How to Build an Audience & Monetize on RedNote in 30 Days (Step-by-Step Guide)

You've dreamed of becoming a creator, but places like TikTok and Instagram are just packed. 😕

RedNote is where you should be in 2025, as it’s still fresh, with less competition and a highly engaged audience ready to discover new creators. 🚀

Imagine building your audience from scratch, landing brand deals, and making money—all within 30 days.

Sounds too good to be true?

It’s not!

As a RedNote agency owner with 7 years of experience helping businesses monetize on the platform—and growing my own account from 0 to 46K followers as a creator (without any paid ads!)—I know exactly what works.

In this post, I’ll show you step by step how to grow and monetize on RedNote—no fluff, just real results.

Let’s dive in! 💡

Week 1: Find Your Niche & Optimize Your Profile

Step 1: Find Your Niche (a.k.a. Stop Posting Random Stuff)

Nobody wants to hear you talk about what you had for dinner, your bad hair day, or how bored you are at work.

Sure, that might work if you're Kim Kardashian...

But if you're still building your audience, it's time to wake up, babe.

What’s a niche, and why does it matter?

Your niche is the specific topic you create content about. More importantly, it's what makes people want to follow you.

For example, I run a RedNote marketing agency, so I create content about RedNote growth strategies to help brands and creators.

You need a niche so you know exactly what you're going to talk about and who you're talking to.

How to find your niche?

Ask yourself:

• What’s a topic you can talk about nonstop?

• What do people always ask you for advice on?

If you can answer these, congrats—youve. just found your niche.

Because thats something you’re either passionate about or good at, you’re on the right track.

Listen, if you want detailed guidance on RedNote, stay tuned until the end, where I offer something to skip the trial and error, and get you started growing and monetizing in 30 days.

📌 Step 2: Optimize Your Profile for Growth

Now that you’ve picked a niche, your profile needs to scream, ““Follow me!”

✅ ”Turn Viewers into Followers” bio

Your bio should say who you are and the value you bring.

For example, on my RedNote creator bio (@chestnut🌰）, I say I’m a digital nomad and online business owner, sharing tips on business, branding, and digital nomad life to help my Chinese audience achieve time and location freedom.

✅ Include Keywords in your bio

Use keywords in your bio to help with discoverability.

If you’re in the travel niche, mention it.

If you're a coach, say so.

And yeah, since RedNote’s primary audience is Chinese, using Chinese in your bio can help you connect.

But since TikTok’s ban, more English speakers are joining, so you’ve got both options!

✅ Choose a High-Quality Profile Picture

People already have trust issues in real life, and online?

It's even worse.

So trust me, using your own photo for your profile is essential.

It doesn’t mean people will trust you just because of your photo, but it does show you're a real person.

Week 2-3: Create High-Quality Content & Get Noticed

Now it’s time to create.

But remember—RedNote isn’t TikTok. People don’t just scroll mindlessly; they’re looking for useful insights, relatable stories, and real connections.

Think of RedNote as YouTube-style content in an Instagram format with a Reddit vibe.

Sure, a random shark video might get views, but that won’t build your brand.

We want to hear your story, your struggles, and how we can grow together.

So focus on bringing value, not just self-promotion.

Content That Works on RedNote:

✅ Educational – Teach something (how-tos, guides, tutorials).

✅ Storytelling – Share relatable experiences.

✅ Lifestyle – Your unique way of living (like me sharing digital nomad life).

✅ Personal Growth – Let’s be real, everyone loves this

The key?

Give people a reason to follow you by helping them.

Step 2: Optimize Your Title & Thumbnail

Like YouTube, titles and thumbnails decide if people click.

🚀 How to create a clickable title:

✅ Make it specific & benefit-driven ("How I Made $10K in 30 Days on RedNote")

✅ Use numbers & power words ("5 Mistakes Killing Your RedNote Growth")

✅ Spark curiosity ("The Secret to Exploding on RedNote (No One Talks About This)")

✅ Keep it short & punchy (Avoid long, boring titles)

🔥 Thumbnail tips:

✅ Use bold text on your thumbnail (so it’s readable at a glance)

✅ Show your face if possible (people trust real humans)

✅ Keep it clean & high-quality (no messy, overcrowded designs)

💡 Pro tip: Before posting, ask yourself:

• Would YOU stop to read/watch it?

