Build in Public: 4 Real Challenges That Grew My Online Income Fast

Build in Public / Challenges

A powerful content strategy to grow fast, engage your audience, and document your online income journey in real-time.

1. 30-Day Digital Product Challenge: My Earnings

Introduction:
Creating and selling a digital product in 30 days is a great way to build credibility and prove that online income is possible — even as a beginner.

Why It Works:

Builds transparency and trust with your audience
Creates engaging content across platforms (blog, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok)
Lets you test ideas fast and learn by doing

Challenge Structure:

Day 1-5: Research niches and product ideas (Notion templates, eBooks, digital planners, etc.)
Day 6-15: Build the product using Canva, Notion, or Google Docs
Day 16-25: Set up shop on Gumroad, Etsy, or Payhip
Day 26-30: Promote on Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, and in Facebook groups

Tools to Use:

Design: Canva (free), Figma
Selling: Gumroad, Payhip
Promo: Twitter/X, TikTok, Threads
Tracking: Notion or Google Sheets for earnings

Results You Can Share:

Number of products sold
Revenue earned
Mistakes made + what you learned
Screenshots of sales (adds credibility!)

Pro Tip: Turn your journey into a free guide or YouTube series afterward for more passive growth.

2. I Tried Making $500 in 7 Days with Only AI

Introduction:
This is a high-viral potential challenge — fast-paced, focused, and taps into AI hype. It’s perfect for showcasing practical use of AI for beginners.

Rules of the Challenge:

No prior audience, no paid ads
Only free AI tools allowed (ChatGPT, Canva, CapCut, etc.)
Deadline: 7 days, goal: $500

Day-by-Day Breakdown Example:

Day 1: Plan income strategy (Fiverr gigs, Notion templates, blog content, video scripts)
Day 2-3: Use ChatGPT to create service offers, prompt libraries, or content bundles
Day 4-5: Set up sales pages on Gumroad or Fiverr
Day 6-7: Promote using Reddit, Twitter/X, TikTok
Optional: Try offering AI voiceovers or YouTube script packs

AI Tools You Could Use:

ChatGPT: Writing, brainstorming
Canva: Graphics and digital products
CapCut: Edit short-form content
Leonardo or Midjourney: For AI art
PromptBase: To list and sell prompt packs

What to Share:

Actual income screenshots
Traffic sources
Lessons learned
Your sales copy, prompts, and pricing

Bonus Tip: Even if you don’t hit $500, the transparency earns you followers and builds brand trust.

3. Building a Blog from Scratch – Week-by-Week Report

Introduction:
Perfect for aspiring content creators. Show readers exactly how you’re starting your blog, what steps you’re taking, and the results.

Why This Series Works:

Long-form evergreen content
Great for SEO ("how to start a blog" is always searched)
Engages readers to follow your journey

Week-by-Week Breakdown:

Week 1: Niche research + domain setup (Blogger, WordPress, or Carrd)
Week 2: Writing pillar content (3–5 in-depth posts on a core topic)
Week 3: Set up Google Analytics + Search Console, basic SEO
Week 4: Monetization setup (AdSense, affiliate links, email list)

Monetization Goals:

$1 from affiliate marketing
Grow email list to 50+
1 guest post published
Apply for Ezoic or similar networks later

Recommended Tools:

Blogger.com – free and simple
Ubersuggest or LowFruits – keyword research
ConvertKit or MailerLite – for email list
Canva – for blog graphics
Google Search Console – for indexing and analytics

What to Share in Public:

Blog traffic numbers
Earnings screenshots
Growth charts and what worked vs. didn’t
SEO strategy updates

Extra Tip: Turn each week's update into a YouTube or TikTok post to reach more people.

4. What I Learned Selling Notion Templates for a Month

Introduction:
Notion templates are among the most beginner-friendly and scalable digital products. This post would work as a personal story + step-by-step guide.

Week-by-Week Journey:

Week 1: Researched profitable template types (student planner, content calendar, small business CRM)
Week 2: Designed in Notion + added aesthetics with Canva
Week 3: Set up Gumroad store and product pages
Week 4: Promoted in Notion communities, Reddit, Pinterest, and Twitter/X

Sales Summary:

Templates sold: 20
Revenue earned: $100+
Conversion rate: 3-5%
Best promo platform: Twitter/X

What Readers Can Learn:

Which niches worked best
Pricing psychology ($3-$7 sweet spot)
Where to find free icons and covers
How to deal with customer messages

Promotion Strategies:

Offer a freebie template in exchange for email
Post a Notion setup walkthrough on TikTok or Threads
Bundle templates and offer a discount

Conclusion:
With just Notion + Canva + a few tweets, you can build a real passive income stream in under 30 days — even as a beginner.

Summary of Why Build-in-Public Content Works:

✅ Boosts transparency & authenticity
✅ Easy to repurpose across platforms
✅ Turns your online hustle into a content engine
✅ Attracts like-minded people (collabs, audience, clients)