Rules I set for myself: one workday (8 hours), free tools only, show the exact workflow, and keep receipts (timestamps, screenshots). I’m not trying to go viral; I’m trying to prove a repeatable system a beginner can copy.
The Challenge & Ground Rules
I blocked a Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and wrote three rules on a sticky note:
- Free tools only. If a tool had a paid tier, I stuck to the free plan.
- Time-box everything. No rabbit holes. Two-hour blocks max for each path.
- Cash > vanity. Priority is small, real sales. Views and likes are a bonus.
I also set honest expectations: I might miss $100 today. That’s fine. The goal is to build three tiny income engines that can keep earning after the day is over.
The Toolkit (All Free)
- ChatGPT (free) or Gemini: drafting scripts, captions, outreach lines, product copy.
- Canva (free): social carousel, simple mockups, cover images.
- CapCut Web / Pictory (free tier): quick Shorts editing with stock.
- Google Docs/Sheets: delivery files + tracking sheet.
- Notion (free): product template (calendar/prompts).
- Gumroad (free to start): sell the small product; they take a fee on sales.
- Loom (free): 5-minute screen recording for demos (if needed for outreach).
Before starting the timer, I created a Google Sheet with four tabs: Pitches Sent, Orders, Links/Proof, and Earnings. It sounds boring, but it kept me from guessing.
The $100 Plan (3 Streams, 2 Hours Each)
- Hours 1–2: Micro-gigs ($20–$40)
A low-ticket offer businesses say “yes” to quickly: 5 captions + 1 carousel. - Hours 3–4: Two Faceless Shorts ($0–$30 today, seeds for later)
Upload two Shorts with a freemium affiliate link in the description. - Hours 5–6: A $5–$7 Digital Mini-Product ($25–$35)
Notion “AI Content Calendar” or “Prompt Pack” that solves a tiny pain. - Hours 7–8: Lead Seed for MRR ($0–$20 today)
A 30-second demo of a basic FAQ helper; send to 5 local businesses for a trial.
If I hit the lower bound on each block, I’d land around $70–$85. A single micro-automation or two product sales could push it past $100.
Hour 0 (09:45–10:00): Prep
I wrote three quick assets so I wouldn’t lose time later:
- One-liner offer: “I’ll deliver 5 on-brand captions + 1 Canva carousel in 24 hours for $20 (free edit included).”
- 30-word DM opener: “Loved your last post about [topic]. If I send you 5 captions + a carousel tailored to your brand voice by tomorrow—$20 flat—would you try it?”
- Tracking Sheet filters: a saved filter for “Awaiting reply,” one for “Closed (won),” one for “Closed (no).”
Timer on.
Hours 1–2: Micro-Gigs (The Fastest $20–$40)
10:00–10:15 — Pick a micro-niche & make a sample
General offers are invisible. I picked local fitness coaches (I already follow a few). I asked ChatGPT:
“Give me 7 social post ideas for a solo fitness coach targeting people who work at desks. Each idea should include a scroll-stopping hook and a short CTA. Voice: helpful, no-nonsense.”
It gave me solid prompts like “3 posture fixes you can do at your desk” and “The 15-minute lunch break workout.” I picked 5, rewrote the first line for punch, and pasted them into a neat Google Doc titled ‘5 Captions + 1 Carousel: Desk Workers Edition’.
10:15–10:40 — Build the 1-carousel sample
I opened Canva free, grabbed a clean 5-slide carousel template, and wired in the text:
- S1: Big hook (“Stop Wrecking Your Back at Your Desk”)
- S2–S4: 3 posture fixes (one per slide)
- S5: Soft CTA (“DM ‘DESK’ for a free 3-move guide”)
I exported a watermarked preview (tiny “Sample” text at the corner) to show prospects without giving away final art.
10:40–11:20 — Outreach: 20 DMs/Emails
I did a 40-minute sprint: 12 Instagram DMs, 8 emails (coaches with contact on their site). I logged each in the Sheet. The opener stayed short and personalized:
“Loved your [post/reel] on [topic]. Could I send you 5 ready-to-post captions + a matching carousel in your voice by tomorrow—$20 flat (1 edit included)? I made a quick sample so you can see the vibe.”
11:20–11:40 — Two fast follow-ups
For anyone who replied “Sure, show me,” I sent the watermarked carousel and a cropped caption preview. I offered two options:
- Option A: $20 → 5 captions + 1 carousel (edit included)
- Option B: $35 → 10 captions + 2 carousels (2 edits total)
11:40–12:00 — Deliver one small order
A local coach replied with: “Can you switch the tone to more casual?” I duplicated the Doc, ran a quick re-prompt:
“Rewrite these 5 captions in a casual, conversational voice. Keep it punchy, no emojis, mention desk work once.”
