The Complete Record of How I Earned 10,000 Yen a Month on note

Hello. My name is Maki, and I love writing while raising my two children, aged 3 and 6.

Today, I would like to talk openly about everything I have done to earn a monthly income of 10,000 yen using note.

I want to monetize on note. But I'm raising kids, my time is limited, and I'm not good at social media...

There is so much I want to tell my self from a year ago who felt that way.

And now, you who are reading this article must also be harboring some kind of anxiety like, 'I want to try writing, but can I do it?' or perhaps a hope that says, 'But I want to dream just a little bit.'

In this article, I will share every process, failure, way of thinking, technique, and the emotional changes I experienced by earning income that I practiced until I monetized on note.

By the way, note has over 11 million monthly users (as of 2024). Of those, about 3% sell paid articles. Furthermore, it is said that less than 1% of those people are 'consistently earning 10,000 yen or more per month.'

In other words,earning 10,000 yen on note is a very narrow gate.

However, this also means that 'if you write properly, it will reach people' and 'there is little competition.'

I don't have any special titles or influencer-like influence. I'm just an ordinary housewife. I'm not good at social media, and I tend to neglect both Instagram and X. But I was able to keep going with note.

And, as small steps gradually piled up, before I knew it, I started receiving 10,000 yen in monthly income.

The note that wasn't read and the realization that 'this was a diary'

I still remember clearly the day I wrote my first note.

After putting the kids to sleep, in a quiet room past 10 PM, as I typed on the keyboard, I felt a mix of 'I did my best today' and the frustration of 'I want someone to listen to how I feel.'

At the time, I was exhausted every day, caught between balancing childcare, housework, and work.

For example, I was writing things like this.

…Well, it's something like that.

Reading it now, I realize, 'This is completely a diary.'

But at the time, I believed there was meaning in "writing about myself honestly like this."

The result was: 6 PVs. 0 likes.

And about 4 of those PVs were probably me (laughs).

I was so, so depressed. I thought, "My words have no value to anyone," and "There's no point in writing, is there?"

However, from that point on, I made a major "shift in thinking."

That was the switch to the perspective of "note is a medium written for the reader."

The turning point for my note was "imagining the reader"

I looked back at the notes that weren't read over and over again.

Each time, a feeling began to sprout: "Wait? To the reader, doesn't this make no sense at all?"

I had been writing only about "things only I could understand."

What I was writing was just like a locked diary.

But note is a "public diary." It has no meaning unless it is open so that it can reach someone.

So, before writing each piece, I started asking myself these questions:

"What kind of person will read this note?"

"How do I want that person to feel after they finish reading it?"

Imagining the reader influenced not only the structure of the sentences but also the warmth and rhythm of the words.

For example, I tried changing the way I wrote "I think..." to "It might be that..."

I became conscious of using phrasing that leaves options for the reader rather than making assertions.

The note that I had previously used as a "place to vent my own emotions" gradually changed into a "place to connect with someone."

The day I earned my first revenue on note (I almost cried!)

One day, while I was going through trial and error in my own way to figure out how to write a "note that gets read."

I decided to take the plunge and publish my first paid article.

The theme was "Small strategies for monetizing on note even while raising children"—in other words, the prototype for the story I am writing in this article right now.

I rewrote the title many times as well.

I wanted to include eye-catching words. But I didn't want it to sound fake. The process of finding the right balance that people could empathize with was truly exhausting.

And then, I published it.

I remember being restless from the morning that day, checking my smartphone every five minutes, and feeling my heart race just because the PV went from "2" to "6".

After noon. I received an unfamiliar notification.

Your paid article has sold one copy

I just froze in front of the screen.

It sold. It actually sold.

At that moment, my throat tightened, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"There was someone who would pay money just to read my words."

This fact felt like it had validated me.

Trends in initial earnings as seen through data

After that, 5 copies were sold in 3 days, and eventually, it recorded 8 copies in one week.

The price was 500 yen. After deducting note's commission, what remained in my hands was just pocket money.

・PV: 352 ・Likes: 28 ・Comments: 1

It wasn't a "buzz." But I had the feeling that it had "slowly reached" someone.