• Is it clear what the content is about?

A bad title & thumbnail = no clicks.

But a great one? It can double or triple your reach! 🚀

Step 3: SEO & Hashtags – The Secret to Getting Discovered

Unlike Instagram and TikTok, where your content dies in 24 hours, RedNote is a social search engine—which means SEO matters.

For example, posts I uploaded years ago still get likes and new followers!

🚀 How to optimize for search:

✅ Use popular search terms in your title & captions.

✅ Add relevant hashtags (but don’t spam—it’s a max of 10 per post).

✅ Write posts that your audience asked the most

Week 4 Avoiding Mistakes&Monetization

📌 Step 1: Avoid Common Mistakes and Shadowbans

Yes, RedNote is strict—every post goes through moderation. Break the rules, and you’re shadowbanned (or worse, banned for life).

The common mistakes I’ve seen are:

1. Leaving contact info in the captions, comments, or DMs.

2. Promoting products or services under a personal account.

You need a business account to share anything commercial. And yes, you have to be a legitimate business, similar to TikTok’s business accounts.

If you're a brand and need help with that, feel free to email me or check my website.

📌 Step 2: Monetization – How to Make Money on RedNote

Now that you’ve found your niche, posted valuable content consistently, and avoided any mistakes that could get you banned, let's talk about how to turn followers into income:

🔥 1. Brand Deals(Once you hit 1K+ followers)

When you hit 1K followers, you can apply to be a KOL on RedNote and get listed on the KOL marketplace. Brands will find you and pay for sponsored content.

By the way, KOL stands for Key Opinion Leader—basically, an influencer on RedNote.

RedNote is straightforward about helping creators monetize.

Unlike Instagram or YouTube, where creators need third-party platforms to connect with brands and potentially get sponsored, RedNote has its own marketplace.

It’s like Fiverr meets influencers—brands browse KOL profiles and choose who they want to work with.

Creators can also apply for brand marketing campaigns themselves.

🔥2. Affiliate Marketing (Earn by promoting products)

Once you have 1k followers, you unlock the affiliate marketplace.

where you can select products that match your niche and add them to your posts or even your profile.

When people purchase through your link, you earn a commission.

🔥 3. Selling your own Products or service (The easiest way to monetize and you don’t need 1k followers)

For any creator who wants to sell products, it's easiest to start with digital products or services (like coaching or courses).

They require zero shipping, no inventory, and 100% profit margins.

For example, I sell my digital course on RedNote by opening a shop.

Just to note, if you are a foreigner, you will need a business license to open a shop. (I think this applies everywhere, right? Even on TikTok, you need to be a business to sell? Am I right?)

Final Thoughts: Your 30-Day Action Plan

I do offer a done-for-you service that’s more premium, but to make my expertise more accessible to everyone, I’ve packed my 7 years of knowledge about RedNote into a comprehensive blueprint.

It covers everything from finding your niche to monetization strategies—so you can take action and turn your passion into profit! 🚀

In this 45 pages blueprint I will talk about:

• Master RedNote’s Algorithm to boost engagement

• Find your niche and build a standout personal brand

• Create scroll-stopping content your audience will love

• Monetize your content through brand collaborations and more

This Blueprint is perfect for you if:

You value your time, want proven strategies that work, and see this as an investment that can pay you back tens of thousands. 🚀

For the cost of one dinner ($49), you’ll get everything you need to turn your passion into profit—no fluff, just a clear roadmap to get started. 🌍✨

If you've been thinking about becoming a creator for a while, 2025 is the perfect time to start and turn your passion into a living.

Start grow now.

Let’s chat about how I can help your build influence and grow on RedNote.

• Follow me on Instagram @chinamarketingzl for behind-the-scenes insights into my business and Xiaohongshu tips.

• Check out my YouTube channel HERE for more free educational content.

• Visit my website at www.chinamarketingzl.com to see how we can work together.

• Email me directly for help at zoe@chinamarketingzl.com.