How I Built an Online Income (and How You Can Too!)

There’s a common misconception that making money online is either a get-rich-quick scheme or an impossible dream. The truth? It’s neither.

But if you’re willing to put in the work, think creatively, and actually start something, you’d be amazed at what’s possible.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re wondering how to realistically generate an online income—one that works for you, your skills, and your life. And trust me, I get it. When I first started, I had no money to invest, no clue where to begin, and only a vague idea that I wanted to create something.

Fast forward two years, and I now run a successful digital subscription business, write books, and have complete control over my time—all while home-educating my children and traveling.

Was it easy? No.

Was it possible? Absolutely.

Here’s how I did it—and how you can, too.

Step 1: Identify Your Skills and Passion

The first thing to do is figure out what you’re good at. You might not think you have any marketable skills, but I promise—you do.

• Are you great at cooking? Maybe you could create digital recipe books, meal plans, or a cooking blog.

• Do you have cleaning hacks? People love quick, effective tips to make life easier!

• Do you know how to care for animals? There’s a huge market for pet care guides.

• Are you passionate about education? Maybe you have a unique way of teaching certain subjects to kids.

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Here’s the secret: Every successful online business solves a problem.

So ask yourself:

What do people ask me about?

What do I enjoy talking about?

What problem can I help solve?

For me, the answer was simple: I wanted to help families connect with nature and spend more time outside in a fun, easy, and engaging way with little to no preparation and at incredibly low (or no) cost.

Step 2: Start with What You Have (Even If It’s Nothing)

I always wanted to write a children’s book, but I had one major problem—I had no money to invest in publishing. So, not one to accept that something is impossible, I set out to self-publish a nature-based ABC book without spending a penny.

And I did.

Publishing that first book in February 2023 showed me something important: you can create something out of nothing if you’re willing to figure it out. I then wrote another book… and then another.

But here’s the thing—while I loved writing books, I soon realized that self-publishing alone wasn’t going to make enough money to support my family, let alone save for our bigger goal: buying our first home.

Step 3: Find a Scalable Idea

I started thinking: What’s something interactive, accessible, and useful that I could create?

The problem I wanted to solve was simple:

• Getting families outdoors, away from screens, and actually enjoying nature together.

• Helping parents find easy, engaging ways to make outdoor time fun, without spending hours planning.

• Providing an alternative for bad-weather days to bring nature inside.

So, I created a nature-based subscription.

Step 4: Build an Audience and Offer Value

With no audience and no marketing budget, I needed to get people interested. So I:

• Built a simple website filled with free nature resources.

• Offered a free trial of my nature study subscription to get families involved.

• Shared my free resources in relevant Facebook groups where nature-loving families and outdoor teachers were already hanging out.

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

At first, it was slow. But as my confidence grew, so did my ideas. I set my subscription price at just £1 a month to make it accessible to as many families as possible.

Fast forward to today, and I now have 1,200+ subscribers to my monthly nature study. That’s over £1,200 a month for a resource that takes me about one day to create.

Sounds good, right? But here’s the catch—you can’t just create something and hope people will buy it. You have to stay engaged, keep adding value, and let people see the impact of what you’re offering.

Step 5: Scale, Stay Visible, and Keep Giving

Once I hit 1,000 subscribers, I was able to put more time into growing the business. I added:

• A members-only area with bonus resources.

• Regular updates to keep people engaged and subscribed.

• More free content—because the more I give, the more people trust my work and want to support it.

I also stay active on social media, sharing:

• Fun nature-based activities to inspire families.

• Behind-the-scenes content about my business.

• Tips for getting outdoors as a family.

It’s not just about selling—it’s about building a community.

Step 6: Create Passive Income

One of the best decisions I made was focusing on digital products. Why? Because once you create them, they keep working for you.

For example:

• A downloadable nature study takes me one day to create—but I can sell it forever.

• A printable resource is available instantly for anyone, anywhere, with no shipping costs.

My go-to tool? Canva Pro. It’s what I use to design every single digital product in my business, and it allows me to create something professional, unique, and in my own style.

Final Thoughts: You Can Do This, Too

People often say to me, “You’re so lucky to be able to work from home, home educate, and travel.”

But here’s the truth: It’s not luck.

I started with nothing—no money, no experience, and no clue what I was doing. I made mistakes, figured things out, and built something that now gives me financial stability and freedom.

And if I can do it? So can you!

Find your thing—your skills, your passion, your unique knowledge.

Identify a problem and offer a solution.

Start small—don’t wait until everything is perfect.

Share valuable content to build an audience.

Create digital products for passive income.

You don't have to have everything mapped out before you start, you don't even have to know what your niche is to start — just start, and see where it takes you!

If you’ve ever thought about building an online income, what’s holding you back?

Add your comments or concerns below and let's see if we can solve them together.

If you want to take a peek at the digital product business I mention here, head to

www.blossomandstardust.com or follow me at @blossomandstardust on Facebook & Instagram.