Why You’re Not Making Money Online (And How to Fix It)

Let me paint a picture you might recognize:

You’ve been “trying to make money online” for months. Maybe even a year.

You’ve:

Watched dozens of YouTube tutorials
Started three different blogs that you abandoned
Joined four affiliate programs
Created social media accounts you barely post on
Bought at least one course you haven’t finished
Read countless “how to make money online” articles (including this one)

And you’ve made… $0. Maybe $17 if you’re lucky.

Sound familiar?

Here’s what nobody wants to tell you:

It’s not because making money online is a scam.
It’s not because you’re not smart enough.
It’s not because you need one more course or tool.

It’s because you’re making one (or more) of the 7 critical mistakes that keep beginners stuck at zero.

The good news? Every single one of these mistakes is fixable. Today.

I know because I made all seven of them. And once I fixed them, I went from $0 to over $2,000/month in six months.

Let’s dive into the brutal truth about why you’re not making money—and more importantly, how to fix it.

Mistake #1: You’re Trying to Do Everything at Once (Shiny Object Syndrome)

The symptom:

You started with affiliate marketing. Then you saw a video about dropshipping. Now you’re thinking about starting a YouTube channel. Oh, and maybe you should try print-on-demand too.

You have:

5 unfinished blog posts
3 “businesses” you’re working on simultaneously
7 browser tabs open with different strategies
Zero completed projects
Zero dollars earned

Why this kills your success:

Jack of all trades, master of none, making money? Also none.

When you split your focus across five different methods, you give each one 20% of your energy. That’s not enough to succeed at ANY of them.

Meanwhile, someone focusing 100% on ONE method is learning, improving, and actually making money.

The fix:

Pick ONE income method and commit to it for 90 days minimum.

Not 30 days. Not “until you see if it works.” 90 days of focused execution.

Here’s how:

Choose your method today (affiliate marketing, freelancing, digital products, content creation, or one specific approach)
Write it down: “I am committing to [METHOD] for the next 90 days. I will not start anything new during this time.”
Ignore everything else – Unsubscribe from YouTubers promoting other methods. Leave Facebook groups for other strategies. Block distractions.
Go deep, not wide – Learn everything about YOUR method. Become expert-level at this one thing.

Your action step today:

Delete, pause, or abandon every project except ONE. Go all-in on that one for 90 days.

Mistake #2: You’re Consuming Content Instead of Creating It

The symptom:

You’ve watched 47 YouTube videos about “how to make money online.”

You’ve read 20+ blog posts about affiliate marketing.

You have 4 courses bookmarked that you’re “going to watch later.”

Your YouTube history is full of tutorials.

But your OWN content output? Maybe 2-3 pieces. Posted inconsistently. Months ago.

Why this kills your success:

Learning feels like progress. But it’s not.

Watching videos doesn’t make you money. Reading blogs doesn’t make you money. Buying courses doesn’t make you money.

CREATING CONTENT makes you money.

You’re using “research” and “learning” as a sophisticated form of procrastination. I know, because I did it for eight months.

The harsh truth:

Someone with 50 published pieces of mediocre content will out-earn someone with zero pieces of content and 10 courses purchased.

Every. Single. Time.

The fix:

Flip the ratio: 80% creating, 20% learning.

Here’s your new rule:

For every 1 hour you spend consuming content, you must spend 4 hours creating content.

Watched a 30-minute tutorial on SEO? Great. Now write 2 blog posts using what you learned.

Batch your learning:

Sunday: Watch/read educational content for 2 hours
Monday-Saturday: ONLY create and publish content based on what you learned

Track your ratio:

Create a simple spreadsheet:

Column A: Hours spent learning (videos, courses, articles)
Column B: Hours spent creating (writing, filming, designing)
Goal: Column B should be 4x Column A

The 5-piece rule:

Before you’re allowed to watch/read ANY new tutorial, you must have published at least 5 pieces of content in the past 2 weeks.

No exceptions.

Your action step today:

Close this article when you’re done reading it. Don’t open another tutorial or course. Go create one piece of content right now. Publish it before bed.

Mistake #3: You’re Not Building an Email List

The symptom:

You’re creating content (blog posts, videos, social media posts).

People are consuming it.

Then they leave and never come back.

You have no way to follow up with them. No way to promote to them again. No way to build a relationship.

You’re starting from scratch with every piece of content you create.

