Everyone talks about making money online, but few talk about the early stages — the long stretch between launching your first blog and seeing your first $5 of real income. That’s the part I’m in right now.
In this post, I’m pulling back the curtain on my journey with Income School’s Project 24, a proven system that teaches people how to build blogs and YouTube channels that generate passive income in two years. Alongside that, I’m also launching a web hosting business to diversify my income streams and learn the ropes of client work.
It’s been an eye-opening process — one filled with excitement, frustration, and a few $1.63 AdSense paydays that feel more symbolic than financial.
But every dollar counts, and every lesson compounds.
If you’ve ever wondered whether blogging and online business can still work in 2025, this post will give you an honest look at what it takes to go from zero to that first $5 online.
What Is Project 24 and Why I Joined
Project 24 is an online course created by Jim and Ricky from Income School, designed to help people build passive income within two years. The “24” represents the goal: to replace your full-time income within 24 months through content creation.
The system follows a 60-step plan that walks you through everything from niche selection and keyword research to monetization and content scaling. The concept is simple:
Create high-quality content consistently for two years, and your income will follow.
I joined Project 24 back on September 7, 2018, and as of now, I’m in the grind phase — the part where growth feels painfully slow, but the foundation is being built behind the scenesProject 24 & Web Hosting_ My Jo….
Here’s the truth: while the program provides a roadmap, success depends on your ability to stay patient when results lag. And that’s exactly what I’m learning.
Tracking Progress: From $1.63 to My First $5
Right now, my total earnings from Google AdSense sit at $1.63 — not life-changing money, but it’s the first tangible sign that my content is being seen.
Traffic is increasing slowly, affiliate clicks are starting to appear, and every day, my analytics show a few more page views than the day before. It’s not fast, but it’s forward.
According to the Project 24 timeline, I’m right where I should be. But, like most creators, I want to be ahead of the curve — to prove to myself (and everyone watching) that the process works faster than expected.
My short-term goal is simple:
✅ Earn my first $5 online.
That’s the milestone that turns “hope” into proof.
From there, the next goal will be $50/month — and eventually, the point where my blogs generate enough to reinvest into outsourcing content and scaling the systemProject 24 & Web Hosting_ My Jo….
The Content Creation Strategy: Building Multiple Sites
Right now, I’m managing four different websites, each in a different niche. Initially, my goal was to launch six sites per year, but I’ve scaled that plan back to focus on quality and depth over volume.
Here’s how my content strategy breaks down:
- Primary Site: 56 blog posts and around 15–17 YouTube videos.
- Secondary Sites: 1–2 posts per week.
- Long-Term Goal: 200–400 blog posts per site.
That might sound extreme, but the math works.
More high-quality posts = more keyword coverage = more opportunities for organic traffic.
My publishing schedule is consistent: new YouTube videos on Monday and Wednesday, and blog posts scattered throughout the week depending on workload.
Over time, this rhythm will snowball into a large library of content that builds trust and traffic.
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Patience and Persistence: The Hardest Part of Blogging
One of the biggest challenges in building an online business is how long it takes before you see results. Blogging is a long game. You’re planting seeds today that might not sprout for 6–12 months.
And even when you start seeing movement, it’s incremental.
I’ll admit — I check my Google Analytics multiple times a day (which is probably a bad habit). But it’s motivating to see even five daily sessions when a few months ago there were zero.
Recently, I noticed something encouraging:
In just a few weeks, the number of keywords I rank for jumped from 50 to over 100Project 24 & Web Hosting_ My Jo…. That means Google is recognizing my content and starting to serve it to readers. Once traffic compounds, the income will follow.
Blogging rewards consistency, not luck. The people who keep publishing are the ones who eventually win.
Why My Niche Strategy Matters
One lesson I’ve learned is that timing and seasonality affect traffic more than people realize.
After checking Google Trends, I discovered that my niche peaks between October and December, then drops during the early months of the yearProject 24 & Web Hosting_ My Jo…. That means traffic will naturally slow during off-season months — but that’s no reason to panic.
Instead, I’m using the downtime to create more content, so when the peak returns, I’ll have more articles ready to capitalize on the surge.
If you’re just starting your blog, use Google Trends early.
It can help you anticipate slow seasons, plan content ahead, and stay motivated when traffic dips.
The Web Hosting Business: Diversifying My Income
Alongside blogging, I recently launched a web hosting and website design business. It’s still early, but it’s an exciting challenge.
