How to Make Money Online: What’s Worked Best for Me as a Content Creator for 16 Years

I still remember the first time I made actual money online. I was curled up on my poufy leather couch in my mismatched pajamas after putting my baby to bed, and I opened my email to see a 3-ish dollar payment from Google AdSense. Three dollars! It sounds so small now, but to me, it was a giant neon sign saying this could work. I could actually learn how to make money online as I stayed at home with my baby! Maybe I could turn my passion into a lucrative side gig during my spare time and make some extra cash!

Fast forward nearly sixteen years and a couple more babies later, and I’ve turned that little spark into a full-time business that brings in multiple six figures a year. From YouTube to blogging, affiliate sales to product design, I’ve built an income that supports my family, fuels my creativity, and gives me the freedom to travel and work from wherever I like (as long as I have an internet connection!). And I truly believe if you have something valuable to share and the willingness to stick with it, you can do this too.

So today I want to walk you through how to make money online based on what’s actually worked for me. No fluff, no hype: just real-world strategies that have stood the test of time. And I’ll share them in order of what’s made me the most money over the years.

YouTube Ad Revenue: My #1 Income Stream

Let’s start with the big one: YouTube ad revenue. This has consistently been my biggest income source for years, and here’s why: once you create a high-quality, engaging video that solves a problem or inspires your viewer, it can keep making money for YEARS. YouTube pays you through its Partner Program by placing ads on your videos, and your earnings are based on views, audience demographics, and engagement.

The key to success? Consistency, evergreen topics, and strong viewer engagement. Even videos I made ten years ago still bring in income every month. That’s the magic of searchable content!

Sure, YouTube ad revenue can be considered one of the best passive income streams, however there’s a caveat. You need to be consistent with your uploads (I do at least one long form video per week), and continually study how to make your videos better. What are people searching for on YouTube? How can you improve your video quality? What current trends can you latch onto? I’m always trying to grow on YouTube!

I’m going to continue to focus most of my energy on my YouTube channel this year. Why? It still brings me the most income, plus with the rise of AI there’s nothing quite like a real human on a screen. YouTube helps foster the human connection we all need right now!

Blog Ad Revenue: My Tried-and-True Long Game

If YouTube is my #1, blogging is a very close second… and it’s been in my life even longer (since 2009!). Once I joined a premium ad network, my blog started making real money passively. These networks place high-quality ads on your site, and you earn based on pageviews and engagement.

My best advice? Focus on keyword-rich, problem-solving posts. Think tutorials, before-and-after reveals, and seasonal inspiration. I still earn monthly revenue from blog posts I wrote years ago!

Learning about SEO (search engine optimization) is something I’d recommend right from the start so that you can create a blog that shows up when people are searching for your topic on Google.

Sponsored YouTube Videos: High-Earning, High-Impact

Once my YouTube channel grew, brands started approaching me for sponsored content. These are partnerships where I feature a brand’s product in a video that fits naturally into my content style.

Because I only work with brands I love and trust, these collaborations feel organic and my audience engages with them authentically. They’re a win-win, and the rates reflect that.

I find that companies will pay the most for a sponsored YouTube video. (Which makes sense, because they take the most work to make and they usually get the best engagement for me!)

Sponsored Social Media Posts: Bite-Sized Content, Big Results

Instagram Reels and TikToks have become great sources of extra money too. These short-form videos are relatively quick to produce, and when I pair them with my cozy aesthetic and real-life tips, they really connect with my audience.

Brands love this visual storytelling format, and when it’s authentic, these deals can be quite lucrative… even more so when bundled with blog or YouTube packages.

Facebook Video Ad Revenue: The Quiet MVP

This one surprises a lot of people: I also earn money from my DIY videos on Facebook! Once you qualify for in-stream ads, you can earn passively on Facebook too. It’s been a lovely little bonus income stream, especially since I repurpose content I’ve already created for other platforms.

What I don’t like about Facebook ad revenue is the fact that it’s all over the place. One month I’ll earn over a thousand dollars and then the next I’ll only earn a hundred. They seem to change things a lot over there, but I find it’s still worth it to post and cross my fingers! (For example, a Facebook Reel I made went viral last year and completely paid for the opportunity of the lifetime for my daughter: a school trip to Europe!)

Even though Facebook is probably my least favourite social media account, I’m thankful that it’s helped grow my business.

Merchandise: My Cozy Prairie Linens Co. Home Collection

Creating my own home decor line under Cozy Prairie Linens Co. was a dream come true. I design soft linen-cotton blend sheets, throw pillow covers, and duvet sets: things I would actually use in my own home.

This stream isn’t as passive as ads or affiliate sales, but it’s so rewarding. It connects me to my community in a deeper way and strengthens my brand as a cozy DIY and decor expert.

