Hey there, TDAY fam!

I’ve got a bit of a different email for you today - we’re looking at monetization.

But before we get into that…let me take you back to 2017.

I was this wide-eyed creator, sitting in my dorm room (yeah, a mattress, some lacrosse sticks, and those infamous bungee cords from my wrestling video days), thinking I'd hit the jackpot if I could just get enough views to make some AdSense money.

Spoiler alert: I was dead wrong.

The Creator Economy: A Brutal Reality Check

This is how the creator playbook used to look:

• Produce mind-blowing content

• Pray for viral moments

• Check AdSense every 5 minutes

• Sell your soul to the first sponsor who slides into your DMs

I watched so many talented creators burn out. Man… even I burned out.

You’d spend hundreds of hours crafting perfect videos, only to earn enough for maybe a fancy coffee and half a burrito. 

Everyone knew deep down this wasn’t the way to do it.

Remember when getting a sponsorship felt like winning the lottery? 

Those brand deals would come with strings so long they could wrap around the entire internet. 

I’ve heard horror stories of creators who had to change their entire video scripts because sponsors didn’t “like it”

At the end of the day, it’s your hard-earned reputation on the line.

The worst part? 

Most creators accepted this as "just the way things are."

But here's the truth that changed everything for me: 

Your audience is your REAL currency. 

Not views.

Not likes.

Not clicks.

But genuine connection.

I started noticing something interesting. 

The creators who were building communities with their content vs chasing algorithms were the ones doing the best.

They actually made a sustainable income. And that’s because they did more than create content…

They provided VALUE!

The game has fundamentally changed. 

The New Monetization Playbook 🚀

Your audience is your REAL asset. 

Because loyal followers are worth way more than random ad clicks.

Let's break down some game-changing monetization strategies:

Diversification Is Key

Gone are the days of relying on a single income stream. Smart creators are building multiple revenue channels:

• Paywalled exclusive content

• Merch drops that actually slap

• Affiliate marketing (but keep it authentic!)

• Online courses

• Consulting

• Live workshops

• Speaking gigs

🚨 Tactical Breakdown 🚨

Let's talk real numbers with a 100,000 subscriber, hypothetical sports entertainment channel:

(btw this number is 110% achievable considering how HUGE the market for sports content is and will continue to be in the future)

Subscription Model Potential

• 100,000 subscribers

• Just 1% convert to a $10 monthly subscription

• That's $10,000 MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue)

Merch Drop Magic

• Imagine converting 3,000 fans

• Average merchandise price: $60

• Potential revenue: $180,000 PER DROP

NOTE: Your monetization strategy needs to feel genuine. 

Fans can smell fake from a mile away.

If you’re creating value that your audience wants, you’ll have no trouble add multiple revenue streams like this to your business.

Pro Tip: Know Your Audience

Before you launch anything, ask yourself:

• What problem am I solving?

• What unique value do I bring?

• Would I actually buy this myself?

If I was to leave you with one message to take away and apply to your own creator business/YouTube channel, it’d be this…

Stop chasing views. Build a community instead.

Want TDAY’s help with content/monetization? SMASH the button below…