I tweaked, exported, and delivered via Google Doc with commenting enabled. Payment method: PayPal or Stripe link (I included both; either is fine).
What cleared in the first two hours: one $20 order paid, one $35 “pay on delivery” verbal yes, a few “not now” replies, and several no-responses. That’s normal. The goal is to rack up quick wins and proof, not perfection.
My Micro-Gig Offer (Copy This)
Packages
| Package | What’s Included | Turnaround | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 5 captions + 1 carousel (5 slides) | 24 hours | $20 |
| Pro | 10 captions + 2 carousels (5 slides each) | 48 hours | $35 |
Delivery checklist
- Google Doc with captions (H2 headings, bold CTAs).
- Canva share link (view-only), plus exported PNGs.
- One free edit round (define “edit” clearly: wording, not a redesign).
DM opener (30 words)
“Loved your [post] on [topic]. If I deliver 5 on-brand captions + a 5-slide carousel by tomorrow for $20 flat, would you try it? Sample attached so you can see the vibe.”
Scope guardrails
- “Edits” = language tweaks, not new topics or extra slides.
- One round only; extras billed at $5 per 3 changes.
Hours 3–4: Two Faceless Shorts (Seeds + Potential Same-Day $)
This block can earn same-day (if you have an affiliate with instant approval), but it’s primarily a plant-the-seeds move. Shorts can pick up views within hours; the real value accumulates over weeks.
12:00–12:20 — Pick 2 topics with easy hooks
I stuck with the same audience (desk workers) for synergy:
- “3 Stretch Breaks That Fix Your Posture (in 60 Seconds)”
- “The 15-Minute Lunch Workout You’ll Actually Do”
I asked ChatGPT:
“Write two 55–65 second scripts formatted as short, choppy lines for vertical video. Hook in the first 3 seconds. Voice: practical coach, no hype.”
It gave me lines like: “Neck pain? Try this 20-second chin tuck right now.” Perfect.
12:20–12:50 — Edit in CapCut Web (free)
- Dropped the script line by line.
- Used stock clips (typing at desk, stretching).
- Added big caption text (two words per beat).
- Background music at 12–15% volume.
- No face. Clean, fast cuts.
12:50–13:10 — Upload + Affiliate link
I added a freemium affiliate link (e.g., a free habit tracker app or foam roller Amazon affiliate—pick something you genuinely use). Description template:
“Download my 7-day desk rehab checklist (free): [your link]
Tools I use (free): [affiliate link if relevant]
—
I’m a normal person fixing my desk posture. Try these for 7 days and track it.”
13:10–13:30 — First comments + cross-post
I pinned a comment: “Want the 7-day checklist? Link in description.”
Then I cross-posted to TikTok/IG Reels (copy/paste captions; it takes 5 minutes).
Outcome in this block: I didn’t expect money instantly, but two uploads improved the odds of a same-day trickle if someone clicked the affiliate/freebie link. More importantly, these two Shorts become proof I can show the same coaches I pitched earlier.
Hours 5–6: A $5–$7 Mini-Product (Notion or Prompt Pack)
Small digital products sell because the promise is tiny and fast. I picked a Notion “AI Content Calendar” that outputs 30 post ideas with hooks and CTAs in 10 minutes.
13:30–13:50 — Define the promise (and only that)
- Audience: solo fitness coach for desk workers.
- Outcome: 30 post ideas + hooks + CTAs + 10 Canva post angles.
- Time to value: under 10 minutes.
- Price: $7 (anchor at $19; discount at launch).
13:50–14:20 — Build the template (Notion free)
I created a simple Notion page with:
- A database: Columns for “Idea,” “Hook,” “CTA,” “Asset Type” (reel, carousel, static), “Angle” (educational, myth-busting, demo), “Date.”
- A Prompt button: A short prompt that, when pasted into ChatGPT, outputs 10 ideas tailored to “desk workers” (so the buyer can refresh anytime).
- A simple calendar view already populated with Week 1 content as an example.
I tested the prompt twice to make sure the outputs were usable without editing. If the results were weak, I tweaked the instruction until it was crisp.
14:20–14:45 — Packaging & Listing (Gumroad)
- Title: Desk Coach Content Calendar (AI-Ready) — 30 Ideas in 10 Minutes
- Description (bullets):
- 30 post ideas with hooks & CTAs
- 10 ready-to-use Canva angles (free templates)
- 1-click prompt to generate 30 more ideas on demand
- Perfect for solo coaches training desk workers
- What’s included: Notion template link + 1 PDF quickstart.