Why this kills your success:

Here’s a painful truth: 99% of people who visit your content once will never return on their own.

That viral TikTok you posted that got 50,000 views? Cool. How many of those people bought from you? Probably zero.

Why? Because you didn’t capture their contact information.

Social media platforms own your audience. Google owns your traffic. But YOU own your email list.

The money isn’t in the content. The money is in the follow-up.

One email subscriber is worth 10x more than one social media follower.

The math:

Scenario A (No email list):

1,000 people see your content
10 people click your affiliate link
1 person buys
You make $50
Those 1,000 people are gone forever

Scenario B (With email list):

1,000 people see your content
100 people join your email list
You send them 5 emails over 2 weeks
20 people click your affiliate link
4 people buy
You make $200
Plus you can email those 100 people FOREVER with new offers

Which scenario would you rather be in?

The fix:

Start building your email list TODAY.

Here’s exactly how:

Step 1: Create a simple lead magnet (1-2 hours)

Something valuable you give away in exchange for an email:

Checklist
Cheat sheet
Template
Mini-guide (3-5 pages)
Resource list

Example: “10 Affiliate Programs for Beginners (That Actually Pay Well)”

Step 2: Set up a free email platform (30 minutes)

MailerLite (free up to 1,000 subscribers)
ConvertKit (free up to 1,000 subscribers)
Systeme.io (free up to 2,000 contacts)

Pick one. Don’t overthink it.

Step 3: Create a simple opt-in page (1 hour)

Use Systeme.io, ConvertKit, or even a free tool like Google Forms.

Write:

Headline (the benefit they get)
3-5 bullets (what’s inside)
Opt-in form
One button (“Get Instant Access”)

Step 4: Add opt-in offers to EVERYTHING

End of every blog post
YouTube video descriptions
Social media bios
Forum signatures
Everywhere

Step 5: Email your list weekly

Don’t just collect emails and never use them. That’s pointless.

Email your list at least once a week with:

Helpful tips
New content
Product recommendations (affiliate links)
Personal stories

The “1,000 subscribers rule”:

Your goal is to get your first 1,000 email subscribers as fast as possible.

Why? Because with 1,000 subscribers, you can realistically make $500-$2,000/month through email alone.

Your action step today:

If you don’t have an email list, set one up TODAY. Create a simple lead magnet this week. Start collecting emails.

If you have a list but don’t email them, send an email TODAY.

Mistake #4: You’re Promoting Bad Products (Or No Products at All)

The symptom:

You’re creating content but not including affiliate links.

Or you’re promoting products that:

You’ve never used
Have terrible reviews
Are overpriced garbage
Don’t actually solve problems

And you wonder why nobody’s buying.

Why this kills your success:

You can’t make affiliate money if you don’t promote products.

Sounds obvious, but I see beginners creating content for months without ever including an affiliate link. They’re “building an audience first” or “waiting until they have more traffic.”

Wrong.

Start promoting from day one.

But here’s the catch: You need to promote GOOD products.

If you promote trash, people will:

Not buy (you make $0)
Lose trust in you (you make $0 forever)
Leave negative comments (hurts your credibility)

The fix:

Only promote products you would genuinely recommend to a friend.

Here’s my product selection framework:

The 5-Question Product Test:

Before promoting ANY product, ask yourself:

1. “Would I recommend this to my best friend if there was no commission involved?”

If no → Don’t promote it

2. “Does this product actually solve a real problem?”

If no → Don’t promote it

3. “Is this product priced fairly for the value it provides?”

If no → Don’t promote it

4. “Have I used this product myself, or have I done extensive research on it?”

If no → Either buy it, or do deeper research, or don’t promote it

5. “Would I be proud to have my name associated with this product?”

If no → Don’t promote it

Red flags to avoid:

❌ Products that promise unrealistic results (“Make $10K in 10 days!”)
❌ Products with mostly negative reviews
❌ Products that use fake scarcity tactics
❌ MLM/pyramid schemes disguised as “business opportunities”
❌ Products you know nothing about

Green flags to look for:

✅ Products you’ve personally used and liked
✅ Products with genuine positive reviews
✅ Products from reputable companies
✅ Products with transparent sales pages (no hype)
✅ Products that solve specific problems for specific people

How to promote products:

Don’t just drop affiliate links randomly.

