How to Actually Make Money Online: A No-BS Guide

Introduction: The Reality of Making Money Online

If you’re tired of the false promises about making money online and the methods that seem to work only for others, you’re not alone. Many people have tried their hand at dropshipping, affiliate marketing, or Amazon FBA, only to find that it’s not as easy as it seems. You’ve probably been bombarded with motivational YouTube videos promising easy money, but the truth is often different. This guide is here to save you time and money by revealing the truth about how you can actually make money online.

The Truth About Online Money-Making Methods

When I first started exploring online money-making opportunities, I thought it was all about finding the right method. I tried selling services on Fiverr, but no one bought them. I tried trading, but I lost all my money. The problem wasn’t that these methods don’t work—it’s that they don’t work the same way for everyone.

The truth is, almost all online money-making methods work, but each has a learning curve and requires commitment. The real question isn’t whether these methods produce results, but whether they’re worth the time, money, and effort you invest. Some paths may take months or even years before they generate significant returns. So, the key is to find a method that can give you real results without a disproportionate investment.

Two Online Businesses with Real Potential

After analyzing various options, I’ve identified two online businesses that have good potential: Kindle Publishing and YouTube. Let’s dive into each of these.

Kindle Publishing: A Low-Cost, High-Reward Option

Kindle Publishing involves publishing books through Amazon’s KDP platform. You can sell your books using Amazon ads, Facebook ads, or Instagram ads, but there’s also a free alternative: TikTok.

Many people are successfully selling their books on Amazon by posting 2-3 videos a day on TikTok, showcasing their books and creating viral content. Once they find a formula that works, they replicate it. This method works well for all kinds of books, but it’s particularly effective for journals, diaries, coloring books, and funny books, which have high viral potential.

For example, if you create a book priced at $16, that’s your net profit. If one of your TikTok videos gets 100,000 views and 1% of those viewers buy your book, you’ll earn around $7,000. Not bad for an almost zero investment.

Here’s a summary of the steps you need to take:

  1. Create a KDP account.
  2. Create your book.
  3. Create a TikTok profile.
  4. Publish your book.
  5. Post 2-3 videos a day and replicate content that goes viral.

YouTube: Building a Loyal Audience for Long-Term Earnings

YouTube is another excellent online business. Some channels have managed to build a loyal audience and generate significant earnings with just a few well-researched videos. To understand YouTube’s earning potential, you need to know two key metrics: CPM (Cost Per Mille) and RPM (Revenue Per Mille).

  • CPM is the amount advertisers pay per 1,000 monetized views.
  • RPM is the actual revenue a content creator earns per 1,000 total views.

Once you meet YouTube’s monetization requirements, you can earn money through ads that appear in your videos. But ads aren’t the only source of income on YouTube.

To succeed on YouTube, you need to:

  1. Pick a niche that you like and that is profitable.
  2. Research your target audience.
  3. Create high-quality videos, including the cover, script, editing, voiceover, title, description, and tags. You can do this yourself or delegate it.
  4. Publish your video and pay attention to CTR (Click-Through Rate) and audience retention. The higher these metrics, the more YouTube will recommend your video to new viewers.

The secret to success on YouTube is to create videos that people click on and watch until the end.

The Importance of Commitment and Delegation

Both Kindle Publishing and YouTube can be profitable, but they require time and effort. If your goal is to create a secondary income to support your studies, you can handle it yourself. However, if you have more ambitious goals, you’ll need to think about delegating tasks. Delegation is the best way to scale your business.

Don’t expect a linear path to success. You’ll encounter obstacles along the way, but each challenge you overcome will give you new skills and greater awareness. This way, when you face the same obstacle again, you’ll know how to deal with it.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice

Making money online is possible, but it requires the right approach and commitment. Whether you choose Kindle Publishing, YouTube, or another method, the key is to find a business that aligns with your goals and resources.

To help you make an informed decision, I’ve created a detailed file analyzing various online businesses. You can find it in the description below. Share your experiences with online businesses in the comments, and I’ll see you in the next guide.