Revamping My Ko-fi Page & For What?
Not long ago, I was thinking of different income streams. But I'm no influencer, so how will I do it?
Well, hello again, awesome souls. It’s your friendly ADHD girl Maria, writing random things and thoughts a few minutes past 6 AM.
And yes, you read that right. I’m currently writing this at 6 AM because I felt a tickle in my mind to fix my Ko-fi page for no reason at all. I explored its features and thought about how could I use it as another income stream?
A Taurus hustler, at birth
I started reading Bretman Rock’s book not too long ago, and voilà! I’m already around 80% into his majestic and encouraging book. What I love the most about it is it’s so unfiltered and authentic, basically what I was envisioning when I created this Substack.
Blogging era
Outside this space, I’m known as mariaisquixotic or Maria Redillas or Kristine Redillas (mostly to my grade school up to college chums). I’m that girl who has a very hard username or alias to pronounce, and it has been quite an icebreaker during my active blogging days (wow).
Nevertheless, I enjoyed going to those blog events, especially if I’m invited (because I’m no gate crasher or what), and of course, receiving those PR packages that would give me a glimpse of what the brand offers. Until, I realized that we really don’t get paid much by those PR companies even if we give a high-quality content. Mind you, as an SEO content writer, I was already optimizing their press releases even though I’m not yet that well-versed with SEO.
So going back, I stepped away from that and focused on becoming a freelance content writer. This was pre-ADHD diagnosis, so my mind was all interested and high with learning everything that I could about content writing, and how it relates to SEO and digital marketing in general. Slowly, I was able to get more clients, market myself as a content marketing specialist, and worked at least two (2) jobs.
Yes, you read that right. I usually get bored with just one (1) job, and I will always find myself lurking on LinkedIn, Kalibrr, and other websites just to find a side hustle.
I was asked before why I have two jobs.
Quickly, I responded that the pay from the first job covers for my adulting things and other responsibilities. Then the money I get from my second job covers for my other expenses, like massages, food deliveries, derma trips, and things that I buy for my loved ones.
As a young hustler
As a Taurus, I strongly feel it’s in my genes that I’m such a hustler. Aside from loving to spoil the people I love, I also love to spoil myself. Early on, I realized that I had a small business back in grade school where my mom and I would make bracelets and I would sell them at school.
However, that stopped because my grade 6 class adviser (who shall not be named, but if we’re classmates, I think you know) called me out and said that it may be sanctioned. So, that went down.
Then, when our lovely home region of Bicol was struck by the triple threat typhoons, Milenyo-Reming-Sonyang, relief operations were started left and right. My mom, who was then a government employee, thought of offering me a side job of repacking rice as part of the relief operations. She told me that the money I earned will be mine, and that I could save or spend it however I pleased.
That ignited the hustler in my second year high school self, and also saw the knack for recruiting people, too. I guess that was one of the reasons why I took Human Resources in college.
Slowly, I recruited more and more people and sort of built a team. I then stopped doing the manual labor and focused on checking the equipment they needed, and liaised with my mom if ever we needed anything.
So, what’s this all about?
I realized that I may be able to monetize some of the things that I do. Note that some of these activities will remain as my hobbies. I learned that profiting from your hobbies will just lead to burn out.
That’s why I opened my Ko-fi page years back. I initially thought that I could open myself to doing:
Commissioned work, since I practice calligraphy
Sell desktop wallpapers, digital art prints
Soon after, I thought of opening memberships because I stumbled upon Patreon.
But honestly? Their UI/UX sucks. I just use it to support one of my fave podcasters, Jim & Saab, which we call poddad and podmom.
Moving forward with Ko-fi
Since I like the platform, studied it, geeked out about it, and revamped it. I’m sharing with you that I’ve opened memberships, commissions, and my shop, so that if you feel like supporting me through that, you may do so.
My Ko-fi membership tiers
I did not think twice about how to name my tiers. Of course, quixotic will be there since it’s been with me since 2009 if I recall correctly.
The other tier is named phoenix because it symbolizes me regaining my power back, and also aiming to ignite the same fire I discovered and pass it on to you.
Sneak peek of the benefits you’ll get if you become a member:
Exclusive role and channels on my Discord server
Exclusive access to this unfiltered Substack publication because I made it private. 😉
Game requests for Twitch streams
Exclusive shop items
Direct messages on Ko-fi (or even on social media)
and more to come!
So if you feel like supporting me or this little unfiltered space, you can click the cute button below:
Ko-fi commissions
I mentioned that I opened commissions on Ko-fi too.
It includes:
Blog writing (my content writing roots are strong with this one)
Personalized planner pages
Personalized digital journal pages
Calligraphy work request
So, if you feel like gifting someone you like or just spoiling yourself, do think of me, will you? 😉
Last, but definitely not the least.
My Ko-fi Shop
Honestly, this is a hodgepodge of a shop that I made. Some items are from a different era of myself and subject to revisions. I’ll get to that on the weekend, don’t worry.
It includes items like:
Digital planner pages that aren’t personalized
Digital journal pages that aren’t personalized
Member-only goodies that I won’t spill for now
Desktop wallpapers
Digital postcards or art prints
I considered this to be an avenue to show the world that anyone can create anything. It took me a while before finding the courage of sharing the creative ventures that I explored because of doubts and destructive thoughts that, I’m not good enough aka impostor syndrome.
I’m no financial advisor nor have strong financial skills. But I do know that we all aim to have passive income so that we have a comfortable life when we retire from working those day jobs that may be so cruel. I thought of sharing Ko-fi with you, as you might be looking for a platform to also help you earn or support creatives (like yours truly).
So, what now?
If you’re still reading this part right here (cue in Pussycat Dolls), I genuinely appreciate you!
I hope that my Ko-fi musings have given you an insight on the other side of being a creator. I know this because the cosplayers (Prince de Guzman & Awie) I follow and admire have set up Gank accounts with subscriptions too. Honestly, they’re part of the reasons why I revamped my Ko-fi, too.
Even a like or a comment can make their days. What more if you get to connect to your supporters on a more personal basis? That’s quite exhilarating, trust me!
Anyway, it’s almost 7 AM already and I think I wrote so much. I hope to see you on Ko-fi or wherever you establish your small business!
Love and light 🧿✨
Maria
Great read! Inspiring ✨ 💗