What left the biggest impression on me at this time was

That was just one single comment. In terms of numbers, it was only one. But that is one important reader, isn't it?

Ah, I see. If I write properly, it really does reach people.

From that day on, I felt for the first time the reality that "writing can be a job."

When I write paid articles, I design them like this

When I wrote my first paid article, I worried, "Where should I start the paid section?"

On note, the "boundary" between the paid and free sections is very important.

You need to design it so that readers will want to read more.

Roughly speaking, the structure I keep in mind is like this:

1. Create empathy in the introduction (empathize with the reader's situation)

2. Draw out curiosity by raising a problem

3. Explain the background and premises in the free section

4. Provide "reproducible content" and "unique experience" as a set in the paid section

5. Conclude with a word of encouragement

By inserting a "Table of Contents" before the paid section or adding a note like "From here on, I will write about specific methods," it becomes easier for readers to prepare themselves mentally.

Also, to increase the satisfaction of those who actually read it, I always check the following three things:

• Is the content something the reader can use tomorrow?

• Does it include experiences or perspectives that only I can write?

• Does it provide the encouragement to make the reader want to take action?

Articles that have these elements will be read quietly but surely, even if they don't go viral in a flashy way.

How much should I charge for a paid article?

On note, you can set a price starting from 100 yen.

I initially set mine to 500 yen.

The reason was simple: 'Because the first note I ever bought was 500 yen.'

However, I now realize that was a bit of a sloppy way to decide.

What I realized after actually starting to sell was that the price is proportional to the 'trust relationship with the reader.'

When you have few followers, 500 to 700 yen is a price range that makes people think, 'Maybe I'll give it a try.'

On the other hand,

• You have clear achievements (monetization, real-life experience, persuasiveness)

• The content is highly reproducible and practical

• The word count exceeds 8,000 characters, and it is rich in diagrams and concrete examples

When conditions like these are met, it will sell well even at around 1,000 yen.

By the way, the price of my best-selling article was 700 yen, and my second best-selling was 980 yen.

Looking only at the numbers, it might feel cheap, but

'Even one person bought it'

That fact turns into confidence.

Comparison between notes that sold and notes that didn't

I have published over 10 paid articles so far, but not all of them have sold.

Below is a structural comparison of actual 'articles that sold' and 'articles that didn't sell.'

Articles that sold
Title: Number + Result + Empathy Word
Introduction: Specifically present the reader's problem
Paid section: Procedures, experiences, and templates are clear
Ending: Encourage action / push the reader forward

Articles that didn't sell
Title: Abstract and vague impression
Introduction: Focused on the writer's feelings
Paid section: Focused on impressions and reflections
Ending: Vaguely fades out

Rather than what I 'want to convey' as a writer,

focus on what the reader 'wants to know'.

This was the most important perspective for monetization.

Milestones to reaching 10,000 yen per month

There were several 'turning points' before I exceeded 10,000 yen on note.

Step 1: First, build trust with free articles

'Build trust for free before releasing paid articles' → By publishing articles that get read, I cultivated the foundation for people to think, 'I want to read this person's paid note as well.'

Step 2: Small results with the first paid note

→ I carefully compiled relatable experiences plus reproducible steps.

Step 3: SEO within note

→ I improved keyword design in titles, introductions, and tag design. Whether or not you think about this properly can make a difference of hundreds to thousands of PVs. (I will explain this in detail in the next chapter.)

Step 4: Generating repeaters (+ stable revenue)

→ Because I was told 'I want to read more' in comments and DMs from purchasers, I became able to sell even after raising the price slightly.

Basics of SEO and search design within note

note has multiple traffic channels, including not only Google search but also the internal search engine (note search) and 'recommended' displays.

Among them, the following 5 SEO measures are particularly important

• Include searchable keywords in the title

• Include 'those keywords naturally' in the introduction

• Weave co-occurring words and related terms into the main text

• Always set at least 5 tags (including categories)

• Properly include internal links within note (related articles, series articles, etc.)

For example, terms like "note monetization" or "how to write paid note articles" are words that readers are likely to search for.

If you type those words into the search bar, you will see suggestions like "sellable," "how to write," "template," and "beginner."

