Google is still a goldmine for creators

In 2022, I was obsessed with the “Google News” method, I used it to make thousands on Medium and Hubpages. This method is not so popular now and you rarely see make money online gurus post videos about it on YouTube anymore.

Three years ago, you couldn’t log into YouTube without seeing “How to make money with Google News” or “How to retire yourself with Google News.” It was a massive trend, and creators such as Marcus Campbell and Odetta Rock-Kerr would post about this method often.

Prolific YouTuber Monique Hinton made a whopping 14,000 dollars from one video by using the Google News method, and I made 1000 dollars from two videos using this strategy, and aside from the Google News method, there are other ways to make money online by utilizing the power of Google.

So, the question is:

Is Google still a goldmine for creators? I’d say yes.

Why?

There are many ways to maximise your income as a creator, and Google is the perfect starting point.

Here are some ideas:

Google News

I’m always going to put Google News first because I’ve made a ton of money using this method, and it works.

What is the Google News Method?

It’s pretty simple. Instead of searching the web for content ideas, all you do is head over to Google News and click on your desired topic, such as Science for example.

Scroll through the stories, pick one or two that jump out at you, and create an article about that story.

Repurpose that article as a video, and post it on YouTube as a long form piece, then create a short video for YouTube to promote it. Once you’re done there, promote your article and video on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

Here’s a video by Monique Hinton where she explains how she made 14,000 from one YouTube video. Monique got the idea for the video from Google News.

For this Google News method, I’d recommend posting your content on:

• Vocal
• Medium
• YouTube

Hubpages ==if you ‘ve already got an account and you’re monetised. If not, I wouldn’t bother because the rules have changed on Hubpages now.

On Vocal, you can earn money from the built-in partner program, same with Medium.

On YouTube, you must get 4000 hours of watch time, and 1000 subscribers before you can apply for the partner program.

However, if you want to build a sustainable income, don’t focus on the partner program, and create several income streams such as affiliate marketing and digital products.

Google Trends

Google Trends is a great place to find trending topic ideas. Personally, I prefer to focus on evergreen topics however, trending topics can boost your traffic and increase your income momentarily. Therefore, I choose 80% evergreen, and 20% trending.

If you create content about science for example, type “science” into the Google Trends search bar to find trending article ideas about science. Once again, create articles for Medium and Vocal, then repurpose these articles for YouTube. I also recommend building your own website, nothing fancy, you can use Squarespace to create your own blog, you don’t need anything flashy in the beginning.

Google Search

As a new creator, you might not have the funds to sign up for expensive keyword research tools, although, they do pay off in the end, it’s not feasible for most creators. So, make the most of free tools such as Google Search.

Here’s an example:

Type “apples” into the Google search bar. Now, scroll down to the “people also ask” section, and you’ll see questions that people search for. Click the arrows to reveal more questions. Take these questions and create detailed articles and videos.

Yes, some of these questions will have high competition, meaning that your content would compete with top websites such as Healthline. However, if you post on Vocal and Medium, your articles will rank much faster than they would on a fresh website.

I’ve had articles rank on the first page of Google in one day, yes one day after posting on Vocal and Medium. Of course, you should never put all your eggs into one basket when it comes to content creation, however, utilising high-ranking platforms is the fastest way to achieve success as a creator. Create your own site, and or newsletter, and you’re on the right track.

Google Gemini

Don’t mention AI to a “true” creative, just don’t. I’ve included Google Gemini into the mix because as a creator, you can use it for ideation, for content planning, content creation routines and basic outlines for your content.

Some people use AI platforms to generate boring, generic articles, and copy and paste them to platforms to promote affiliate products, this might work for a while, but eventually the bubble will burst. So it’s best to use Google Gemini and other tools like it, to simplify your life as a creator, don’t use it to cheat the system. Generative AI won’t replace the human creative brain, so as long as you continue to hone your craft as a creative, and strive to produce high-quality content, you won’t get phased out by AI.

As I write this, I’m doing 100 articles in 30 days right here on Vocal, and I plan to utilise the power of Google News, Google Search, and Google trends to increase my income on Vocal and other platforms.

So, circling back to the initial question – is Google still a goldmine for us creators? Absolutely. It’s not about chasing fleeting trends or relying on yesterday’s hyped-up methods. Instead, it's about understanding the enduring power of a platform that connects people with information. Whether it's uncovering timely stories through Google News, tapping into trending interests with Google Trends, or answering real-world questions via Google Search, the opportunities are there.

And even with the rise of AI tools like Gemini, remember that these are aids, not replacements for our own unique perspectives and the genuine connection we build with our audience through thoughtful, original content. Change is inevitable, but Google's role as a central hub for discovery remains strong. It's up to us to keep exploring, keep creating, and keep leveraging the tools at our disposal to share our voices and build sustainable income streams moving forward.

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This is article 22 in my 100 articles in 30 days challenge on Vocal. This is day 12 of the challenge, and I'm almost halfway through. Thank you for supporting my creative efforts, it means a lot to me.

➡️ If you enjoy reading my work, and would like to support my creative journey, please do so here.

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