How To Make Money Writing Online In 2026
After building a $20M portfolio of writing businesses, here's how to make money writing online — the full 6-layer stack most writers get wrong.
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✍️ Want to start writing online? Download this free Ultimate Guide to get started: https://yt.startwritingonline.com
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In this clip, I walk through the writer monetization stack — the 6 escalating layers every writer should be thinking about when they figure out how to make money writing online. Most writers stay stuck at one layer (or pick the wrong layer to start) because they treat each layer like a separate business.
The reality is they should all be the same business — just different levels of more.
Here's the stack:
1. You write online for free (LinkedIn, X, Substack). 2. That content feeds your free newsletter — same topic, just deeper. 3. Your free newsletter becomes the on-ramp to your paid newsletter (subscription revenue from readers who want more). 4. To the people on that list, you sell a $350 digital product that solves a more complicated problem. 5. Once a year, you compile your best newsletters into a self-published book — you're literally getting paid to write a book every year. 6. For the ultra-premium audience, you offer done-for-you services.
The mistake almost everyone makes? Their layers aren't congruent. They write online about nutrition, run a paid newsletter about copywriting, sell digital products on money management, publish books about life advice, and offer AI automation services. Each layer is a different business, so nothing compounds.
I also answer the magic question at the end: if you could only pick ONE layer to start with, which is best? The prescriptive answer is paid newsletter or digital product (those are the two easiest to execute). The real answer is whichever one you'll actually take action on — because the one you stick with is the one that prints money.
If you're trying to figure out how to make money writing online without picking the wrong starting point, this is the stack I'd build.
If you’re new to my channel… hey there!
My name is Nicolas Cole and I’ve been writing online since 2007.
Since then, I’ve generated over a billion views on my writing, written 10+ books, and built multiple 7+ figure writing-related businesses, including two of the largest writing programs on the Internet: Ship 30 for 30 & Premium Ghostwriting Academy.
I have made millions of dollars writing online, so I fundamentally reject this narrative (pun intended) “nobody makes a living as a writer.”
Yes, you absolutely can make a living as a writer. In fact, you can make more than just a living. You can make tons of money as a writer… IF… you’re a digital writer, and embrace learning the new skills required to thrive in a digital world.
Which is why I started this YouTube channel.
Consider me your Digital Writing Mentor!
On this channel I talk about:
Digital Writing
Ghostwriting
Writing With AI
Self-Publishing
Writing Services & Business Models
So if you have any questions, drop me a comment on any video and I’ll answer them in a future video!
Keep writing,
Cole
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🔗 Other digital writing videos I think you'll enjoy:
10 Lessons Selling $10M Of Digital Products: • 10 Lessons from Selling $10M of Digital Pr...
How To Build A $200k/yr Paid Newsletter On Substack: • How To Build A $200k/Year Paid Newsletter
This 20-Email Sequence Made Me Millions of Dollars: • This 20-Email Sequence Made Me Millions of...
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00:00 The 6-Layer Writer Monetization Stack
00:26 Free Newsletter → Paid Newsletter (Subscription Revenue)
00:54 The $350 Digital Product Layer
01:18 Self-Publish A Book Every Year (For Free)
02:15 The Congruence Mistake Almost Every Writer Makes
03:35 If You Could Only Pick One Layer, Pick This
03:56 The Real Answer To The Magic Question
#onlinewriting #writing #newsletter