When most people think of starting on a platform like OnlyFans, they assume success is reserved for those with an already massive audience—Instagram models with hundreds of thousands of followers, influencers with viral TikToks, or YouTubers who already have a strong subscriber base. But what if you had none of that?
This is the story of how I made over $116,000 on OnlyFans in my first year—with absolutely zero followers at the beginning. No Reddit clout, no Twitter threads, no spicy Instagram reels, and no cheeky TikToks going viral. Just a brand-new account, a creative strategy, and sheer persistence.
Let me be clear: this is not a story of overnight success. It’s a story of building something meaningful, and profitable, from the ground up while balancing a full-time job in a high-stress environment—all without any prior social media fame.
I’ll also talk about how you can do the exact same thing on LoyalFans, which offers many of the same tools with some unique perks for creators. But more on that later.
Why I Started: A Leap From the Emergency Room to Content Creation
At the time I launched my OnlyFans journey, I was working full-time as an ER nurse. That meant 12-hour shifts, weekends, nights, holidays—the whole deal. I loved parts of the job, but emotionally and physically, it was draining. I needed a creative outlet. More importantly, I needed a way to take control of my time and financial future.
OnlyFans presented itself as a flexible, creator-first platform that allowed for direct monetization. But unlike many who enter the space with fanfare, I quietly launched with absolutely zero online presence. I had no sexy persona or alter ego. I wasn’t “known.” I had no content plan, no marketing funnel—just an idea and a stubborn commitment to figure it out.
Dual Page Strategy: Free Page as a Funnel, Paid Page as the Prize
One of the most powerful decisions I made early on was to create two separate OnlyFans pages.
The first was a free-to-subscribe page. This page served as a funnel. There were no DMs, no personal interaction—just content users could pay-per-view to unlock. Think of it as a sample platter: people could browse, get a sense of what I offered, and choose what they wanted to purchase. I didn’t overthink this page; it was lean, simple, and efficient.
The second page was a paid subscription model. Here, subscribers got daily content, personal DMs, freebies, bundles, and discounts. This was the VIP lounge. This is where the true fans gathered—and spent more.
This strategy gave me two key benefits:
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Audience segmentation – casual viewers could stick to the free page, while committed fans had the option to upgrade.
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Monetization layers – I wasn’t putting all my eggs in one monetization basket. PPV on the free page, bundled content and DM sales on the paid page—it added up fast.
It’s worth noting that this exact same structure works on LoyalFans too. You can have free and premium subscription tiers, send pay-per-view messages, and customize follower access depending on their subscription level.
Building in the Cracks: Full-Time Nurse, Full-Time Hustle
There’s a dangerous myth out there that OnlyFans is passive income. Let me just squash that right now.
OnlyFans is a full-time hustle, especially if you want to grow and sustain a high income. During the first year, I was practically glued to my phone. I’d be replying to DMs in between patient consults. I’d upload content during my lunch breaks. I was scheduling posts while taking my scrubs off at the end of 14-hour days.
I didn’t outsource my messages. I didn’t use chatbots or hire a management team. My subscribers were paying for me—my personality, my attention, my presence. That meant showing up. Every single day.
If you think you can coast into five-figure months by posting once a week and disappearing, this probably isn’t the model for you. But if you’re willing to treat it like a business, the reward is absolutely real.
Overcoming Self-Doubt: “I’m Not Pretty Enough” and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves
Before starting, I had a lot of limiting beliefs. Maybe you do, too.
“I’m not sexy enough.”
“I’m not photogenic.”
“I’m too awkward on camera.”
“I don’t know how to market myself.”
These thoughts hit me hard in the beginning. I had never taken provocative photos before. I had zero idea how to edit videos. My first captions were embarrassingly cringe.
But I made a decision: I wasn’t going to compete with the hottest, most curated, most performative creators. I was going to be real.
That decision changed everything.
People didn’t subscribe to me because I looked like a model. They subscribed because I was relatable. I was funny. I was open about being a nurse. I told stories. I had interests beyond content. I built real connections, and that’s what made me stand out.
