Curious about how much YouTube pays a creator with about 12,000 subscribers? In this video, I take you behind-the-scenes into my YouTube channel dashboard to show you my total revenue, monthly breakdown, comparison to the previous year, and a real look at which videos brought me the most revenue.Plus, I share more about my real strategy with YouTube: how it brings me new leads and how my brand deals increased in 2025!

Check out my past YouTube monetization videos:

How much YouTube paid me with 7k subscribers: https://youtu.be/DmaUvEHo9TA

How much YouTube paid me in one month: https://youtu.be/ycmqgA7Q8Q4

CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-yt

ABOUT SHELBY:

Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing/business coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 8+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 60k books with social media and content marketing, I now teach other creatives, like authors, musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work with marketing!

CONNECT WITH SHELBY: I post marketing tips here on YouTube (subscribe for more videos!) as well as on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

https://marketingbyshelby.com/

Thanks so much for watching! Please subscribe for weekly marketing videos and give this video a like so more authors and creatives can find these tips.

If you're feeling like social media is shifting, you’re not imagining it. In this video, I’m sharing 5 important things to change or incorporate in your social media content strategy in 2026 so you can keep growing without losing your voice or energy. Whether you're an author, artist, or creative entrepreneur, these shifts will help you stay aligned and effective.

We’ll cover:

- Why incorporating your values + storytelling matters more than ever

- The shift away from hashtags (and what to focus on instead)

- How to make polished content still feel genuine

- The rise of live selling and what CTAs actually convert- Using tools like ManyChat to deepen connection with your audience

ManyChat is my favorite tool for automating comments and personalizing the experience for my audience. Here's my affiliate link where you can get 50% off your first 2 months of ManyChat Pro: https://manychat.partnerlinks.io/t8vq7mqt9m65-wki14

CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-yt

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing/business coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 8+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 60k books with social media and content marketing, I now teach other creatives, like authors, musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work with marketing!

CONNECT WITH SHELBY: I post marketing tips here on YouTube (subscribe for more videos!) as well as on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

https://marketingbyshelby.com/

Thanks so much for watching! Please subscribe for weekly marketing videos and give this video a like so more authors and creatives can find these tips.

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB: OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT NOW! Work with me on your marketing in 2026! With our monthly content plans, step-by-step trainings, and access to me (Shelby!) as your marketing coach for quick answers and personalized feedback.

Enrollment closes soon. Join us at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/club

Ready to finally launch or grow your author or artist career in 2026? This is the step-by-step roadmap I recommend for launching your work and building an audience from scratch.In this video, we'll talk about the 5 key steps to launching your career as an author or artist, both when it comes to creating a great product, but also picking your platforms and focus... and then marketing and selling your work!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:3 ways to grow your audience this year with collaborations: https://youtu.be/5qv5URcSqvo

Staying motivated and consistent (most recent episode): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/marketingbyshelby/episodes/My-Daily-Routine-for-Motivation--Consistency-as-a-Creative-Entrepreneur-e3de2s3

CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie

JOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing/business coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 8+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 60k books with social media and content marketing, I now teach other creatives, like authors, musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work with marketing!

CONNECT WITH SHELBY: I post marketing tips here on YouTube (subscribe for more videos!) as well as on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

https://marketingbyshelby.com/

Thanks so much for watching! Please subscribe for weekly marketing videos and give this video a like so more authors and creatives can find these tips.

Ready to stay on track with your goals in 2026? Use FocusedSpace for daily accountability, coworking, and goal setting. Use code SHELBY to use FocusedSpace for just $2 a WEEK! https://get.focused.space/shelby

As a creative entrepreneur, staying consistent and motivated can feel impossible some days, especially when you're juggling all the things.

In this video, I’m sharing my favorite strategies that actually keep me on track: from how I manage my time, to how I keep myself internally motivated, as well as using external factors like body doubling and coworking. 

Whether you're an author, artist, or maker, these tips are designed to help you stay inspired and aligned with your big vision.The Creative’s Content Club opens for enrollment THIS WEEK (Jan 2026) and saves our members HOURS of time each month on their social media content!

Join the waitlist below to be the first to know when doors open and you'll automatically get my 2026 Marketing Predictions guide, completely free: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

Inside the Club, members get:

- Monthly content plans for authors & artists

- Done-for-you templates

- Fill-in-the-blank captions and hooks

- Trending audios and content examples

And that's just one aspect of the Club - you'll also get direct support and feedback from me, plus all our trainings on creating a marketing strategy that works.👉 Join the waitlist below to be the first to know when doors open: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie

In this video, I’m walking you through a full week of social media content ideas for authors and artists—designed to help you grow your audience, build a personal brand, and sell your work in a way that feels authentic (not forced). We’re talking about what actually works in 2026 and beyond, why building a personal brand matters more than ever, and how to rotate content using my Show, Sell, Storytell method so you’re not just posting to post—you’re building connection and momentum.

These ideas work for authors, visual artists, makers, poets, writers, photographers and more. And yes: many of them can be adapted to faceless content too.

