Zero Followers? No Problem. Make Passive Income with These Tactics

So, you want to make money as a content creator—but there’s just one little thing getting in your way: You have zero followers. Nada. Zilch. You’re starting from scratch.

And that’s okay. I’ve been there too. What most people won’t tell you is that you don’t need a huge audience to start earning—especially not in 2025, where tools and platforms make it easier than ever to monetize your creativity from day one.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the passive income tactics that work even if nobody knows your name yet. These are methods I’ve tried (or seen work for others) that don’t rely on going viral. You’ll learn how to turn your skills, ideas, and content into automated income streams—step by step.

Let’s get into it.

Zero Followers? No Problem. Make Passive Income with These Tactics

1. Sell Digital Products That Solve a Specific Problem

One of the easiest entry points into passive income is selling digital products. Why? Because they’re scalable, cost nothing to reproduce, and don’t require inventory.

What kind of products?

• Notion templates (for productivity, journaling, budgeting, etc.)

• Canva templates (Instagram posts, resumes, lead magnets)

• eBooks (guides, checklists, how-tos)

• PLR (Private Label Rights) bundles you can edit and resell

Where to sell them?

• Gumroad – great for creators

• Payhip – allows free products and discount codes

• Etsy – has a massive audience for digital goods

Pro tip: Use SEO to get found. Think long-tail keywords like “Notion budget planner for students” or “Canva story templates for small businesses.” Create content or blog posts around those keywords and direct traffic to your store.

2. Build a Faceless YouTube Channel

No camera? No problem.

There’s a growing trend of faceless YouTube channels that are monetizing through:

• AdSense revenue

• Affiliate marketing

• Digital product sales in the description

Channel ideas that work without showing your face:

• Study with me / Pomodoro timer videos

• Lo-fi or ambient music channels

• Slideshows with voiceovers (use AI voices if needed)

• Tool or software tutorials using screen recordings

With some consistency, these channels can rank over time and keep bringing in views (and income) long after you upload them.

3. Create a Niche Blog That Ranks on Google

If you’re more of a writer than a video person, blogging is still alive and well in 2025. And no, you don’t need to be a pro writer.

The key is choosing a specific niche and writing about low-competition keywords.

Here’s how to make it work:

1. Pick a topic: Think “freelance taxes for Indonesians” or “beginner bonsai care.”
2. Use tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to find easy-to-rank keywords.
3. Write helpful, SEO-optimized blog posts.
4. Monetize with: • Affiliate links (Shopee, Tokopedia, Amazon, etc.) • Display ads (Google AdSense, Ezoic) • Your own digital products

Over time, even with low traffic, these blogs can generate monthly passive income.

4. Sell “Done-for-You” Content Bundles

This one’s a hidden gem for fellow content creators.

You can create template packs or content kits that help other creators or small businesses save time. These sell surprisingly well—even with no audience.

Examples:

• Instagram carousel packs

• TikTok hook scripts

• Caption templates

• Reels ideas with editable Canva files

You can sell these on marketplaces like Creative Market, or directly through subs4unlock.id to gate access in exchange for engagement or email signups.

5. Affiliate Marketing (Even Without a Website)

Affiliate marketing isn’t just for influencers with swipe-up links. You can use it as a beginner by embedding it into your content—even if that content lives on Medium, Quora, or Reddit.

How to start:

1. Join affiliate programs for tools or products you already love.
2. Write tutorials, comparisons, or honest reviews.
3. Post them on platforms with built-in traffic like Medium or LinkedIn.
4. Drop your link naturally (don’t over-sell).

Focus on affiliate programs that offer recurring commissions (like web hosting or SaaS tools) so you build income month after month.

6. Launch a Free Email Mini-Course (With an Upsell)

If you like the idea of building a warm audience while earning, this is a smooth tactic.

Here’s how it works:

1. Create a 5-day email course (e.g., “5 Days to Start Selling Notion Templates”).
2. Give real value, step-by-step.
3. On the final day, offer a digital product, a toolkit, or a more advanced course.

You can automate all of this using ConvertKit or MailerLite, and once it’s set up, it runs on autopilot.

7. Use Subs4Unlock to Monetize Freebies

This is the one most creators sleep on. Subs4Unlock is a clever way to grow your audience and earn at the same time.

You upload something valuable—like a checklist, template, or guide—and instead of selling it, you gate it behind an action:

✅ Subscribe to your YouTube

✅ Follow your TikTok

✅ Join your email list

✅ Pay a small amount

It’s perfect if you’re starting from zero but still want to build traction and reward early supporters.

Try it now at subs4unlock.id — it’s free to start and totally beginner-friendly.

8. Freelance to Fund Your Passive Projects

Look, passive income takes time to build. So if you need money now to support your journey, consider freelancing as a bridge.

You can offer: • Blog writing • Social media content creation • SEO services • Simple WordPress setup

And here’s the kicker: document your freelance work as content. That way, even your client work becomes marketing for your own brand.

Final Thoughts: Passive Income is a Snowball, Not a Jackpot

You don’t need a million followers. You don’t need to go viral.

All you need is one offer, one platform, and one person who finds value in your work.

Then two. Then ten. Then 100.

Start today, plant the seeds, and give yourself permission to grow slow but steady. You’ll be surprised at what can happen in 6 to 12 months when you focus on value, consistency, and experimentation.

Ready to Start Monetizing with Zero Followers?

Head over to subs4unlock.id and upload your first lead magnet, template, or bonus content. Gate it behind a follow, sub, or payment—build your audience while earning on autopilot.

You don’t need permission. You just need to start.