Let’s say everything disappeared tomorrow.
No list, no product, no traffic….
Just me, a laptop, ChatGPT…oh, and no budget either.
What would I do?
It’s a question I get often and something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately…
Especially after hearing from so many of you who are just starting (or starting over).
So today, I want to give you the exact 7-day plan I’d follow if I had to build an online income from scratch.
This isn’t theory – it’s simple, based on what I do and totally doable for you.
Day 1: Pick a Niche That Pays (But Isn’t Too Crowded)
No niche means no money. But no audience with money…still means no money.
Here’s what I’d do:
Use this free tool to research niche trends:
Use this AI prompt in ChatGPT:
“Suggest 5 beginner-friendly online business niches where people spend money consistently. Include why each one is a good opportunity and what type of simple product or offer works well.”
My short list for quick-starts:
- AI tools & productivity
- Printables & low-content products
- Personal development / mindset hacks
- PLR & content repurposing
- Digital decluttering / side hustle strategies
Day 2: Build a Free Email List Setup
Before you even think of a product or traffic…
It’s always the email list.
Here’s what you do:
Sign up for a free email tool:
- MailerLite (automation + landing pages)
- Beehiiv (great for newsletters with growth tools)
- Kit (super simple & creator-friendly)
Need help choosing?
Watch this:
Prompt to create your welcome message:
“Write a friendly, short welcome email for a new subscriber to my [topic] list. Thank them for joining, tell them what to expect, and invite them to hit reply and say hello.”
Day 3: Make a One-Page Lead Magnet
Lead magnets don’t need to be big or fancy – they need to solve a tiny problem fast.
Use this prompt:
“Create a simple one-page checklist for beginners in [your niche]. Keep it clear, helpful, and designed for fast wins.”
Then design it for free in Canva.
Search “checklist” or “lead magnet” to get templates.
Or watch this:
Once you’ve done it, add it to your email platform and connect it to a landing page.
Day 4: Add a Tiny Product or Affiliate Offer
This is your first income layer.
Here’s what I’d do:
Use Payhip or Gumroad to list a $5–$10 mini offer:
- A printable version of your lead magnet
- A micro eBook, checklist, or swipe file
- A ChatGPT prompt pack
Or promote a trusted affiliate offer:
- Creative Fabrica
- AppSumo
- WarriorPlus (if you’re in this space)
Day 5: Create a Simple 3-Part Email Series
This replaces complicated sales funnels – just let your emails do the work.
Prompt:
“Write a 3-part email sequence for people who downloaded a free checklist about [your topic]. Make it friendly, helpful, and include a soft pitch for a [$5 product or affiliate tool].”
Plug this into your MailerLite or Kit automation.
Want to see how to do that?
Watch this:
Day 6: Share It the Easy Way (No Social Media Required)
Post value-packed comments (with your link) in Facebook groups in your niche
Create a few Pinterest pins that link to your lead magnet page
Turn your lead magnet into a Substack newsletter and invite people to subscribe
Share a link in forums or email 5 people who might find it useful
Here are some tutorials on those:
Day 7: Track, Tweak, Repeat
Don’t overthink it. Just answer these:
- Did people sign up for the lead magnet?
- Did anyone click on your offer?
- What email got the most opens?
Then tweak your subject lines, landing page headline, or offer if needed.
Use Bitly or Beehiiv’s built-in analytics to track links.
Want a free tool to plan and track it all?
Try Notion with this free creator dashboard template
I hope you now see that you absolutely can go from zero to something real in just 7 days without a course, a team or working 12 hours a day. This is exactly what I’d do if I had to start over today. It’s simple and it works.
Your TED talk this week is on the surprising benefit of trying something new…
