How to Make 6 Figures As A Content Strategist? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a content strategist? Good for you! Being a content strategist is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a content strategist - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog as a content strategist could significantly supplement your income and pave the way to making six figures. Given your expertise in content strategy, you could leverage your skills to create valuable, niche-specific content that attracts a broad audience. With 77% of internet users reading blogs, the potential to reach millions is immense.
Blogs are also rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, allowing you to build credibility and establish yourself as an authority in your field. By implementing a robust content strategy and maintaining a consistent posting schedule, you could drive substantial traffic to your blog. This, coupled with monetization strategies like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and offering premium content or services, could turn your blog into a highly lucrative business.
Additionally, as a location-independent venture, blogging allows you the flexibility to work anytime and anywhere, making it an ideal supplement or transition to a full-time career. Whether as a side hustle or your primary profession, starting a blog is a creative and profitable way to utilize your content strategy skills to their fullest potential.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
2. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
As a content strategist, you could significantly supplement your income and potentially reach six figures by becoming a social media influencer. Utilizing your expertise in crafting engaging content and understanding audience behavior, you can build a personal brand on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok, attracting both followers and lucrative brand partnerships.
By choosing a niche aligned with your interests and developing a strategic content plan, you could establish credibility and grow a dedicated audience. Brands are eager to collaborate with influencers who can effectively reach and persuade their target demographic, opening doors to sponsorships, paid collaborations, and even exclusive deals.
Taking this entrepreneurial leap not only diversifies your income streams but leverages your existing skills to create a business that thrives on the ever-growing importance of social media.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
3. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could be a powerful way for you to supplement your income and potentially achieve six-figure earnings as a content strategist. By leveraging your expertise, you could identify educational gaps in your field and develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials that cater to the needs of aspiring content strategists or related professionals.
Creating a self-paced or cohort-based online course not only provides passive income but also allows you to reach a wide student base with minimal startup costs. This entrepreneurial venture could enable you to monetize your instructional talents while serving eager lifelong learners seeking convenient and practical knowledge in content strategy.
How much you can make: $275 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
4. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could help you make six figures as a content strategist by leveraging your expertise to produce valuable and engaging content. With YouTube's established monetization system and incredible popularity, you could generate revenue through ad placement, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing once you meet the criteria for the YouTube Partner Program, which includes amassing 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months.
By consistently posting high-quality content and employing strategic promotion techniques, you could build a large and loyal audience that enhances your personal brand. This increased visibility could lead to additional opportunities such as consulting gigs, online courses, and memberships that supplement your income, ultimately propelling you towards six-figure earnings.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
5. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could significantly supplement your income as a content strategist by tapping into your existing expertise and audience. By choosing a niche topic that you’re passionate about and that resonates with a dedicated audience, you could easily leverage your skills in content creation and strategy to produce high-quality, engaging episodes.
With minimal investment in basic recording equipment and a hosting platform, you could promote your podcast through social media and online communities, gradually building a loyal listener base. This following could eventually attract sponsors or advertisers, providing a steady stream of additional income. Furthermore, a successful podcast could enhance your personal brand and open doors to speaking engagements, consultancy opportunities, and other lucrative ventures.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
6. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could significantly enhance your income as a content strategist by allowing you to diversify your revenue streams. With strong writing skills and a knack for meeting deadlines, you could take advantage of flexible, online freelance opportunities to work on diverse assignments from various clients. This flexibility not only helps manage your time effectively but also lets you work from anywhere, offering the potential for substantial income growth.
As a content strategist, you are already familiar with current trends and possess strong communication skills, making freelance writing a natural extension of your professional capabilities. By leveraging your expertise, you could attract high-paying clients and work on projects that deepen your knowledge in different niches. This entrepreneurial approach could provide the additional income needed to reach six figures and support a thriving freelance business.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
7. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a content strategist, delving into affiliate marketing could present lucrative opportunities to substantially increase your income. Affiliate marketing involves promoting other companies' products or services through your content channels and earning commissions on sales generated from your referrals. Given your expertise in creating compelling content and understanding audience engagement, you could leverage these skills to drive significant traffic and conversions for affiliate products.
Affiliate marketing requires minimal upfront investment since you don't need to own or create the products yourself. All you need to do is sign up for affiliate programs in your niche, obtain unique tracking links, and strategically integrate them into your content. This low-cost side business can seamlessly complement your existing role, potentially leading you to a six-figure income through a combination of your strategizing capabilities and consistent promotional efforts.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
8. Digital products ($242K/month)
As a content strategist, you could significantly boost your income by creating and selling digital products. Given your expertise in content creation and strategy, developing an ebook, an online course, or even a membership site could be a seamless extension of your skill set. Digital products are highly sought after because they're easy to create, share, and sell.
The beauty of digital products lies in their scalability and low overhead. You don’t need to worry about inventory or shipping costs. Simply put your knowledge into a digital format and share it directly from your website. This approach not only opens a new revenue stream but also positions you as an authority in your field, making it easier to reach that six-figure mark.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
9. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an eCommerce store could allow you to supplement your income as a content strategist and help push you towards the six-figure mark. With the increasing popularity of online shopping due to its convenience, setting up an eCommerce site gives you the chance to capitalize on a broad and ever-growing audience without the high overhead costs of a brick-and-mortar store.
In addition to the financial benefits, your skills in content strategy could be directly applied to your eCommerce business, enhancing product descriptions, creating persuasive marketing copy, and optimizing website content for SEO. This dual approach not only maximizes your potential earnings but also sharpens your expertise, making you more valuable in the job market.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
10. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could significantly boost your income as a content strategist. Given your expertise, creating and executing efficient social media marketing strategies could help you serve clients effectively and save time through automation tools, allowing you to manage your main job alongside this entrepreneurial venture.
By developing a strong agency portfolio, you could attract a diverse clientele, thereby increasing your revenue streams. This additional income could help you cover expenses like utility bills or education fees, or save for bigger goals, such as a vacation.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
11. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a content strategist, potentially helping you reach the six-figure mark. By leveraging your expertise in professional development and communication, you could design custom sessions focused on resume building, interview preparation, and workplace advancement tailored to each client’s unique aspirations.
With the flexibility to conduct sessions both in-person and virtually, you have the freedom to build a diverse client base and accommodate various schedules. This opportunity not only enables you to monetize your natural motivational abilities and human resources expertise but also allows you to make a significant impact by empowering others in their career journeys.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