And guess what? That’s exactly what people want.
My Secret Weapon: YouTube Instead of TikTok
One of the most unexpected sources of my growth was YouTube.
Most creators chase virality on TikTok or Instagram Reels. And yes, those platforms work for many people—but not for me. I found short-form content hard to master, and it rarely felt authentic.
So I leaned into long-form storytelling. I created YouTube videos about my journey, behind-the-scenes content, Q&As, and tutorials. I showed what it was like balancing OnlyFans with nursing. I shared insights, advice, and even some emotional lows.
Those videos resonated.
They didn’t go “viral,” but they built trust. People who discovered me through YouTube stuck around. My retention rate was sky-high because I was attracting the right kind of followers—the ones who cared about me, not just the content.
You can apply this same approach whether you’re on OnlyFans or LoyalFans. If TikTok isn’t your jam, don’t force it. Build where your voice feels the most authentic.
Growing With Strategy: Why Casting a Wide Net Matters
Another major key to my success was diversifying platforms. I wasn’t banking on any one platform to bring me followers.
I posted content—tailored for each platform—across:
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Twitter (light promos and personality tweets)
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Reddit (photo sets with call-to-actions)
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YouTube (as mentioned)
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Instagram (teasers and BTS)
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TikTok (occasional memes and storytelling)
But here’s the twist: I wasn’t married to any of them.
Platforms like Instagram are infamous for shadowbanning adult creators. That’s why my motto became: “Cast a wide net, but double down on what works.”
If Twitter brought better traffic, I leaned into it. If Reddit felt like a waste of time, I adjusted. The key was being agile and responsive—not just doing what everyone else was doing.
That same strategic mindset applies to LoyalFans too. Whether you’re starting from scratch or transferring your following from another platform, being intentional about traffic is crucial.
The Real Edge: Being Yourself in a Market Full of Clones
Here’s the truth: subscribers can get adult content anywhere. It’s free all over the internet. So why would they pay for it?
Because they want you.
They want personality. They want someone who responds. They want to feel seen, heard, valued. They want humor, vulnerability, routine, storytelling. That’s what sets creators apart.
Once I stopped trying to mimic what other successful creators were doing and just started showing up as myself, everything changed.
This is why platforms like OnlyFans and LoyalFans thrive. They put the creator at the center. If you lean into who you are—awkward, nerdy, introverted, spicy, sweet, whatever—you’ll attract your tribe.
A Breakdown of the Numbers: Transparency in Real Time
Now, let’s talk hard numbers.
Gross earnings: $116,719.23
Net after OnlyFans’ 20% cut: $95,292.34
Let that sink in: nearly six figures in one year, starting from zero.
That included:
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Daily subscription revenue
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Pay-per-view content
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Custom content requests
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Bundled content sales
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Referral program bonuses
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Occasional tips
If you apply this same model to LoyalFans, the numbers might even be better, since they offer lower platform fees for select creators, and their discoverability tools are improving fast.
What I’d Tell New Creators Today
If you’re on the fence, here’s what I would tell you:
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You do not need to be an influencer to start.
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You do need to be consistent, personal, and present.
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Find your platform—YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, Twitter—and own it.
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Don’t copy others. Lead with your quirks, your humor, your flaws.
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Diversify your revenue streams early.
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Learn to batch content and automate where possible—but never lose the personal touch.
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Don’t be afraid to promote your LoyalFans or OnlyFans content in your bio, in your captions, and in your storytelling.
Passion, Persistence, and Personal Connection
At the end of the day, this journey isn’t just about the money—although yes, the money is great. It’s about freedom. It’s about creativity. It’s about reclaiming your identity and your time.
I didn’t have a roadmap. I didn’t have followers. I had no clue what I was doing. But I started anyway.
And that’s all it takes.
If you’re willing to be seen, to show up, and to stay consistent, there’s a space for you—on OnlyFans, LoyalFans, or wherever you choose to grow your brand.
This isn’t just a platform for adult content. It’s a platform for storytellers, creators, connectors. People like you.
