How do you plan content while managing a job? I had been preparing for a government job from the beginning. You mentioned an affiliate tool through which you monetize your content. Which tool do you use? Would you like to disclose your monthly income to the audience, or would you rather keep it private?
Last month, my income was around ₹3.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh. Which month has been your highest so far? I think this month may be the highest.
Have you thought about leaving your job if you start making a lot of money through content creation? For now, I do not want to leave my job. Some people say that women get more reach simply because they are women. Do you agree? I also create faceless content, and I do not make vulgar content. Everything I create is neat and clean.
What advice would you give someone—whether a man or a woman—who wants to start today? If you want to start content creation, start today. There is a lot of money in content creation, although results are not guaranteed. If a video featuring a product gets a million views, how much could it earn?
Welcome, everyone, to another episode. Today, our guest creates content on Instagram alongside her job. She monetizes Instagram through affiliate marketing and also has a YouTube channel where she posts some videos. We will learn how she manages content creation with a job and how she monetizes her content. Welcome to our channel, Meenu ma’am.
Who Is Meenu Dhiman?
Thank you so much. My name is Meenu Dhiman, and I am 26 years old. I have been interested in content creation for a long time, but I have been doing it consistently for about one and a half years. I have received a very good response.
Meenu’s Instagram page has around 141,000 followers. Most of her content features products ordered from Meesho, Myntra, or Flipkart. She reviews or showcases products, and many of her videos are faceless.
How She Started Making Product Review Videos
I have always been interested in makeup. Initially, I made makeup videos, but they did not receive the response I had hoped for. Then I noticed the growth of affiliate marketing and started ordering makeup products. I posted makeup review videos and received a much better response. That gave me the idea to try home and fashion products as well.
Now I work with almost every kind of product category, including home décor, fashion, makeup, and skincare.
Also Read: From YouTube Content to ₹1 Crore in 3 Months: How Vardan & Suhani Built a Hair Oil Brand
Did She Buy Products With Her Own Money?
When I started, I bought the products myself. New creators usually do not receive products for content creation from brands or affiliate platforms at the beginning. As my follower count increased, affiliate apps began providing products for me to feature. Now, I generally do not invest my own money in those sourced products.
When choosing products, I look for unique and affordable finds. I think from the audience’s point of view: what would I want to buy? I started ordering products based on that idea.
For a fashion video, I could spend around ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 on products for that video. For home décor, the amount might be around ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, depending on the products. I order most often from Meesho.
Which Affiliate Platforms Does She Use?
I have used Wishlink and Fame. I found both platforms useful. With Wishlink, product links can be shared for platforms such as Meesho, Flipkart, and Myntra. Links from other websites can also be shared with the audience.
A creator friend recommended Wishlink when I had around 4,000 to 5,000 followers. Sales had already started when I had around 2,000 to 3,000 followers, although they were limited at first. My first payout was around ₹2,000 to ₹3,000, and the amount gradually increased over time.
For more information, visit the official websites: Wishlink and The Fame Company for Creators. Availability, eligibility, commissions, and features may vary, so check the current terms on each platform.
Managing Content Creation Alongside a Government Job
I had been preparing for a government job because my family wanted me to have one. After clearing my exam and getting the job, I decided to give some time to my passion as well. My job finishes at around 4 p.m., and I work on content creation after coming home.
Sometimes I get tired after work, but content creation does not make me feel as tired. I come from a middle-class family and want my family and me to experience more of the things we would like to have.
My family feels proud of me. My father had some objections when I first started making videos while preparing for my job, but my mother has been my biggest supporter. Some friends criticised me and asked why I was spending time on videos instead of focusing on job preparation. I did not listen to them; I listened to my mother and continued creating content. Some of those people now follow my page and ask me to teach them how to do it.
How She Chooses Products and Plans Reels
I consider the season and upcoming festivals. For example, during summer, I look for useful products people may need in that season. If something is useful to me, it may also be useful to my audience. I try to promote good products that people can use in daily life rather than promoting just anything.
Brands began reaching out from the early days, although their budgets were smaller at first. As my follower base grew, the budgets increased. For a dedicated video, I quote around ₹35,000 to ₹40,000. For an integrated video—where I showcase a brand’s product along with three or four other products—I may charge around ₹30,000.
I keep collaborations limited, usually to a maximum of three or four, because I want to focus more on my original content.
Why She Is More Active on Instagram Than YouTube
I am not very active on YouTube. Earlier, I made long-form videos, but when Shorts became popular, I started preferring Instagram. If I post a YouTube Short, I may share product links in the Community section. Some products can also be tagged through the shopping features available for eligible products and accounts.
I had not posted on YouTube for around four months because I was not seeing the progress I wanted, so I focused on Instagram, where most of my earnings come from. I have recently considered focusing on YouTube again.
