Site icon Erika Vieira

How Oralia Martinez Built a Full-Time YouTube Career with Just 36K Subscribers

Erika Vieira
Oralia Martinez

How Oralia Martinez Built a Full-Time YouTube Career with Just 36K Subscribers

“I have a lot of what you call ‘delulu’. And so I’m like, you know what? I’m just gonna go. I’m just gonna go.”

When people think of making a full-time income on YouTube, they often imagine needing hundreds of thousands of subscribers. But creator Oralia Martinez proves that strategy, consistency, and smart monetization can take you further than subscriber count ever will.

After leaving a 15-year corporate career, Oralia didn’t make the leap blindly. She saved up, built a solid financial foundation, and worked closely with a financial advisor before taking YouTube full-time. Most of her early income came from affiliate sales, not AdSense—and later, she became an early adopter of the YouTube Shopping program, which she says has been a “career-altering” move.

From Corporate to Creator: A Calculated Leap

Before quitting her corporate job, Oralia spent years preparing financially. That careful planning allowed her to devote time to her channel without the pressure of instant profit. Still, she knew she needed guidance to turn her small but loyal audience into a full-time business—so she invested in coaching and learned how to approach YouTube with a strategic mindset.

Her big breakthrough came from a single video—an Amazon Plus-Size Haul—that combined strong SEO and a clear niche. That video didn’t just boost her views; it transformed her income.

The Power of Niche and Strategy

By leaning into her expertise in plus-size fashion and styling, Oralia grew a community of women looking for quality, size-inclusive clothing that felt both elegant and attainable. She strategically scheduled content—hauls on weekends, styling videos midweek, and vlogs for connection.

This balance helped her earn through multiple income streams: YouTube Shop, LTK, and MagicLinks, along with consistent brand deals. At one point, she hit $120,000 in quarterly sales, unlocking YouTube’s coveted ShopStar bonus

Authenticity in the Age of AI

Even as her content evolves—she recently announced a personal health journey shifting her from plus-size to midsize fashion—her audience has stayed loyal. Oralia credits this to authentic connection and storytelling through her vlogs.

Her story is proof that you don’t need viral fame to win on YouTube—you need strategy, trust, and heart.

“I am very strategic in how I post and when I post and what I post and how often I post it because it really helps to funnel into a particular revenue stream.”

FREE RESOURCES

YOUTUBE COURSES AND COACHING

TRUSTED YOUTUBE TOOLS

RECOMMENDED YOUTUBE/PODCASTING EQUIPMENT:

*Links include affiliate links

**Erika Vieira is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com.

***Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledged. Links in the description are typically affiliate links that let you help support the podcast at no extra cost.

Oralia Martinez

Interviews, Podcast

Erika Vieira, Oralia Martinez, Podcast, The YouTube Power Hour Podcast

Author: Erika Vieira

Marketing and sales expert Erika Vieira is the host and producer of the #1 influencer strategy podcast, The YouTube Power Hour. The podcast, with over 100 episodes and hundreds of thousands of downloads is dedicated to content creators who are looking to start, improve and grow their unique influence online. Erika works with influencers on personal branding, content improvement and defining a niche via customized strategy sessions, channel critiques and business support. She also loves makeup, beauty and her family and believes anyone who has the drive and passion can find success online. Feel free to send her a message here.

Exit mobile version