It was a lot of work to setup (product research, testing, insurance, paperwork, sharing on social media platforms, etc), and it took quite a bit of money to start, but it’s been doing well since I launched in March 2024! Having an online store is no walk in the park, but I’ve learned SO much over this past year and I feel like the store is a great addition to my online business.

Now, you don’t have to manufacture your own product from scratch or keep inventory on hand to sell merchandise. You can consider a company like TeeSpring who will create your designs on demand and drop ship them for you! Print-on-demand companies are a great option if you want to sell items like branded t-shirts, water bottles, tote bags, etc.

Affiliate Sales: The Ultimate “While You Sleep” Income

Affiliate income has been part of my strategy from the beginning. I earn commissions from products I recommend: mostly on Amazon, but also Wayfair, Etsy, and Cricut.

The trick to affiliate marketing is being specific and authentic. I never promote something I don’t truly use and love. A genuine recommendation goes a long way, and over time, those small commissions really add up!

My favourite affiliate program right now is Amazon Associates. I’ve been in the program for many years now and it consistently makes me the most affiliate revenue. Digital marketing – especially affiliate marketing – is ever-changing, though, so always keep your finger on the pulse of which affiliate programs seem to be working for your fellow content creators!

Online Courses: Teach What You Know

I created a mini course all about designing mood boards in Canva because people kept asking how I did it for my room makeovers. It’s affordable, quick, and packed with value, and it continues to sell on autopilot.

If you have a specific skill your audience wants to learn, even a small course can become a strong income stream over time.

And you don’t need to stop at courses or mini courses. Consider other digital products you can sell like checklists, an e-book, templates… the list goes on! I have graphic design training which has truly helped me when I’m creating digital products, but you could also consider hiring someone to design your downloads or courses. Freelancers on Fiverr or Upwork are a great resource! (Related: online freelance work like data entry, graphic design, video editing, online tutoring, and social media management are all more fantastic ways to earn money online!)

How Do I Get Paid?

Now that you know all of my main streams of income, you might be wondering: how do I actually get paid? Each platform/source is a little different, but here’s how it usually works:

• YouTube Ad Revenue: Google deposits this monthly in my bank account
• Blog Ad Revenue: I get paid by my ad network monthly via Paypal
• Sponsored Work: I have an agency that pays me for this via direct deposit
• Facebook Ad Revenue: This is also paid to me via Paypal
• Cozy Prairie Linens Co sales: Shopify (my e-commerce online platform)sends me direct deposits
• Affiliate Sales: Amazon pays my in direct deposits, and often sends me Amazon gift cards if I make bonus sales. The other affiliate channels usually pay me by direct deposit.

Now, How Do I Manage ALL of This?!

One of the most popular questions I get asked is: how the heck do you do it all?! My answer? I don’t! While my online business was a side gig at first, when it turned into my full time job I got help. My husband Sean has been able to work with me over the last 5 years or so, and since he’s home a lot he also helps a lot with the kids. Plus, I have an amazing Virtual Assistant who helps me write blog posts, does my social media management, answers emails, and even travels with me for work!

Another trick that helps me manage my time is re-using my content for all my various platforms. For example, I might film a YouTube video and then cut it down into several short-form videos for Instagram, TikTok & Facebook. Then I’ll take the YouTube video transcription and turn it into a blog post. It’s all about repurposing and batch producing content so that no minute goes to waste!

It’s Not About Overnight Success: It’s About Showing Up

People often ask me, “How long did it take before you started making real money?” And the honest answer is: a while. But I wasn’t doing it for the money at first, I was doing it because I loved creating, sharing, and connecting. I enjoyed sharing my expertise with folks online and helping them create a cozy DIY home. The money came as a result of showing up consistently, building trust, and learning what worked along the way.

I think the one mistake beginners make when trying to be a professional content creator is that they give up too soon. Don’t expect to go viral and make thousands immediately. Like any startup business, you’ll probably need to put in at least 3 years of hard, consistent work before you see the income you want. You’ll need to build a trusted online presence and study SEO and marketing strategies for your work. Learn writing techniques, photography techniques and videography tricks to make your content shine. You’ll need to take the feedback of your readers and viewers seriously so that you can keep creating valuable content for them. The learning is never-ending (just ask me… 16 years later and I’m learning something every single day)!

So if you’re wondering if you can make money online, the answer is yes. But don’t chase every shiny new platform. Focus on what lights you up and that magic intersection of what you’re passionate about and what people are searching for. Build slowly, strategically, and sustainably. Let go of what doesn’t work. Lean into what does. And know that your audience – the right audience – will find you.

And when they do? That first $3 AdSense payment just might change your life, too.