Also Read: From Job to ₹5 Lakh/Month: How Shruti Built a Candle Packaging Business
How Much Does She Earn From Instagram?
When asked about her income, Meenu said that she earned around ₹3.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh in the previous month, mainly from Instagram. She expected the current month might be even higher because sales were running, she had featured seasonal products, and her reach had been strong.
These figures are her personal experience, not a typical result or a guarantee of what other creators can earn. Earnings can vary depending on audience response, product category, conversion rates, commission rates, returns, and the terms of each affiliate programme.
What Makes a Product Reel Go Viral?
There is no guaranteed trick to make a Reel go viral. If you find unique products or show products in a different way, the video may attract more attention. It takes effort and experimentation.
Some people say women gain followers more quickly because of their gender. Meenu disagrees with the idea that this alone explains growth. She also creates faceless videos, keeps her content clean, and says she has spent a long time working on it.
Her Content Creation and Editing Tools
I do almost everything myself, although my brother sometimes helps with shooting when he is at home. I also edit the videos myself. I use InShot and VN for editing.
One of my biggest challenges now is coming up with fresh ideas. I have made around 800 to 1,000 videos, so I have to think carefully about what unique product or idea to feature next.
Does She Test Products Before Recommending Them?
Yes. I am very particular about this. If I recommend a product, I try it myself first. For skincare, I may use it for 15 to 20 days before posting a review. For home décor or other items, I generally use them for two to five days before reviewing them.
She says she does not simply recommend the same product another creator has featured. Products may belong to the same category, but she tries to choose different ones.
How Affiliate Links and Comments Work
Meenu says that when reach becomes very high, Wishlink may automatically stop comments while links can still be shared. She has not personally experienced a major issue with this feature so far. Features and limitations can change, so creators should check the platform’s latest rules and support information.
Her Advice for New Instagram Creators
If you want to start content creation, begin with products you already have at home or products you use every day. You do not necessarily need to begin by buying lots of things. Even two to three hours a day may be enough to start practising, depending on your schedule and goals.
Meenu has no immediate plan to leave her government job. Her family wanted her to work in the health department, and she does not currently want to quit. She may reconsider only if managing both the job and content creation becomes too tiring.
She has a B.Sc. in Nursing. Her goal is generally to post one video per day. If there is an emergency or no video is ready, she may skip a day. She often orders products for two or three videos at once and shoots several videos together when she has time. She edits daily and posts when a video is ready.
Does She Write Scripts Before Recording?
I do not usually write a script in advance. When I start shooting, the points I want to discuss come to mind. I talk about what I feel about the product and the things I like about it.
She especially enjoys making makeup videos. Random finds and useful, budget-friendly products—such as items under ₹100 or ₹200—can perform well with her audience.
How Much Can a Product Reel With One Million Views Earn?
Meenu said that in the past, a video with one million views could bring around ₹40,000 to ₹50,000 in earnings for her. She said Meesho later reduced commission rates, and her current estimate for a video with one million views was around ₹25,000 to ₹30,000.
She also mentioned that Meesho shows returns of approximately 40% in her experience. Returns can affect commission earnings, and return policies differ between marketplaces and product categories. These amounts are based on the creator’s own experience and should not be treated as a standard rate or a promise of earnings.
Also Read: How Esha Built Repeat Good From a College Idea to a ₹25 Crore Food Brand
Why She Focuses on Affordable Products
I usually choose affordable products so that people with different budgets can consider them. Most of the products I order cost less than ₹1,000, and sometimes I choose products under ₹100. I want my audience to be able to afford the things I show.
Three Tips for Creators Who Are Not Getting Views
1. Be Consistent
Many people start posting videos for a week or two and then stop because they do not see results. Consistency is important. Keep practising and improving instead of quitting too early.
2. Find Something Unique
Do not simply copy the exact content someone else is making. Look for products and ideas that offer something different. Originality may improve your chances of attracting attention, although it cannot guarantee virality.
3. Give Honest Reviews
Do not focus only on the benefit you receive. Your audience matters. If you mislead people, it can damage their trust and make it difficult to grow a page over time.
Meenu says she checks a product’s quality before agreeing to promote it. For skincare, she tests it first and advises people to consider patch testing. She recommends products only when she feels comfortable with them based on her own experience.
Final Thoughts
Meenu Dhiman’s experience shows how a creator can organise product videos around a full-time job, use affiliate platforms to share links, and focus on affordable products and honest reviews. Her approach includes batching product orders and shoots, editing regularly, limiting paid collaborations, and trying products before recommending them.
Her income and reach are personal results and will not be the same for everyone. Anyone starting out should focus on learning, consistency, product quality, audience trust, and understanding the terms of the platforms they use. Content creation can take time, and earnings are not guaranteed.