How I Made My First $10,000 Online: A Step-by-Step Guide

My Journey to $10,000 Online

When I first started my online business journey, I had no idea what I was doing. I was a fitness enthusiast with a consulting job, constantly talking about workouts and nutrition. My colleagues even offered to front me money to start a fitness business because I wouldn't stop talking about it. That's how the Free Training Project was born.

The Free Training Project

My initial idea was simple:

• Ask people to donate $500-$1000 to a charity of their choice
• In exchange, I would train them for 3 months for free

This allowed me to gain experience and build a portfolio of client results without charging directly for my services.

The Lightbulb Moment

My real "aha" moment came when a lady at my gym named Sandy asked for my help with nutrition. We met at a pizza shop (ironically) and I spent 90 minutes giving her advice. At the end of our chat, she wrote me a $100 check. That's when I realized I could actually make money doing what I loved.

The Four Stages to My First 10 Customers

Stage 1: Start with Your Network

I started by reaching out to friends and contacts in my phone. I offered to train them for free in exchange for before and after pictures. This gave me:

• 6 initial clients
• Proof of results
• Testimonials

Stage 2: Ask for Referrals

After getting results for my initial clients, I asked them to refer friends who had seen their transformations. This led to another 6-10 referrals.

Stage 3: The Free Training Project

I formalized my approach, asking new clients to donate to charity in exchange for free training. This helped me:

• Build more social proof
• Get practice with a larger client base
• Transition to a paid model

Stage 4: The Skinny to Swole Project

Finally, I launched my first paid program:

• $200/month for 12 weeks
• Focused on helping skinny guys bulk up
• Used all my previous testimonials and results as proof

This led to my first 20 paying clients, bringing in $4,000 per month.

What Worked Well

1. Walk the Walk

I was my own best advertisement. As a fit person helping others get fit, I had instant credibility.

2. Live Cheap

By keeping my expenses low, I was able to save money and give myself runway to build the business.

3. Start Free

Offering free services initially allowed me to:

• Gain experience
• Build a portfolio
• Get testimonials
• Refine my approach

4. Create a Templated Solution

I developed a comprehensive Excel sheet that calculated macros and generated meal plans. This allowed me to quickly customize plans for each client.

5. Niche Down

Focusing specifically on helping skinny guys bulk up allowed me to create more targeted, effective solutions.

6. Recurring Revenue Model

Charging monthly created predictable income, though I made mistakes in client retention (more on that later).

What Didn't Work

1. No Ascension Plan

I didn't have a next offer for clients after they finished the 12-week program. Always have another offer ready!

2. Stopping Too Soon

I abandoned a profitable online business to start a brick-and-mortar gym, thinking it was more "legitimate."

3. Weak Offer

My initial paid offer wasn't well-structured or compelling enough.

4. No Sales Process

I relied on people buying without any sales conversations, limiting my ability to charge higher prices.

5. Letting Others' Judgments Affect Me

I made business decisions based on what I thought others would think, rather than what was actually working.

6. Not Getting Help

I tried to figure everything out on my own instead of seeking guidance from those who had already succeeded.

Advice for New Entrepreneurs

1. Follow instructions and take action
2. Google before asking for help
3. Share solutions when you figure things out
4. Be consistent with your daily actions
5. Push through when the initial excitement fades
6. Remember you're building yourself as much as your business
7. Embrace the unscalable work in the beginning
8. Use pain as a catalyst for improvement
9. Avoid complaining - it's wasted energy
10. Study and replicate the actions of successful people
11. Write down your "why" and revisit it often
12. Understand that consistency is the hard part, not complexity
13. Focus on getting your first win - it will motivate you to keep going

The Rule of 300: A Tactical Approach to Getting Started

If you're just starting out, here's a powerful strategy to gain traction:

1. Make one piece of content on one platform daily
2. Leave 100 thoughtful comments in relevant online communities
3. Reach out individually to:
   • People who liked your post
   • People who commented on your post
   • People who liked your comments
   • People who replied to your comments

This approach helps you:

• Create content consistently
• Engage with your target audience
• Build relationships
• Generate warm leads

Key Takeaways

1. Start by helping people for free to build proof and experience
2. Leverage your existing network for initial clients and referrals
3. Create a simple, repeatable process to deliver results
4. Focus on a specific niche to become known for one thing
5. Don't be afraid to charge for your services once you have results
6. Be consistent in your actions, even when motivation fades
7. Learn from your mistakes and continually improve your offer
8. Don't let others' opinions derail you from a profitable path
9. Seek help and learn from those who have already succeeded
10. Remember that the pain of building your business will fade, but the results will last

Building an online business takes time, effort, and persistence. But by following these steps and learning from both successes and failures, you can create a profitable venture doing what you love. The key is to start, stay consistent, and never stop learning and improving.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsQeQM1jUeg