6 Little-Known Platforms Gen Z Use To Monetise Their Talent

Young workers are increasingly chasing multiple jobs and sources of income as they embark on their careers.

Hybrid working has given extra time and space to experiment with side hustles.

Every year new and wonderful ways of earning online spring up, creating a range of opportunities for people to monetise their skills.

One of the main characteristics of Gen Z is that they are entrepreneurial hustlers, who have been earning money online from an early age through a variety of activities, the most notable being content creation for brands.

Let’s take a look at some of the most unexpected ways Gen Z monetise content creation:

1. Patreon helps content creators get paid by their fans

Patreon is a popular online platform that allows creators to earn money directly from their fans, followers, or supporters.

Patreon enables creators to receive direct financial support from their audience. Fans, or “patrons,” can contribute a fixed amount of money repeatedly (per creation, per month, etc.), providing a consistent income stream for creators.

Patreon is not a content platform (although it can host subscriber-only content), but rather a way to monetise other platforms such as Youtube, by promoting the Patreon link within content.

Why do creators use Patreon?

Creators often face income uncertainty, especially if they rely on ad revenue or one-time project payments.

Patreon offers a more stable income model by providing a predictable stream of revenue, allowing creators to focus on their craft without worrying about financial fluctuations.

Everyone can use Patreon, however, the majority of creators are Youtubers and podcasters. Today, there are more than 250,000 creators with over 8 million active members on Patreon.

High-profile creators, particularly those in the fields of art, music, podcasting, and online education, have reported earning tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per month through their Patreon campaigns.

2. Twitch helps video gamers monetise their content

Twitch is a live streaming platform primarily focused on content related to video gaming with gamers such as Ninja, Pokimane, and Amouranth being consistently amongst the biggest earners on the platform.

But how do Twitch streamers earn money?

Like any other platform, it starts with building an audience, which can take time and effort.

However, once the audience is there, you can monetise via a variety of Twitch-based services, such as subscriptions, donations, and ads, or non-Twitch methods such as sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and merchandise.

The beauty of the Twitch platform is that the monetisation elements can be utilized whether you have a huge audience or a tiny one.

Even streamers with a small dedicated audience of a few hundred can turn that into a side hustle that brings in money whilst also being fun.

3. Substack helps authors and writers get paid for their writing

Substack is an online platform that enables writers/authors/journalists and content creators to publish and distribute newsletters to subscribers who pay a monthly or yearly fee to get access to the writing.

The content can include video or other media types, but it is written content that is the heart of the Substack offering.

Substack provides creators with a built-in audience and tools for discovering and subscribing to newsletters. Readers can easily find and follow their favorite writers on the platform, creating a direct connection between creators and their audience.

Unlike other newsletter platforms like MailChimp or Mailerlite, Substakc emails get delivered to subscribers primarily (not promotional) emails, allowing creators to engage with their audience directly through a familiar medium. This approach emphasizes the personal and direct nature of the creator-subscriber relationship.

Why are writers turning to Substack?

Offline, traditional newspapers have suffered with a huge downturn in physical sales, and online, news websites have had to make the tricky decision to either paywall their content, which would limit their readership, or to follow an advertising-funded model, which could compromise their editorial quality as the chase for clicks may lead to less serious content.

But it was the writers who suffered the most in this process.

As the revenues within media and journalism changed, and in some ways dried up, it became harder and harder for writers in certain areas to find platforms that could pay them for their work.

Some fields, such as in-depth investigative journalism, were expensive, and media outlets could not justify the cost.

Even previously high-profile political journalists could struggle to find a place to publish, especially in the increasingly polarized media landscape.

Whether the content is a niche scientific area, politics, or even fiction, Substack offers a way for writers to get paid directly by devotees of their work, in a media landscape where it would be difficult (if not impossible) to find a more traditional revenue stream.

4. Onlyfans helps erotic models get paid by their fans

OnlyFans is a subscription-based content platform that allows content creators to share exclusive, often adult-oriented, content with their subscribers.

With over 3 million creators, and upwards of 200 million monthly users, Onlyfans has become one of the largest content platforms in the world.

Whilst it is not only for adult-themed content, the majority of the creators on the platform do produce more NSFW (Not Safe For Work) content, with 70% of the creators in that space.

In addition, the vast majority of creators on the platform are female.

Oliver Sims runs an agency – STAR Model Management, that works with Onlyfans models to help with the management and marketing of their Onlyfans pages.

“Onlyfans has completely changed the adult content industry. The days when models had to work with big studios or websites to make any money are gone. Now content creators are in charge. Onlyfans allows models to connect with their fans directly” said Olly. “The creators on Onlyfans are entrepreneurs who are in control of their own content and business”.

Onlyfans creators are now very similar to influencers on other platforms such a YouTube or Instagram. Content is everything, and the pressure to create continuously to keep up the numbers of subscribers can be intense, and lead to burnout.

According to Oliver, an average active and well-established account makes around $1000 per month.

Whilst creating content on Onlyfans is definitely not for everyone, it is becoming more and more prevalent, and in some ways more acceptable amongst the younger generations.

It looks like it will continue to grow in the coming years and smart creators will continue to cash in!

5. Feetfinder lets you sell your feet pics

This is just what it sounds like. Snap a few pictures of your feet and make money. Here are some sites where you can sell pictures and make this happen:

• Feetify
• Feetfinder
• Instafeet

This might sound kind of odd that people will pay money for this and it’s one of the more unusual ways on our list to earn cash but, it’s lucrative.

One woman makes over $70,000/year selling pictures of her feet as her own business.

6. Rentafriend allows you to offer friend services.

You can make money online by being a friend to someone.

To get started, you’d set up an account as a seller and list your online friend gig. The work you perform might include:

* Being a good listener on the phone or over chat
* Giving advice
* Helping a foreign exchange student overcome homesickness

People use Rent a Friend for things like:

* Wingperson

* Online chat and advice

* Amusement park

* Dinner

* Going to the park

* Parties

* Meet friends

This site is worldwide, connecting “friends” from around the globe. They also offer virtual friend services to talk on the phone, FaceTime, or Zoom.

You can get paid up to $50 per hour plus free meals, free sporting events and accommodations, and more, based on the event you’re attending.