u/AutomaticView1644

Hi all! I’ve been creating content as a side project and I’m trying to figure out if I’m at a point where I should try to monetize or if I should just keep it as a hobby.
For context, I’m not a full-time creator. I work in a corporate design role and I travel a lot for work, which is what led me to start documenting things on the side. I don’t come from a content or influencer background so I’m still trying to understand how this space works.

Over the past year:
• \~1M total views on Reddit (mostly long-form posts)
• Top 1% poster in a Reddit community with \~800K users
• I’ve done product write-ups for a well-known brand carried by REI, Huckberry, etc
• Collaborated with the art director of a premium men’s clothing brand
• Wrote a blog post for a company that recently raised \~$2M

Right now I primarily use Reddit for long-form content and Instagram for photography. I don’t really use other platforms and not interesting in TikTok.

At the moment, I don’t make any money from this and I’m currently turning down more products than I’m receiving. I’m not interested in clickbait or low-quality content as I’d rather keep things thoughtful and well-made, even if that means slower growth.

What I’m trying to understand is:
• At this level of traction, is monetization realistic without going all-in?
• What are the most practical paths to start (affiliate, brand partnerships, paid writing, something else)?
• At what point does this typically become meaningfully worth the time vs. staying marginal?

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who’ve been in a similar position and either chose to monetize or decided not to. TIA!!

Hi all! I’ve been creating content as a side project and I’m trying to figure out if I’m at a point where I should try to monetize or if I should just keep it as a hobby.
For context, I’m not a full-time creator. I work in a corporate design role and I travel a lot for work, which is what led me to start documenting things on the side. I don’t come from a content or influencer background so I’m still trying to understand how this space works.

Over the past year:
• ~1M total views on Reddit (mostly long-form posts)
• Top 1% poster in a Reddit community with ~800K users
• I’ve done product write-ups for a well-known brand carried by REI, Huckberry, etc
• Collaborated with the art director of a premium men’s clothing brand
• Wrote a blog post for a company that recently raised ~$2M

Right now I primarily use Reddit for long-form content and Instagram for photography. I haven’t really explored other platforms yet and not interesting in TikTok.

At the moment, I don’t make any money from this and I’m currently turning down more products than I’m receiving. I’m not interested in clickbait or low-quality content as I’d rather keep things thoughtful and well-made, even if that means slower growth.

What I’m trying to understand is:
• At this level of traction, is monetization realistic without going all-in?
• What are the most practical paths to start (affiliate, brand partnerships, paid writing, something else)?
• At what point does this typically become meaningfully worth the time vs. staying marginal?

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who’ve been in a similar position and either chose to monetize or decided not to. TIA!!

Hi marketing experts, hope this is the right place for my question! I’ve been creating content as a side project and I’m trying to figure out if I’m at a point where I should try to monetize or if I should just keep it as a hobby. For context, I’m not a full-time creator. I work in a corporate design role and I travel a lot for work, which is what led me to start documenting things on the side. I don’t come from a content or influencer background so I’m still trying to understand how this space works.

Over the past year:
• ~1M total views on Reddit (mostly long-form posts)
• Top 1% poster in a Reddit community with ~800K users
• I’ve done product write-ups for a well-known brand carried by REI, Huckberry, etc
• Collaborated with the art director of a premium men’s clothing brand
• Wrote a blog post for a company that recently raised ~$2M

Right now I primarily use Reddit for long-form content and Instagram for photography. I haven’t really explored other platforms yet and not interesting in TikTok.

At the moment, I don’t make any money from this and I’m currently turning down more products than I’m receiving. I’m not interested in clickbait or low-quality content as I’d rather keep things thoughtful and well-made, even if that means slower growth.

What I’m trying to understand is:
• At this level of traction, is monetization realistic without going all-in?
• What are the most practical paths to start (affiliate, brand partnerships, paid writing, something else)?
• At what point does this typically become meaningfully worth the time vs. staying marginal?

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who’ve been in a similar position and either chose to monetize or decided not to. TIA!!