- License: single brand use.
- Price: $7 (anchor: $19)
- Cover image: Canva mockup (laptop + calendar UI).
- Delivery: Notion share link + PDF.
14:45–15:00 — Distribution (fast + ethical)
I posted one useful post (not spam) in two relevant communities:
- A small FB group for local trainers: I shared “5 free hooks that worked for me” + a link: “If you want my Notion calendar template, it’s $7.”
- A subreddit for creators (check rules): I shared a process breakdown of how I brainstorm and schedule 30 posts in 10 minutes, then added a tiny CTA at the end.
I also DMed the morning’s warm prospects: “If you liked the sample, you might like this $7 content calendar; it’s built for your niche.”
Expected outcome: a couple of fast purchases is common if the product promise is tight and the audience is real. Even one sale validates the asset; I can refine and raise the price later.
Realistic Notes (So You Don’t Get Blindsided)
- Most DMs won’t reply today. That’s fine. You only need a handful of yes’s per week to build a pipeline.
- Shorts can hit late. I’ve had a 200-view video jump to 3,000 the next day. Seeds matter.
- Communities have rules. Lead with value. If a group bans links, offer the checklist free first and collect emails via DM later.
- Shipping > polishing. I shipped imperfect assets and fixed them when people asked. Money followed momentum.
Hours 7–8: Planting a Lead That Can Turn Into Monthly Revenue
I wanted at least one thing today that could become recurring. I picked a tiny, low-risk offer: a website FAQ helper + lead capture for a local business.
Why this works: owners hate missing calls and answering the same questions. A small widget that answers “What are your hours?” and collects name/phone/email is an easy yes—especially with a free 7-day trial.
15-minute prep (before outreach):
- I listed 5 local niches I actually know: physiotherapy, dental, massage, barbers, tutoring.
- I grabbed FAQs from one clinic’s site (hours, prices, insurance, cancellation).
- I wrote 10 guardrails for the bot: “Never give medical advice,” “Offer to escalate to staff,” “If unsure, say ‘I’m not certain—can I take your number?’”
- I prepared a weekly report mock (Google Looker Studio screenshot with “Interactions / Leads / Unanswered”).
The 30-second Loom script (word-for-word):
“Hey [Name], I noticed you get a lot of the same questions. I set up a tiny helper that answers FAQs and emails you leads after hours.
Here’s the widget on a test page → see how it answers ‘Do you take [insurance]?’ and ‘What’s your price for [service]?’
If you like it, I’ll install it for a 7-day free trial. After that it’s $119/month, cancel anytime. Setup is 20 minutes, and I’ll send a weekly lead report.”
The DM / email I sent (short and specific):
Subject: Quick demo for [Clinic]
Loved your reviews—people ask about prices & hours a lot.
I built a 30-sec demo of a small site helper that answers FAQs and emails new leads.
7-day free trial → then $119/mo, cancel anytime. Setup is 20 minutes.
Want me to send the install snippet and try it this week?
— [My Name], [City]
Installation promise (so they say yes):
- One snippet in the footer (I paste it for them).
- Leads go to their email + a Google Sheet they own.
- Weekly Friday report (screenshot with leads and trending questions).
- Pause option (seasonal businesses love this).
What happened in the last hour:
- I sent 5 messages (3 emails, 2 Instagram DMs).
- One owner replied “let’s try the free week.” I booked Monday 10:00 to install. No money today, but this is the seed that often becomes $119/month.
Pro tip: Most owners won’t click links from strangers. Offer to install the trial live on a quick call instead of sending URLs.
Day-End Tally & Proof
I promised myself I’d publish the results even if they were ugly. Here’s the honest scoreboard from the 8-hour sprint:
What cleared today (paid):
- $20 — 5 captions + 1 carousel (delivered same day)
What’s pending / likely within 48 hours:
- $35 — 10 captions + 2 carousels (verbal yes → payment upon delivery)
- $14 — 2 sales of the $7 Notion mini-product (from a FB group thread + 1 DM)
Seeds planted (near-term upside):
- 2 Shorts uploaded with a freemium affiliate link (no earnings yet; clicks recorded)
- 1 chatbot trial scheduled (typical conversion 1–2 weeks → $119/mo if they keep it)
So the day’s cash result: $34 received, $49 likely within 48 hours, $119/mo potential within 7–14 days.
