Hey everyone, this is 晚枫 (Wanfeng). Today I want to share something interesting: an article I wrote 4 years ago got paid for again today!
The Beginning
I started doing programming content in 2018. Since I transitioned from law school to become a Python programmer, I understand the struggles of beginners — especially those outside the tech field — better than most. That's why from the start, I focused on sharing practical Python beginner knowledge and real-world projects.
Initially, all my tutorials were free. I'd stay up late every night after work to update content, and kept that up for over a year. Eventually, work got busier, more people reached out for consulting, and doing it purely out of passion became unsustainable. I switched to a model where tech sharing stayed free, but original courses and Q&A groups became paid.
The article that got paid today was actually my first Q&A group, priced at just 1 yuan back then: link here 👉 Python Automation Office Community · Discussion Group
Accumulation
I've been running that Q&A group to this day. Although the price has gradually increased, there are now over 2,700 members.
Later, I recorded some original courses and plan to continue recording more.
- 50 Lectures · Python Automation Office for Beginners
- 30 Lectures · AI Programming Bootcamp for Beginners
- Python OCR Auto Batch Recognition for Beginners
- 6 Lectures · Python Auto Send/Receive Email for Beginners
Yesterday I also posted on WeChat Moments: no more VLOG updates unless I've finished recording all the courses I've already planned.
Rewards
What have I gained from running these Q&A groups and original courses?
I think the most important thing is having a long-term career worth building — calling it a business wouldn't be an exaggeration.
From the very beginning of doing content creation, I saw this as something worth building for the long haul. Good work (articles, videos) I create can completely belong to me and generate ongoing returns. Unlike working for someone else, where late nights and overtime produce work that belongs to your boss — you get nothing but a salary and experience.
As a long-term project, I have enough time to refine it. I understand more and more what my fans want and what a reasonable price is for them. I can build a moat in the market without worrying about career crises.
Plus, as a content creator, the accumulation of followers has brought me collaboration opportunities I'd never have gotten as a pure programmer. For example, last year I helped plan and host Python China (Chongqing), plus technical promotions for major companies.
And finally, there's the income improvement — which is pretty self-explanatory. I now have 300,000+ followers across all platforms, and a single ad placement pays enough to cover my living expenses for a month.
Next Steps
If my 2018 advantage was "understanding beginners' struggles with learning Python better than other programmers," now I've added another advantage: understanding how to grow a personal brand better than other programmers.
I also know how to teach other programmers to grow their personal brand — through one-on-one consulting, daily topic selection, editorial discussions, Q&A group interactions, and direct traffic collaboration, I directly help those who need it.
So I started a knowledge planet (知识星球) last year specifically to help internet workers grow their side hustles (especially programmers). We've passed the trial period and are now officially recruiting.
If you're interested in doing content creation, join the planet and add my WeChat:
- One one-on-one session (499/session normally): I'll analyze your content positioning, content direction, and growth strategy, then help you create a plan tailored to you.
- Join the paid group — ask questions anytime you run into issues, and I'll share growth tips in the group.
- I'll organize mutual promotion among members
- I'll provide monetization opportunities
More to come.
Author: 程序员晚枫 (Programmer Wanfeng), specializing in AI programming training. After completing the tutorial 30 Lectures · AI Programming Bootcamp created with Turing Press, beginners can start working on AI projects.
