My First $50 Online (How I Did It)
by Gabriel ChuanIt is so surreal! I can't believe I have actually made money from making an online thing – a newsletter!
I have been a long-time lurker of Indie Hackers, Newsletter Geeks (NG) and WIP.chat. NG is a telegram group by @anthilemoon for newsletter creators)
Less than 3 weeks ago, I ended my final exams for college. I decided I wasn't going to lurk anymore and started working on YoungMakers. But I got stuck. I was lamenting about needing mentors on Twitter and @AndrewKamphey reached out. He was so kind to walk me through how to setup a newsletter from scratch.
After hundreds of edits, we were both finally happy with the output and I hit schedule for 2PM. I sweated so much and felt a strange chill as I hit the send button.
At 2pm, it fired out and I started to post my first issue on various Telegram Groups. I messaged Newsletter Geeks, WIP, Isolated Founders and Twitter. @MarcelHagedoorn on WIP saw my launch and wanted to support me so he subscribed for $50/year and it threw me off my chair.
This was my first ever dollar earned from making an online info product like a newsletter. I ran and told my mum about this and she, being less tech savvy, was so surprised. I explained how this worked and she went "ah, that's so cool" and gave me huge smiles. This made my week.
The maker community completes me in many ways where college didn't.
(PS: @rosiesherry you'll love this quote!)
The huge epiphany moment was when I took advice from the same makers I interviewed on monetizing. I started adding options for people to pay me for my content. And it worked!
I can't wait to help more Young Makers with this newsletter. I believe in the mission and its purpose.
Check out my first ever newsletter issue at
https://youngmakers.substack.com/p/edition-1-making-your-first-profit
PS: I build in public daily on my Twitter as well: https://twitter.com/gabrielchuan/status/1246516101673938944?s=20
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Happy and humbled to be the first to (literally) support you. I know what it's like to receive the first paid subscription. Happy to pay that feeling forward.
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Thanks Marcel! Will remember this purchase for life! It's a super super surreal, amazing feeling that I'm literally in disbelief, that the internet could make this happen! 😳
Will work harder and craft a better newsletter that's useful to other Young Makers! That $50 will be put to good use to support more Young Makers moving forward 🙏
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Amazing stuff. It's a great lesson in there - 'Don't be afraid to ask, when you're stick'
Go to great from here-
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Thank you so much! That's a great quote and it's something I think I wrote about in my Daily Blog – https://reading.supply/a/gabriels-daily-blog
Likewise, don't be afraid to ask too if you're stuck with anything!
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Finding a mentor, completing your project, marketing it everywhere. Great job at an early age! Kudos!
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Thanks Carl! It's one hell of another story about how I found Andrew to mentor me. Hint: it all started with twitter!
Not too young myself actually but always young at heart, as are the rest of us! Kudos to you too! 🙏
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Nice quote and congrats of the sale!
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Thanks Rosie! Thanks for helping to steward the Indie Hackers community. You're doing an awesome job together with @channingallen and @csallen!
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3 weeks ago, we were the same.. today, you're my senior! A win for you is a win to the community fam!
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Thanks Lwazi! You'll catch up in no time!
That's right! I want to always stay grounded as a maker. I help other makers along the way as long as its within my capacity. Gotta keep the community strong and alive 🙏
That being said – if there's any way I can help you as a fellow maker, do let me know.
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Feels good, don't it? Congrats!
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Super! 🙈 Thanks Blake!!
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Good job! Beware: it’s addictive 😂
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Thanks Andre! You're right, it's actually quite addictive! There's no stopping anymore. The only way is up! And to bring more makers around me up as I go along! 🙈
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Awesome stuff Gabriel, keep up the hard work!
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Thank you so much Luke! 🙏 Will keep working hard as always!
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Congrats! 🥳
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Thanks Dawid! 🙏
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Congrats Gabriel!! 🥳🤑
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Thanks Anthony! 🙏🙏
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Congrats! :)
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Thanks Victor! 🙏 Let me know if I can be of any help through Young Makers!
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This is great! So happy for you. :)
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Thanks Jatin!! 🙏 Are you a young maker? Let me know if I can be of any help through Young Makers!
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remember this moment
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Congratulations. Look forward to following the journey (and reading the newsletter 😁)
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Thanks Paul! 🙏
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Congrats, mate! Keep up with the good work.
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Congrats Gabriel, I could feel the excitement in your post. i'm genuinely happy for you.
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Congrats Gabriel
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Congrats!!
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This comment was deleted 2 years ago.
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It's is super exciting indeed! Thank you! 🙏
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