If you’ve ever scrolled through YouTube hoping to find the “secret formula” or the “secret method” to get rich online, you already know the frustration. Endless videos, courses, flashy promises, and overnight success stories make it seem so easy — for everyone else, that is. But here’s the truth: most online money-making methods do work — just not the way so-called online gurus make you think.
I’ve been there. I tried many methods, started many businesses, only to find myself confused, broke, and wondering why success seemed to skip me — and why I was still stuck. The answer isn’t that these methods don’t work — it’s that they don’t work the same way for everyone.
After analyzing dozens of online business opportunities, I discovered three paths that actually have real potential. The best part? You don’t need a fortune or top-level skills to get started. (But it does require effort.)
Note: If you’re looking for a quick money-making scheme, this newsletter isn’t for you. We only share things that actually work and add value to your life — both educationally and financially. And remember: we don’t promise you’ll get the exact same results we show, because your outcome depends entirely on your own effort and execution.
Why Most Online Money Methods Fail:
Let’s be honest — the problem isn’t the method, it’s expectations.
Learning curves are real: Every online business has a learning phase. It can take months — or even years — before you see significant results.
Investment of time and money: Some “quick money” schemes are quick only if you already have resources or insider knowledge.
Information overload: You can find almost everything online for free. Paid courses mostly just organize it for you and provide community support.
Red flags: Anytime someone says automatic, passive, guaranteed, easy, risk-free, or fast, take a step back. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
3 Methods That Actually Make You Money
#1 Kindle Publishing
One surprisingly effective online business is Amazon Kindle Publishing. Here’s why it works:
Low startup cost: You don’t need inventory or a warehouse — just an idea and your laptop.
High viral potential: Especially with journals, diaries, coloring books, or funny books.
Free marketing options: TikTok can be your best friend. A couple of short videos per day showing your book can reach tens of thousands of people.
Example:
Imagine you publish a $16 journal and promote it on social media. One of your TikTok or Instagram videos goes viral with 100,000 views. If just 1% of viewers buy it, you’d earn around $7,000 from a single video — with almost zero upfront investment.
Steps to get started:
Create an Amazon KDP account and complete the setup.
Pick a niche.
Create your first book (there are tons of guides on YouTube — or comment “KDP” if you want a personal guide from us).
Publish your book.
Create social media accounts (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) and start posting videos about your book. Post 2–3 videos daily — they don’t need to be perfect, just consistent.
(Bonus) Replicate the content that goes viral
There are people making over $50K, $80K, even $100K per month from KDP business, using organic social media marketing. It’s simple in concept, but success comes from consistency and testing different content styles.
#2 YouTube
If Kindle Publishing is a sprint, YouTube is a marathon with compounding returns. Here’s why it’s powerful:
Multiple income streams: Ads, sponsorships, affiliate links, digital products, and more.
Creative freedom: You can pick any niche you love and create content that connects with an audience.
Scalability: Once you understand what works, you can delegate editing, scripting, and graphics to focus on growth.
Long-term passive income: As long as your videos get views, you’ll keep earning.
How to get started:
Pick a niche.
Research your audience.
Create your channel.
Make your videos — script, record, edit, add thumbnails and titles.
Publish consistently.
Track metrics like CTR (click-through rate) and audience retention.
Secret to success:
YouTube cares about watch time more than any othe metrics. Make engaging videos with click-worthy thumbnails and optimized titles. The more watch time you bring to YouTube, the more it’ll boost your videos.
You can make a ridiculous amount of money on YouTube if you stay consistent. I personally know creators earning anywhere from $10K to $100K per month. (No exaggeration.) We’ll cover YouTube automation in future issues.
#3 Clipping
Clipping is one of the easiest and most beginner-friendly method. You can literally start with your phone — just create short clips from long videos or live streams, and post it on social media. There are tons of clipping campaigns available that pay you to clip their video.
Why it’s great:
Very beginner-friendly.
No investment needed.
Can be done entirely from your phone.
Plenty of opportunities available.
All you need are basic editing skills.
How to get started:
Create your account.
Choose a campaign.
Follow their guidelines and start clipping.
Post your clips on social media and submit your post links on their platform for view tracking.
There are many types of clipping opportunities — YouTube videos, livestreams, music clips, UGC content, and more. Typically, campaigns pay $1–$5 per 1000 views you generate, depending on the client and niche.
Platforms like Whop and Clipster make it very easy to start. You can join this free discord server [SFC Hub] for the best, legit clipping campaigns / opportunities on the internet.
Inside Clip Hub, you’ll find:
Good opportunities across many different servers & platforms
Many types of offers (clipping, logo promotion, audio, edits, UGC etc)
Complete guides for beginners
Reality Check: Patience and Persistence
All these methods require time, experimentation, persistence, abd a lot of hard work. There’s no straight road—obstacles are inevitable. But every challenge teaches you a skill or insight that compounds over time.
Start small if it’s a side hustle
Scale up by delegating tasks when your goal is larger
Set realistic income targets and track progress
The most important takeaway? Success online isn’t magic—it’s a system. Find what aligns with your skills, stick with it, and improve every step of the way.
Take Action, Not Just Notes
The online world is a jungle, but it’s navigable if you know the right paths. All the methods i just shared aren’t “get-rich-quick” schemes—they’re opportunities that reward commitment, creativity, and smart effort.
Stop chasing hype. Start building real business.
Your success won’t be instant, but it will be real.
— Team Money Lab