Instead:

Write helpful content that naturally leads to the product
Share your personal experience (if you’ve used it)
Be honest about pros AND cons
Explain who it’s for (and who it’s NOT for)
Include clear disclosure (“I earn a commission if you buy”)

Example (Bad promotion):

“Click my link to buy this product! It’s amazing!”

Example (Good promotion):

“I struggled with email marketing for months until I found ConvertKit. Here’s what I love about it: [3 specific features]. Here’s what could be better: [1-2 cons]. It’s perfect for creators and bloggers, but if you’re running an e-commerce store, you might want Klaviyo instead. If you want to try it, here’s my link: [affiliate link]. Full disclosure: I earn a commission if you buy, but it doesn’t cost you extra.”

See the difference?

Your action step today:

Review every product you’re currently promoting. Apply the 5-Question Test. Remove any products that don’t pass.

If you’re not promoting anything yet, find 2-3 products that pass the test and start including them in your content.

Mistake #5: You’re Not Driving Traffic

The symptom:

You’ve created content.

You’ve included affiliate links.

You’ve done everything “right.”

But nobody is seeing your content.

Your blog gets 3 visitors a day (all from Google searching your name).

Your YouTube videos get 12 views (8 of them are you checking if it uploaded correctly).

Your social media posts get 2 likes (your mom and your other account).

Why this kills your success:

The best content in the world is worthless if nobody sees it.

You can’t make sales without traffic. Period.

Most beginners create content and then wait for people to magically find it. That’s not how it works.

You need to actively drive traffic to your content.

The fix:

You need a traffic strategy.

Here’s the truth: SEO (ranking in Google) takes 3-6 months. That’s great for long-term passive traffic, but you need traffic NOW.

Free traffic sources you can use TODAY:

1. Pinterest (My #1 recommendation for beginners)

Why it works: Pinterest is a search engine, not social media. Your pins keep working for months/years.

How to use it:

Create eye-catching pins with Canva (free)
Link to your blog posts/landing pages
Post 3-10 pins per day (use scheduling tools like Tailwind)
Join group boards in your niche
Use keyword-rich descriptions

Best for: Food, DIY, parenting, home decor, health, finance, travel

Timeline: Start seeing traffic in 2-4 weeks

2. Facebook Groups

Why it works: Your target audience is already gathered in niche-specific groups.

How to use it:

Join 10-20 groups in your niche
Be genuinely helpful – answer questions
Share your content when it’s relevant (check group rules)
Don’t spam – be a valuable member first

Best for: Any niche with active communities

Timeline: Immediate traffic (if done right)

3. Reddit

Why it works: Massive audiences for virtually every niche.

How to use it:

Find subreddits related to your niche
Read the rules carefully (each subreddit is different)
Participate genuinely – answer questions, provide value
Share your content when it genuinely helps
Build karma before promoting

Best for: Tech, gaming, finance, fitness, hobbies

Timeline: Can be immediate, but build karma first

4. Quora

Why it works: People are actively asking questions you can answer.

How to use it:

Search for questions in your niche
Write detailed, helpful answers
Include a link to your content for “more information”
Build authority over time

Best for: Any niche where people ask questions

Timeline: 1-2 weeks to start seeing clicks

5. YouTube (Repurpose Your Content)

Why it works: Second-largest search engine, videos rank in Google too.

How to use it:

Turn your blog posts into videos
Use your phone camera (seriously, it’s good enough)
Put affiliate links in video description
Optimize titles and descriptions for search

Best for: Tutorial content, reviews, how-tos

Timeline: 1-3 months for momentum

6. TikTok/Instagram Reels

Why it works: Potential for viral reach, especially for younger audiences.

How to use it:

Create short, valuable tips from your niche
Hook viewers in first 3 seconds
Link to your landing page in bio
Post consistently (daily if possible)

Best for: Visual niches, younger audiences, trending topics

Timeline: Can go viral overnight, but usually takes weeks

7. SEO (Long-term strategy)

Why it works: Free, passive traffic that compounds over time.

How to use it:

Research keywords using Ubersuggest (free) or Google autocomplete
Write comprehensive content (1,500+ words)
Include keywords in title, first paragraph, headers
Build internal links between your posts
Be patient

Best for: Long-term sustainable traffic

Timeline: 3-6 months to rank

The Traffic Formula:

Pick 2-3 traffic sources and go ALL IN on them for 90 days.