Hi all! I’ve been creating content as a side project and I’m trying to figure out if I’m at a point where I should try to monetize or if I should just keep it as a hobby.
For context, I’m not a full-time creator. I work in a corporate design role and I travel a lot for work, which is what led me to start documenting things on the side. I don’t come from a content or influencer background so I’m still trying to understand how this space works.

Over the past year:
• ~1M total views on Reddit (mostly long-form posts)
• Top 1% poster in a Reddit community with ~800K users
• I’ve done product write-ups for a well-known brand carried by REI, Huckberry, etc
• Collaborated with the art director of a premium men’s clothing brand
• Wrote a blog post for a company that recently raised ~$2M

Right now I primarily use Reddit for long-form content and Instagram for photography. I haven’t really explored other platforms yet and not interesting in TikTok.

At the moment, I don’t make any money from this and I’m currently turning down more products than I’m receiving. I’m not interested in clickbait or low-quality content as I’d rather keep things thoughtful and well-made, even if that means slower growth.

What I’m trying to understand is:
• At this level of traction, is monetization realistic without going all-in?
• What are the most practical paths to start (affiliate, brand partnerships, paid writing, something else)?
• At what point does this typically become meaningfully worth the time vs. staying marginal?

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who’ve been in a similar position and either chose to monetize or decided not to. TIA!!

Hi all! I’ve been creating content as a side project and I’m trying to figure out if I’m at a point where I should try to monetize or if I should just keep it as a hobby.
For context, I’m not a full-time creator. I work in a corporate design role and I travel a lot for work, which is what led me to start documenting things on the side. I don’t come from a content or influencer background so I’m still trying to understand how this space works.

Over the past year:
• ~1M total views on Reddit (mostly long-form posts)
• Top 1% poster in a Reddit community with ~800K users
• I’ve done product write-ups for a well-known brand carried by REI, Huckberry, etc
• Collaborated with the art director of a premium men’s clothing brand
• Wrote a blog post for a company that recently raised ~$2M

Right now I primarily use Reddit for long-form content and Instagram for photography. I haven’t really explored other platforms yet and not interesting in TikTok.

At the moment, I don’t make any money from this and I’m currently turning down more products than I’m receiving. I’m not interested in clickbait or low-quality content as I’d rather keep things thoughtful and well-made, even if that means slower growth.

What I’m trying to understand is:
• At this level of traction, is monetization realistic without going all-in?
• What are the most practical paths to start (affiliate, brand partnerships, paid writing, something else)?
• At what point does this typically become meaningfully worth the time vs. staying marginal?

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who’ve been in a similar position and either chose to monetize or decided not to. TIA!!

Hi all! I’ve been creating content as a side project and I’m trying to figure out if I’m at a point where I should try to monetize or if I should just keep it as a hobby.
For context, I’m not a full-time creator. I work in a corporate design role and I travel a lot for work, which is what led me to start documenting things on the side. I don’t come from a content or influencer background so I’m still trying to understand how this space works.

Over the past year:
• ~1M total views on Reddit (mostly long-form posts)
• Top 1% poster in a Reddit community with ~800K users
• I’ve done product write-ups for a well-known brand carried by REI, Huckberry, etc
• Collaborated with the art director of a premium men’s clothing brand
• Wrote a blog post for a company that recently raised ~$2M

Right now I primarily use Reddit for long-form content and Instagram for photography. I haven’t really explored other platforms yet and not interesting in TikTok.

At the moment, I don’t make any money from this and I’m currently turning down more products than I’m receiving. I’m not interested in clickbait or low-quality content as I’d rather keep things thoughtful and well-made, even if that means slower growth.

What I’m trying to understand is:
• At this level of traction, is monetization realistic without going all-in?
• What are the most practical paths to start (affiliate, brand partnerships, paid writing, something else)?
• At what point does this typically become meaningfully worth the time vs. staying marginal?

Would especially appreciate hearing from people who’ve been in a similar position and either chose to monetize or decided not to. TIA!!