TL;DR: GaryVee believes we’re entering a new economy where anyone—not just “experts”—can turn everyday moments into income. From viral posts to niche communities, he argues the opportunity to monetize has never been greater, but only if you’re prepared. Discover his six reasons why now is the time to launch your Creator store and how to set yourself up to capitalize on attention before it slips away.

We sat down with serial entrepreneur, author, and Creator Gary Vaynerchuk (also known as GaryVee) alongside Stan’s founder, John Hu, for a deep dive into the future of online business. Gary, a long-time advocate for cashing in on your passions, revealed why he’s not just an investor in Stan, but a firm believer in its potential.

Millions of people go viral every day on TikTok, Instagram, or LinkedIn. But here’s the problem: Most of those moments vanish without any reward. Gary argues there’s a massive gap between attention and monetization—and the missing piece is having a storefront ready to capture value when it arrives.

What started as a conversation about Creator-Entrepreneurs quickly evolved into a powerful realization: in today’s attention economy, everyone—not just the business-savvy—has a real chance to monetize their unique life, interests, and even random daily moments.

So why now? Gary believes we’re in the pre-dawn of an era where creators can monetize “random content” and viral moments are more accessible than ever—but most people are unprepared to capitalize on them. With a tool like Stan, you can have the infrastructure in place to monetize before that moment strikes.

And that’s not the only reason. We’re breaking down why Gary believes everyone should set up a Creator store right now and what you can do to prepare for this new economy.

Watch the full conversation here 👇

6 Reasons The Moment to Join the Creator Economy is Now

1. Viral Moments Are More Accessible Than Ever, But Most Aren’t Ready

Gary believes that today’s social media algorithms, particularly on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, give almost everyone a chance at going viral if they post consistently. 

The problem? When a random video gets millions of views, people often have no system in place to monetize that sudden influx of attention. 

If a video suddenly takes off, you’re typically left with a flood of DMs but no way to capture that value. And, let’s be honest—virality alone doesn’t pay rent.

Having a Creator store, like Stan, set up in advance means you’re prepared to act quickly when a post takes off. You can launch a digital product, guide, or community in hours and turn fleeting attention into real income.

2. You Can Monetize “Random Content” Without Being an Expert

Gary has evolved beyond the beliefs shared in Crushing It!, which focused on a need for deep passions and expertise. Now, he champions monetizing random content.

In this new age of the Creator economy, you can monetize nearly any form of content. Your daily life—the mundane, the quirky, the everyday happenings—is potential content you can use to attract an audience and sell relevant offers.

The old way: You had to be a certified fitness guru or a finance expert to sell a fitness course.

The new way: You can share your everyday spin class routine, your personal budgeting spreadsheet, or even your morning smoothie recipe. If one of those posts takes off, you can use Stan to instantly create a related offer, like a simple guide, template, or community—no “expert” status required. 

Whether you consider yourself an entrepreneur or not, the Creator economy opens up a world of new monetization possibilities.

3. The Barrier to Entry Is Shockingly Low

Starting an online business used to be expensive and frustratingly difficult. When John was first starting as a Creator, he was spending over $400 each month on a disconnected tech stack. A website, payment processor, course provider, and marketing tools just to make a sale—which felt completely inaccessible and unsustainable.

But now, there are powerful Creator tools that do it all, bundling everything you need to monetize into one simple platform. With Stan, it only costs $29 per month to bet on yourself and start earning with:

• A high-converting link in bio
• Digital products
• Online courses
• Webinars
• Communities
• Memberships
• Coaching calls

And anything else you dream up. With free distribution channels at your disposal, like social media, and an affordable way to monetize them, the barrier to entry to earn online is ridiculously low.

4. It’s The Fastest Way To Gain Financial Independence

Earning from social media isn’t just for those pursuing a full-time Creator career—it’s also for people who want to supplement their income or diversify their revenue streams. In today’s uncertain economy, even just $200-$500 a month can make a meaningful difference in covering bills, offsetting rising costs, or giving you some financial breathing room.

🤰Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mom, like Nicole Crispi, who’s craving a creative outlet and added household income so you can live debt-free.

