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Abstract

e prospectors using the shovels (to dig for gold) had the most risk of going bust.</p><p id="57d8">I’m trying to figure out if these “educators” are using these online hustle methods themselves — or if they’re selling me the shovel to dig for my online gold.</p><p id="dc17">Are they only making money by teaching others how to make money? Is their success from their teaching and not their material?</p><p id="9162">My conclusion after reviewing hundreds of hours of content on Medium, YouTube, and LinkedIn is a resounding yes. They are selling me the shovel. And now that I’ve spent the money, I can start digging.</p><h2 id="f738">Not everyone has bad intentions. But they do have money on their mind.</h2><p id="6e0a">I’m not saying it’s all bad and I’ve learned a lot from those selling wild ideas and inspiring stories.</p><p id="e749">But I’m taking it as only that…ideas that are not necessarily great businesses for me.</p><p id="6124">I grab nuggets and new insights from the posts, but I don’t get too excited until I’ve done additional research.</p><p id="a081">Everyone is trying to stake their digital claim, so I don’t fault them for finding a way to make a living. However, my ethics are steering me in another direction. One where I actually help others and not just help myself.</p><h2 id="3ec7">Who is making money?</h2

Options

<p id="8719">Maybe someone was successful with it, but I’m now approaching all of the hyped “10,000 Followers In 30 Days” articles with a lot of my natural Midwest skepticism.</p><p id="7b80">More than likely this creator made their money (and sold their digital assets) by touting their digital assets sales to those wanting to sell digital assets.</p><p id="cf92">Yes, it’s that confusing. And that’s how they get the audience and sales.</p><p id="4f46">And there are so many jumping onto the trend that it’s feeling a bit snake-oil salesperson-y in all forums. I’m not sure who to believe anymore — show me the proof!</p><h2 id="04d5">The future teachers — aka experimenters.</h2><p id="5d72">My solution has been to find the creators trying the side hustles and documenting their journey — the experimenters, who show their progress whether it’s good or bad.</p><p id="f5ca">Actual progress during their journey. Screenshots and videos of their income (or lack of income). The tools they’re using — as they’re using them.</p><p id="7cf6">It inspired me differently. Now I want to join those serial experimenters and provide the good, bad, and ugly of making money online to the next round of digital entrepreneurs.</p><p id="bb90">I guess something good did come out of the wild, sale-sy pitches for online riches.</p></article></body>

The Content Creation Gold Rush — Selling Shovels to the Prospectors (aka Creators)

Are you the only one taking the risk?

Fingers crossed there’s gold here! Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

Every day I read an article inspiring me to create more and better content.

Stories about how much someone has made online, the best tools to use, and the training they offer to help me get ahead.

Headlines jump out at me constantly.

“How I Made $50,000 In Passive Income!”

“Double Your Twitter Followers in 2 Weeks!”

“How I Created 20 Ebooks in a Year!”

Who doesn’t want that?! I know I do.

But I’ve started to be a bit more skeptical…and maybe I should have been a lot earlier!

There’s gold nearby. Need a shovel?

During the California gold rush, the business selling the shovels made guaranteed money. And the prospectors using the shovels (to dig for gold) had the most risk of going bust.

I’m trying to figure out if these “educators” are using these online hustle methods themselves — or if they’re selling me the shovel to dig for my online gold.

Are they only making money by teaching others how to make money? Is their success from their teaching and not their material?

My conclusion after reviewing hundreds of hours of content on Medium, YouTube, and LinkedIn is a resounding yes. They are selling me the shovel. And now that I’ve spent the money, I can start digging.

Not everyone has bad intentions. But they do have money on their mind.

I’m not saying it’s all bad and I’ve learned a lot from those selling wild ideas and inspiring stories.

But I’m taking it as only that…ideas that are not necessarily great businesses for me.

I grab nuggets and new insights from the posts, but I don’t get too excited until I’ve done additional research.

Everyone is trying to stake their digital claim, so I don’t fault them for finding a way to make a living. However, my ethics are steering me in another direction. One where I actually help others and not just help myself.

Who is making money?

Maybe someone was successful with it, but I’m now approaching all of the hyped “10,000 Followers In 30 Days” articles with a lot of my natural Midwest skepticism.

More than likely this creator made their money (and sold their digital assets) by touting their digital assets sales to those wanting to sell digital assets.

Yes, it’s that confusing. And that’s how they get the audience and sales.

And there are so many jumping onto the trend that it’s feeling a bit snake-oil salesperson-y in all forums. I’m not sure who to believe anymore — show me the proof!

The future teachers — aka experimenters.

My solution has been to find the creators trying the side hustles and documenting their journey — the experimenters, who show their progress whether it’s good or bad.

Actual progress during their journey. Screenshots and videos of their income (or lack of income). The tools they’re using — as they’re using them.

It inspired me differently. Now I want to join those serial experimenters and provide the good, bad, and ugly of making money online to the next round of digital entrepreneurs.

I guess something good did come out of the wild, sale-sy pitches for online riches.