I took screenshots of: the PayPal receipt, Gumroad dashboard, two Shorts analytics, and my outreach sheet (with sensitive emails blurred). That “proof stack” is what makes these challenges credible and reusable content later.
What I’d Change Next Time
- Narrower niche, bigger strike rate. My fitness coach angle worked; I’d go even tighter (e.g., “desk-worker coaches in [city]”).
- Raise micro-gig anchors. Keep the $20 tripwire, but add a $59 tier (15 captions + 3 carousels).
- Prebuild the product. If the Notion template is finished the night before, I can spend the day on distribution.
- Warm up communities a week earlier. Share free tips in comments ahead of time—then your launch post is welcomed, not flagged.
- Batch Shorts assets. A reusable b-roll library (typing, stretching, keyboard) saves 20–30 minutes per video.
The Repeatable Weekly Rhythm
If I were repeating this every Saturday (or two evenings), I’d run:
Weekly pipeline (2–3 hours total):
- 40 micro-gig DMs across Mon–Fri (8/day).
- 2 Shorts per week (Tue & Thu).
- 1 blog post biweekly that embeds the Shorts and the product.
- 1 bot demo per week (aim for 1 new retainer per month).
Math at “steady state”:
- Micro-gigs: 1–2 paid orders/week → ~$80–$160
- Product: 5–10 sales/week at $7 → ~$35–$70
- Affiliate: small but compounding ($10–$40/week once posts and videos rank)
- Retainers: +$119/mo each → one new client per month gets you to $1,400+/yr in MRR after a year (before churn)
This isn’t about a single $100 day; it’s about stacking tiny wins into predictable cash flow.
Swipe Files You Can Copy
1) 30-word DM opener (micro-gig):
Loved your [post] on [topic]. If I deliver 5 on-brand captions + a 5-slide carousel by tomorrow for $20 flat (1 edit included), would you try it? Sample attached.
2) Product description (Gumroad/landing):
Desk Coach Content Calendar (AI-Ready) — 30 post ideas with hooks & CTAs tailored to desk workers. Includes 10 Canva angles, a 1-click AI prompt to generate 30 more ideas, and a calendar view to schedule your week in 10 minutes.
3) Bot trial terms (copy/paste):
- 7-day free trial; cancel anytime by email.
- Leads sent only to client inbox + client-owned Sheet.
- No medical/financial advice; questions outside scope escalate to staff.
- After trial: $119/month; includes weekly lead report + 15-minute monthly check-in.
4) Tracking sheet columns:
- Pitches Sent, Contact, Channel, Offer, Status, Date, $ Amount, Proof Link, Next Action, Notes
Tools I Actually Used (Free Plans)
- ChatGPT / Gemini — outlines, scripts, captions, outreach drafts.
- Canva — carousel templates, cover images.
- CapCut Web — quick Shorts editing with stock.
- Google Docs/Sheets — delivery + tracking.
- Notion — template/product.
- Gumroad — checkout/delivery.
- Loom — 30-second demo recording.
- (Optional) Looker Studio — clean weekly report visuals.
Upgrade path when you’re earning: Canva Pro (batch brand kits), a better AI TTS for VO, and a light email service (Beehiiv/Mailerlite) to stop depending on algorithms.
Frequent Questions I Get
Can a beginner really do this in a day?
Yes, if you keep the scope tiny. The micro-gig works because it’s simple and cheap. The product works because it solves a small, specific pain. The rest are seeds.
What if nobody replies to my DMs?
Personalize the first line with something they posted this week, keep it to 30–40 words, and attach a small proof (a watermarked sample slide). Send 40 across a week, not 8 in one hour.
How do I avoid low-quality AI output?
Use AI for first drafts and structure. Write your own hook, add a personal line, and check facts. Always edit the first and last paragraphs.
Is this allowed on platforms?
Yes, as long as your content is original and you follow each platform’s TOS. Disclose affiliate links and avoid scraping or impersonation.
When should I raise prices?
After 5 deliveries with solid feedback, raise by 20–30%. Keep a $20 tripwire but add a $59+ anchor tier so your average order value climbs.
Closing Thoughts
I didn’t “hack” $100 out of thin air. I packaged mundane skills (typing, organizing, basic design) with AI leverage and strict time boxes. The $34 in hand, $49 likely, and a live retainer trial are small individually—but together they form a system I can repeat. If you run your own sprint, track it, publish your numbers (even the embarrassing ones), and iterate the offers you can deliver in your sleep.
Author: Atlas Ray
AI income strategist (pen name) documenting tested, laptop-first ways to earn with AI—freelance micro-gigs, faceless video, search content, and simple automations—human-edited and benchmarked.