🎶 Or a creative, like Justin Westphal, looking to safeguard your finances with an extra income stream.

💜 Or you’re exiting a toxic situation, like Janessa Lynnae, and creating financial breathing room for a fresh start.

No matter your situation, setting yourself up with a simple way to earn online can turn social media from a time suck into a safety net—and, for some, a path to full financial freedom.

5. You Can Build Recurring Revenue Through Community

Gone are the days of solely building your community in a rented space, like Instagram or TikTok. Instead of pouring your time and energy into building a community on a platform that could disappear tomorrow, you can create a closed community you actually own.

Gary sees community-building tools as the “new age Facebook group,” giving you the space and means to connect with your audience beyond a social app. By charging a small fee (as little as $ 2-$8 per month), you can foster a higher-quality, more engaged community that members are financially invested in, while securing recurring revenue in the process.

And here’s where it gets powerful: the more value you deliver, the more your community will grow—and that recurring income compounds month over month.

For example, a small, passionate group of lawn-mowing enthusiasts could start at 100 members paying $5/month (bringing in $500 of monthly income). But if you continue to deliver tips, tutorials, or meetups, that community can double or triple over time, transforming a niche passion into a sustainable business.

That’s why everyday Creators, like Sophie VanSurksum—to the top 1% of Creators like Steven Bartlett—are using Stan Communities to earn more and deepen relationships with their audiences.

6. It Can Accelerate Your Existing Career or Business

A link in bio storefront isn’t just helpful for new Creator-Entrepreneurs—it can also fuel established businesses. Many businesses use Stan to share freebies or book discovery calls that capture high-quality leads, whether in-person or online, right from their social profile.

And while you might associate social media with dance routines and trending music, John points out that the real opportunity goes far beyond entertainment. Lawyers, accountants, dentists, and hairstylists are using platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn to share their expertise—then funneling that attention into email lists, client bookings, and paid offers through Stan.

No matter your profession, Gary emphasizes that building a personal brand is like taking out an insurance policy in a volatile economy. Stan gives you the tools to create a platform you own, making you more resilient and less dependent on a traditional 9-5 job.

How to Prepare to Monetize Your Content 

Gary’s belief in monetizing random content isn’t just a theory—it’s already happening. Everyday people are turning niche interests and daily routines into real revenue streams:

• A teacher sharing classroom hacks, earning $1,000/month selling lesson resources
• A mom documenting her sourdough journey, growing a paid recipe community that now funds her bills
• A fitness enthusiast posting short-form content, turning a single viral video into a steady coaching business

These aren’t traditional entrepreneurs. They’re people who simply shared what they were already doing and were prepared to capitalize on it.

Shift From Consuming to Creating

Most people scroll social feeds as passive consumers. Gary argues that the real opportunity is in flipping that mindset: instead of just watching, start documenting.

That doesn’t mean reinventing yourself—it means sharing what you already do: a morning run, a backyard project, or a perspective from your day job. Small, everyday actions can become content, and that content can create opportunities.

So stop overthinking what to post. Focus on sharing consistently, and let the market decide what resonates.

Launch a Paid Offer

Once you start sharing content, the next step is making sure there’s a clear way for people to go deeper or buy from you. The key is to keep your initial offer simple and quick to set up, so you’re ready to monetize the moment attention comes your way.

You can start with a low-lift, high-reward offer like a:

• $10 digital guide that answers your most common DMs
• 30-minute paid consultation link
• Monthly community subscription where people can connect with you directly

These kinds of offers don’t require months of planning or expensive overhead. You can get them live in minutes, not weeks. And once you’ve launched your first offer, you can always add more as your audience grows.

Take the First Step with GaryVee and Stan

Gary’s message is simple: attention is abundant, but it won’t pay the bills. Launching your own link in bio storefront now can help you turn fleeting moments into lasting opportunities later.

That’s exactly why Gary partnered with Stan to launch the Gary Vee Challenge. It’s designed to help you launch your own Creator store and start earning in days, with eight weeks of mentoring from Gary and the Stan team. Whether you’re looking to earn your first $10 online or build a full-time business, this is your chance to see what’s possible.

Ready to bet on yourself? Set up your Stan Store and join the challenge today.