→ By naturally incorporating these into your titles and introductions, your internal note SEO will improve significantly.

Also, since it is said that the number of views within 48 hours of posting affects whether an article is displayed in "Recommended," I try to post at set times (7:00–9:00 AM or 8:00–10:00 PM) to ensure a certain level of PV immediately after publication.

How to view engagement data and tips for improvement

On note, you can check the following metrics:

• PV (Page Views): Whether it was viewed in the first place

• Number of Likes: An indicator of empathy and favor (emotion)

• Number of Comments: Whether you were able to prompt action

If you have few likes relative to your PV, your completion rate might be low. Even for articles exceeding 8,000 characters, maintaining a completion rate of 40–50% is considered good.

If you have few likes and suspect a low completion rate, I check things like:

• Is the introduction too long?

• Is the structure such that the main point cannot be grasped in the first scroll?

and make improvements accordingly.

I also analyze the commonalities between "articles with few likes" and "articles with many likes" to understand the writing styles and themes that readers tend to react to.

Sustainability Strategy: How to keep up with note for people who "can't write every day"

I do not "update every day."

However, I do update "several times a week" without fail.

To do that, I only do the following three things:

1. Create an idea notebook (jot things down on your smartphone whenever they come to mind)

2. Decide on the structure in advance (3 headings before writing)

3. Publish at 70% completion first (don't strive for perfection)

To prevent running out of ideas in particular, I rotate themes based on "frequently asked questions," "stories of failure," and "things I thought about this week."

For example, this article itself is a result of me being frequently asked, "What happened on your way to earning 10,000 yen on note?" so I've compiled that into one post.

The reason I continue writing on note as a mom: The "other value" more important than monetization

To be honest, 10,000 yen a month is not a large income.

However, I feel that what I have gained from note is much greater than that.

For example,

• The confidence that "someone needed my words"

• The mental space of having "a place that is just my own"

• A "third place that is neither home nor the workplace"

While raising children, I had the feeling that my existence had become a "function for the family."

I have a role as a "mother." But I feel like my words as "myself" had been left behind.

By writing on note, I gradually created "time to return to being myself."

That saved my heart more than I could have imagined.

I think earning money on note is one of the ways a mom can "connect with society without relying on anyone."

That is why I want to keep writing on note, and I want to keep telling others, "It's okay to write."

The "unexpected future" that awaited me after I kept writing on note

Once I started earning 10,000 yen a month on note, my daily life changed just a little bit.

However, what surprised me even more was not the "money," but the increase in "connections with people."

One day, I received a message like this from someone who read my work on note.

Encouraged by your articles, Maki, I started my own note. It's only my first post, but I'm already feeling the joy of being read, and I'm so happy.

The moment I read that, my heart felt warm.

The things I write can become a catalyst for someone else's actions.

This was a feeling I hadn't experienced on social media.

The story of receiving a request from a follower

Furthermore, after that, I began to receive messages asking me to "write a note about this" or consultations asking for "individual advice on how to write notes."

Of course, I am neither an expert nor a professional writer.

Even so, I was surprised that by having people read the "notes I have written so far," my words had turned into "trust."

Life changes "little by little" through writing

note is not a place where you go viral or get attention overnight.

But it is a place where changes happen gradually, like "connecting with one more person than yesterday" or "writing becoming a part of your daily life little by little."

Earnings are certainly nice. But more than that, the fact that "someone is reading" becomes a support for my daily life.

For example, when I see a "like" on a note I wrote while rubbing my sleepy eyes the morning after my child had a fever and cried all night.

That alone makes me think, "I can do my best again today."

Conclusion: I want to say, "It's okay to write"

Thank you so much for reading this long note.

Monetizing on note may certainly not be an easy path.

But it is often not that it is "impossible," but simply that you "didn't know how."

Understand the mechanics, re-examine your own experiences, and write with care.

If you repeat that, you will surely reach your goal.

Even if you only have one reader, and even if your earnings are only a few hundred yen.

Just feeling that you have reached someone makes life feel a little kinder.

That is why I write on note again today.

And if you, who are reading this article right now, are thinking, 'I want to try writing on note, but I'm hesitant.'

I want to gently tell you.

It's okay to write.