✨ Want this kind of content planned for you every month? The Creative’s Content Club opens for enrollment very soon and saves our members HOURS of time each month on their social media content!

Inside the Club, members get:

- Monthly content plans for authors & artists

- Done-for-you templates

- Fill-in-the-blank captions and hooks

- Trending audios and content examples

And that's just one aspect of the Club - you'll also get direct support and feedback from me, plus all our trainings on creating a marketing strategy that works.👉 Join the waitlist below to be the first to know when doors open: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie

ABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing/business coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 8+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 60k books with social media and content marketing, I now teach other creatives, like authors, musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work with marketing!

CONNECT WITH SHELBY: I post marketing tips here on YouTube (subscribe for more videos!) as well as on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/marketingbyshelby

https://marketingbyshelby.com/

Thanks so much for watching! Please subscribe for weekly marketing videos and give this video a like so more authors and creatives can find these tips.

In this episode, I walk you through the 8 income streams I have as an author with a personal brand, as well as a creative with a marketing company that has grown to over 9,000 students. You'll hear what the 8 are, what percentage of revenue they made up in my business this year, and more.What was your primary income stream in your creative business this year? Are you looking to add one in 2026?CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebieJOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

In this video, I'm talking about something very near and dear to my heart: building momentum for your marketing and business... and actually keeping it! We'll talk about the 4 steps to creating momentum and the elements crucial to marketing that works.At the end, I'll invite you to check out my new program, the 4-Week Marketing Momentum Accelerator, where I'm working closely with a handful of creatives in Jan 2026. Learn more and enroll here by DEC 22!: https://www.marketingbyshelby.com/momentum

Listen to this recent episode next: All the experiments I tried in my creative business this year

CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebieJOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-pod

Ready to make 2026 your year to use email marketing effectively? Sign up with Brevo, an easy email marketing tool! Use code BYSHELBY to save 50% on their Starter and Standard Plans for the first 3 months: https://get.brevo.com/byshelbyThanks to Brevo for sponsoring today's video! #BrevoPartner I’ve made plenty of mistakes in my creative business—and in this honest video, I’m sharing the biggest lessons I learned the hard way so you can avoid these pitfalls and grow your creative business faster. Perfect for authors, artists, and makers who want to build sustainable success without the trial-and-error I went through.CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebieJOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-podABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing/business coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 8+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 60k books with social media and content marketing, I now teach other creatives, like authors, musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work with marketing!

This year, I ran so many creative business experiments—social media tests, email marketing tweaks, giveaways, sales strategies, and everything in between. In this video, I’m breaking down what actually worked, what totally flopped, and what I’d absolutely do again. Whether you're an author, artist, or creative entrepreneur, this recap will help you plan smarter for next year and skip the mistakes I made.

Mentioned in the video: Trial Reels Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmcSd3zvMuI&t

Enroll in the private 4-Week Marketing Momentum Accelerator by Dec. 22! We start Jan. 5. You, me and your marketing momentum! Learn more about the program here and start 2026 with a mentor, strategy, insights and direct feedback on your content! https://marketingbyshelby.com/momentumMentioned in today's video:I use Interact to make my lead magnet quizzes! Here's my affiliate link: https://get.tryinteract.com/shelbyCHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebieJOIN THE CREATIVE'S CONTENT CLUB WAITLIST! Want hands-on marketing support, templates and shortcuts, feedback, step by step marketing strategies and more, every single month?! Join my all-in-one marketing membership, The Creative's Content Club! Add your name to the waitlist to receive an invite soon: https://marketingbyshelby.com/waitlist-podABOUT SHELBY: Hey, I'm Shelby, bestselling writer and marketing/business coach for creatives. After growing my own audience as an author to more than 500k on social media, working in social media management for 8+ years, becoming a full-time writer and selling over 60k books with social media and content marketing, I now teach other creatives, like authors, musicians, artists, poets, photographers and more, how to grow and sell their creative work with marketing!

Open me for details on how to grow your Instagram following and get more reviews and testimonials!

Increase sales with social proof: Collect product reviews & testimonials in minutes with https://shoutout.io/. Thanks to Shoutout for sponsoring today's video!In this week's episode, we're talking about what's new with Instagram's algorithm, how to shift your strategy to get better results from your posts, and more. We'll talk about ways to get more reach and engagement, and the reality of what's needed to compete with AI and all the noise on the platform.

WANT TO GROW YOUR INSTAGRAM FOLLOWING? CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM ADS VISIBILITY MASTERCLASS, only available now through Tuesday November 25 as an early Black Friday offer! https://cart.shelbyleigh.co/ig-ads/

P.S. That's not all I'm doing for Black Friday! Stay tuned for Nov 28 when my courses and guides will be on sale all weekend long, plus I'll be dropping two new offers. Join my email list below so you don't miss it!

CHECK OUT MY LATEST MARKETING FREEBIES created for you at: https://marketingbyshelby.com/freebie