help beginner creators with their mindset.

We had an almost 2-hour call of getting to know each other and sharing each other’s struggles.

The very next day, he presented himself as my very first paying client, despite knowing that I don’t know what I’m doing. I was honest and told him what I know and my plans. Sure enough, he was willing to take that risk with me.

That’s when I realized that you could be yourself and show up with what you know, and people will still be willing to work with you.

Your prospective customer doesn’t need to know the Steps C to Z. They only need to know the step A to B and B to C while you’re learning the D to Z in the meantime.

So, don’t be afraid to develop strong relationships with the people who are commenting or engaging with your work. You never know, they might be your next client.

A creator-centred platform that allows you to upload your resources

I accidentally made $40 in March.

One day, I created an excel sheet where I tracked the topics of my writing. I wanted to know what categories I was writing about to see if there was a pattern in my topics. I also wanted to know what topics are resonating with my audience.

I decided to make a short video showing my Twitter followers for fun. The video caught the attention of some people. They also started asking me if they could have a copy of the template.

Someone suggested I sell it, but I felt uncomfortable doing that.

I didn’t put much work into it because it was for personal use, so I didn’t want to sell it.

Instead, I put the blank writing template and the link to the video I created on a <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jerinenicole">donation page </a>. This way, I could give the template for free, and people could “buy me a coffee” if they enjoyed it. On the first day, I earned my first $40.

Share the tools that you’re using online. You never know who will find value in it. If people ask you to share it, that means that they are willing to pay for it.

It may not be much, but sometimes those first dollars count because it makes selling online less scary.

The platform where you share your journey

I thought that affiliate marketing is only for bloggers.

I didn’t realize the power of this until I joined the community called Ship30for30. I loved that community so much that I always bragged about it in public. I didn’t realize that by doing that, I got people excited to join the community.

One day, someone messaged me asking if I have an affiliate link because I inspired them to join the community.

If you have invested in a program that you would recommend to others, ask the founder if they have an affiliate program. This way, it becomes a win-win situation. You genuinely promote their program, and you get paid if they end up signing up because of you.

When I started, it felt impossible to create my first dollar. Granted, it took me eight months, about $3000 and an emotional roller coaster ride to do so. But I wouldn’t change it for the world because of the things I’m learning.

You never know where that money will come from, so learn and experiment. Sometimes, there are better places to earn money than the usual advice (services, online courses, and ebooks), especially if they don’t align with your values.

As a creator, <a href="https://medium.com/swlh/why-creating-is-your-number-one-priority-as-a-new-creator-f2ab39dc1346">your focus is to create </a>. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t earn money here and there without deviating from practicing your craft.

You need to create, show up, and the money will come.

If you enjoyed this article, check out <a href="http://jerinenicole.substack.com/">The Roaming Heart </a>, my 2-min newsletter on simple & intentional living as a multipassionate creator.

3 Unusual Places to Earn Money Online without Compromising Your Morals

DMs on any social media

Using platforms that allow you to upload your resources

Platforms where you share your journey

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