I started it because I wanted a way to generate more immediate income while my blogs grow passively. The business model is simple:
- Help small local businesses build modern, mobile-friendly websites.
- Offer hosting packages with maintenance and updates.
- Provide discounts for referrals ($50 off annual hosting for clients who refer new customers).
Right now, the business is still in the red — startup costs, domain fees, and software add up quickly. But I’m focusing on acquiring my first five clients by the end of the quarter. Those initial projects will serve as both income and proof of concept.
My first website is being built for free for a friend. It’s a strategic loss — I’m betting that his positive experience will lead to word-of-mouth referralsProject 24 & Web Hosting_ My Jo….
This is what real entrepreneurship looks like: testing, adjusting, and building credibility before scaling.
Overcoming Fear: Making Cold Calls and Finding Clients
Here’s where things get real — I hate making cold calls.
Having worked in call centers, I associate phone calls with rejection and frustration. But as a business owner, I’ve realized that growth requires conversations. Clients won’t just show up because you launched a website; you have to go find them.
So I’ve started making phone calls during my lunch break — every day.
I eat fast, sit in my car, and start dialing. Sometimes I get a response, sometimes I don’t. But every “no” gets me closer to a “yes.”
It’s uncomfortable, but it’s progress.
For anyone reading this trying to grow a service business — whether it’s web design, coaching, or freelancing — remember: action beats perfection. You don’t need a polished sales script. You just need to start talking to people.
Balancing Blogging and Client Work
Juggling both projects — Project 24 blogging and the web hosting business — is tough.
One demands patience; the other demands immediate outreach.
To balance both:
- I batch my content creation so blog posts and YouTube videos go out automatically.
- I reserve mornings or weekends for writing, and lunch breaks for outreach.
- I track progress weekly using KPIs: posts published, calls made, and leads generated.
This rhythm keeps me moving forward on both fronts without burning out.
If you’re building multiple income streams, structure is everything.
Create time blocks, batch similar tasks, and automate wherever possible.
Lessons Learned So Far
After several months of documenting this process, here’s what I’ve learned about making money online:
1. Patience Is a Superpower
Results compound over time, not overnight. The creators who make it are the ones who keep publishing when no one’s watching.
2. One Blog Can Fund Many
My long-term goal is to make my first site profitable enough to fund the other three. Once it hits that level, I can reinvest earnings into hiring writers and scaling faster.
3. Track What Matters
Metrics like keyword growth, traffic trends, and engagement are far more valuable than daily earnings in the early stage. They’re signs of future income.
4. Diversify Wisely
Blogging builds passive income over time, while web hosting brings faster, active income. Together, they balance each other out — one feeds cash flow, the other builds equity.
5. Embrace the Grind
Whether it’s making videos, writing posts, or calling clients — this stage is about skill-building. The grind phase is what separates hobbyists from entrepreneurs.
💡 Want templates, systems, and workflows for building your first profitable blog?
👉 Join the Platform-Proof Profits Membership — get plug-and-play content calendars, monetization checklists, and step-by-step frameworks for creators serious about earning online.
How This Strategy Can Generate Real Income
Both blogging and client-based businesses offer multiple income streams when structured properly.
Here’s how the pieces fit together:
Blogging (Project 24 Model)
- Google AdSense & Display Ads: Small at first, but scalable.
- Affiliate Marketing: Recommending tools you actually use creates ongoing commissions.
- Digital Products: Later, eBooks or templates can multiply earnings.
Web Hosting Business
- One-Time Design Fees: Quick cash injections.
- Monthly Hosting Subscriptions: Recurring income that compounds over time.
- Referral Discounts: Encourage clients to bring more clients — a low-cost way to grow.
By running both models side by side, I’m creating both short-term revenue and long-term assets.
This approach is what I call Platform-Proof Income — systems that pay you whether algorithms or ad rates change.
Final Thoughts: Small Wins, Big Lessons
At this stage, I’m not making thousands per month — not yet.
But every $1, every keyword ranking, and every client conversation is a building block toward a future of financial freedom.
The path to online income isn’t about overnight success.
It’s about stacking small wins until they become something substantial.
So if you’re in the same phase — refreshing analytics, writing posts that get ten views, and dreaming of your first $5 — keep going.
Because those early dollars mean something far greater: proof that it works.
🚀 Next Step
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building your own platform-proof business:
👉 Join the Platform-Proof Profits Membership and get the roadmap to consistent online income through content creation, digital products, and automation.