I messed up badly when I first started writing online. My bank account was empty, and I spent hours writing articles nobody read.

But after lots of trial and error (and too much coffee), I stumbled onto a content formula that now brings in $9,500 monthly.

The secret? Writing stuff people want to read. Mind-blowing, right?

Here's my exact process, no fluff:

1. Pick Problems That Pay

I grab my phone and write down every annoying problem I face.

Last week, I couldn't figure out how to remove coffee stains from my favorite shirt, so that became an article.

Your daily struggles are content gold.

Money tip: Search "[your problem] + affiliate program" to find products that solve these issues. Companies pay good money when you recommend their solutions.

Example:

Problem: Coffee stains Article: "Remove Coffee Stains From Clothes (Tested 8 Methods)" Product: Special stain remover ($15 commission per sale)

2. Research Like a Detective

I'm not the smartest person in the room. But I know how to find smart people's answers.

My research checklist:

• Reddit threads (sort by "Top: All Time")
• YouTube comments on popular videos
• Amazon reviews (both 1-star and 5-star)
• Quora answers with lots of upvotes

I collect real stories and solutions from people who solved the problem. This makes my content unique because I mix different perspectives.

These days, I send out my best research findings and side-hustle opportunities through a simple free weekly email — feel free to join if you're into that kind of thing.

3. Write As You Talk

My first articles were awful because I tried to sound "professional."

Now I write exactly how I speak to friends.

Bad: "This methodology has demonstrated significant efficacy in stain removal." Good: "This trick works like magic on tough stains. I couldn't believe my eyes!"

Quick writing tips that make money:

• Start with the solution (people are impatient)
• Add your personal experience (builds trust)
• Include specific details ("Wash at 40°C for 35 minutes" beats "Wash in warm water")
• Break up text with bullet points and short paragraphs
• Tell stories about mistakes you made
• Add proof (before/after photos, screenshots, results)

4. Make Google Love You

My traffic exploded when I learned these SEO tricks:

I. Find questions people type into Google:

• Use AnswerThePublic.com
• Look at Google's search suggestions

II. Use those exact questions as headers in your article.

Example: "How long does it take to remove coffee stains?" "Does hot or cold water work better on coffee stains?" "Can old coffee stains be removed?"

III. Answer each question in 2–3 sentences max

The Money Part

Here's how my $9,500 breaks down:

• Affiliate commissions: $5,200
• Display ads: $2,800
• Sponsored posts: $1,500

The math behind it:

• 45 articles published
• Average 4,200 views per article monthly
• 2.3% affiliate click rate
• $12 average commission
• $18 RPM (Revenue Per 1,000 Views) from ads

I have also noticed huge success on Medium lately — my views grew surprisingly fast using a specific posting strategy. I made a FREE Medium Growth Checklist of what worked for me if you want to try the platform.

My Best-Performing Article Topics:

1. Product comparisons
2. Step-by-step tutorials
3. Problem-solving guides
4. Money-saving tips
5. Time-saving hacks

I Failed Forward

My content disaster stories:

• Spent 12 hours on an article that made $0
• Got a legal threat for reviewing a product badly
• Lost 80% of my traffic after a Google update

But each failure taught me something valuable.

The worst article? Showed me what topics to avoid.

The legal threat? Made me better at writing balanced reviews.

The traffic drop? Forced me to diversify my income.

Growth Timeline:

Month 1: $0 Month 3: $127 Month 6: $890 Month 12: $4,200 Month 18: $9,500

Your Turn

Pick one problem you know how to solve.

Write about it today using this formula. Post it somewhere — anywhere.

The first one will be bad, and that's okay. Your second will be better. By your tenth article, you'll wonder why you waited so long to start.

Remember: You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be helpful.

Want proof this works?

That coffee stain article I mentioned? It now makes $470 monthly from a single affiliate product. And I wrote it in under two hours while watching Netflix.

Time to write your first article. Your future self will thank you.