Don’t try all seven. You’ll spread yourself too thin.

My recommendation for beginners:

Pinterest or Facebook Groups (for immediate traffic)
SEO (for long-term traffic)
One social platform where your audience actually hangs out

Commit to this for 90 days:

Create content 2-3x per week
Promote each piece on your 2-3 chosen platforms
Track what’s working
Double down on what gets results

Your action step today:

Choose 2 traffic sources. Sign up for accounts. Share your existing content on those platforms TODAY.

Mistake #6: You’re Giving Up Too Early

The symptom:

You tried affiliate marketing for 3 weeks. Made $0. Quit.

You started a blog. Published 5 posts. Got discouraged. Stopped.

You created a YouTube channel. Posted 4 videos. Got 30 views total. Gave up.

You’ve “tried everything” but none of it worked.

(Translation: You tried everything for 2-4 weeks each.)

Why this kills your success:

Making money online is not a sprint. It’s a marathon.

Here’s the timeline most beginners don’t understand:

Week 1-4: Setup, learning, creating initial content → $0 earned
Week 5-8: More content, starting to drive traffic → $0-$50 earned
Week 9-12: Traffic growing, first sales → $50-$300 earned
Month 4-6: Momentum building → $300-$1,000 earned
Month 7-12: Compounding results → $1,000-$5,000 earned

Most people quit at week 3.

They give up right before the breakthrough.

The fix:

Commit to 6 months minimum.

Not 30 days. Not 90 days. 6 months of consistent effort.

Here’s why:

Month 1-2: You’re learning and making mistakes. This is normal.

Month 3-4: You’re starting to understand what works. Small results appear.

Month 5-6: Things start clicking. Results compound.

After 6 months: You have enough data to know if it’s working and how to scale.

The 6-Month Contract:

Write this down and sign it:

“I commit to [YOUR METHOD] for 6 months. I will publish content consistently. I will not quit when it gets hard. I will not jump to a new strategy. I will stick with this until [DATE].”

Date: ___________
Signature: ___________

Put this somewhere you’ll see it daily.

When you feel like quitting (and you will), read this contract.

Why people quit early:

❌ They expect overnight results (not realistic)
❌ They compare themselves to others (toxic)
❌ They don’t see immediate money (patience required)
❌ They get distracted by new opportunities (shiny object syndrome)
❌ They don’t track small wins (only focus on money)

What successful people do instead:

✅ They set realistic expectations (6-12 months to replace income)
✅ They celebrate small wins (first subscriber, first click, first $1)
✅ They track metrics other than money (traffic, subscribers, content output)
✅ They stay focused on ONE method
✅ They commit to a specific timeframe

Your action step today:

Write and sign your 6-month commitment contract. Put a reminder on your calendar for 6 months from now to evaluate your results.

Mistake #7: You’re Not Tracking What Works

The symptom:

You’re creating content randomly with no idea what’s working.

You don’t know:

Which content gets the most traffic
Which affiliate links get clicked
Where your traffic comes from
What converts best
What’s wasting your time

You’re flying blind, guessing, hoping something works.

Why this kills your success:

You can’t improve what you don’t measure.

Without data, you’re just guessing. You might be spending 80% of your time on things that generate 10% of your results.

Meanwhile, the 20% of activities that could generate 80% of results are being ignored.

The fix:

Track everything.

Here’s the minimum you need to track:

1. Traffic Sources

Use Google Analytics (free)

Install on your website/blog to see:

How many visitors you’re getting
Where they’re coming from (Pinterest, Google, Facebook, etc.)
Which content gets the most views
How long people stay on your site

What to track:

Total visitors per week/month
Top traffic sources
Top performing content

Why it matters: Double down on what’s working, cut what’s not.

2. Email List Growth

Your email platform tracks this automatically

Monitor:

Total subscribers
Weekly growth rate
Which opt-in offers convert best
Unsubscribe rate

What to track:

New subscribers per week
Best-performing lead magnets
Email open rates
Click-through rates

Why it matters: Optimize your opt-in strategy based on data.

3. Affiliate Link Clicks

Use Pretty Links (free WordPress plugin) or your affiliate network’s tracking

Track:

Which products get the most clicks
Which content drives clicks
Conversion rates

What to track:

Clicks per affiliate link
Which posts generate the most clicks
Conversion rate (clicks to sales)

Why it matters: Promote products that actually get clicks, stop wasting time on products nobody clicks.

