I'm not sure what you call serious money - for me that would be a hellue lot mroe than a few hundred dollars. It would also be a lot more than a living wage.

You seem to imply that it wsa about $100.

The views are decided by the algorithm. If your followers read your piece, then it will present it to other readers. If you readers don't read your piece, then the algorithm won't present it to more readers. Of course, it's not an absolute - just a matter of the more of your followers read your piece, the more your piece will be presented to readers who aer not your followers.