4. Content Performance

Create a simple spreadsheet

For each piece of content, track:

Date published
Topic
Traffic it generated
Email signups from it
Affiliate clicks from it
Sales generated

What to track:

Which topics get the most traffic
Which content formats work best
Time spent creating vs. results generated

Why it matters: Create more of what works, less of what doesn’t.

The Weekly Review Ritual

Every Sunday (or your chosen day), spend 30 minutes reviewing your data:

What was my total traffic this week?
How many email subscribers did I gain?
Which piece of content performed best?
Which traffic source sent the most visitors?
How many affiliate clicks did I get?
Did I make any sales?
What should I do more of next week?
What should I stop doing?

Write down your findings. Adjust your strategy accordingly.

Your action step today:

Set up Google Analytics if you don’t have it. Create a simple spreadsheet to track your content and results. Schedule a weekly 30-minute review session.

The Real Reason You’re Not Making Money

Let’s be honest.

After reading this, you know exactly which mistakes you’re making.

Maybe you’re making all seven.

The real question is: What are you going to do about it?

Because here’s the hard truth:

Information isn’t your problem. Execution is.

You already know enough to make your first $1,000 online. You just haven’t done it yet.

So what’s really stopping you?

Not lack of knowledge.
Not lack of tools.
Not lack of opportunity.

It’s lack of consistent action.

You need to:

Pick ONE method and stick with it
Create content instead of consuming it
Build an email list starting today
Promote good products consistently
Drive traffic actively
Commit to 6+ months
Track your results and optimize

That’s it. That’s the entire formula.

Not sexy. Not complicated. Not a secret.

Just focused, consistent execution over time.

The people making $5,000+/month online aren’t special. They’re not smarter than you. They don’t have secret strategies you don’t know about.

They just did the boring work consistently for 6-12 months while everyone else quit.

That’s the only difference.

Your 7-Day Action Plan

Want to fix these mistakes starting today? Here’s exactly what to do:

Day 1: Pick Your ONE Method

Choose affiliate marketing, freelancing, digital products, or content creation
Write down your commitment: “I’m doing [METHOD] for the next 6 months”
Unsubscribe from everything unrelated to your chosen method

Day 2: Set Up Email Capture

Create a simple lead magnet (checklist or cheat sheet)
Sign up for MailerLite, ConvertKit, or Systeme.io
Create an opt-in form

Day 3: Find 2-3 Quality Products to Promote

Use the 5-Question Product Test
Get your affiliate links
Save them in a spreadsheet

Day 4: Create Your First Piece of Content

Write a blog post, record a video, or create a social post
Include your affiliate links naturally
Include your email opt-in

Day 5: Set Up Traffic Sources

Choose 2 traffic sources (Pinterest + Facebook groups, or whatever fits your niche)
Create accounts
Post your content

Day 6: Set Up Tracking

Install Google Analytics
Create a content tracking spreadsheet
Set up weekly review calendar reminder

Day 7: Plan Your Next 30 Days

Schedule content creation time (3-5 hours per week)
Commit to posting 2-3 times per week
Block distractions (no more course shopping or strategy hopping)

That’s it.

Do these 7 things this week, and you’ll be ahead of 90% of people “trying” to make money online.

Final Thoughts

I’ve made every single mistake in this article.

I wasted 8 months bouncing between strategies.
I spent months consuming content and never creating.
I ignored email marketing for 6 months.
I promoted garbage products for high commissions.
I created content and prayed for traffic instead of actively driving it.
I almost quit at month 3.
I flew blind without tracking data.

These mistakes cost me thousands of dollars and nearly a year of my life.

But once I fixed them? Everything changed.

You’re not failing because making money online is impossible.

You’re failing because you’re making mistakes that are 100% fixable.

Fix the mistakes. Execute consistently. Give it time.

That’s the entire playbook.

Now the question is: are you going to do it?

Ready to Fix These Mistakes?

I created a complete guide to help you avoid these mistakes and get your first $100 online as fast as possible.

Inside you’ll get:

✅ Step-by-step first-income checklist
✅ Email list building templates
✅ Content creation schedule
✅ Traffic source guides
✅ Product selection framework
✅ Tracking spreadsheets

Download the Online Business Starter Kit (free) →

Stop making excuses. Start making money.