How to make $1,000 in the next 14 days without an idea

Bryan Harris —  Bryan Harris /

Here is the quickest way I know of to start a business.

It requires:

  • NO money
  • NO website
  • NO business card

It’s very basic.

Find a really well-written “how-to” article. Then offer the solution that article provides as a service to everyone who shared it on social media. Use the step-by-step instructions from the article to learn how to offer the service.

No experience required.

Want an example?

Here is the step-by-step process

I’m going to walk you through both steps. Follow along and do what I do.

Step 1: Find a “how-to” article

Here is an incredibly detailed article on how to set up a retargeting campaign: How to start your first $100 retargeting campaign.

You don’t need to know what retargeting is or have ever set up a campaign in your life. Just read the article.

Seriously, go read it. I’ll wait.

…

Done?

You now know more about retargeting than 99.9% of people online. You are an expert (in relation to nearly everyone).

Congratulations!

Tip: A few good places to find detailed how-to articles are Okdork, Backlinko, Quicksprout and Buffer.

Step 2: Offer the article as a service

Now your job is to take the information in this article (how to use a retargeting campaign to grow your business) and offer it as a service to everyone that shared it.

How do you do that?

First, go to Topsy.com and enter the post’s URL.

This will give you a list of everyone who shared the post on Twitter.

Click on the “Influential Only” tab. This will show you a list of Twitter users that have 1) shared the article 2) have a sizable audience (i.e. enough money to pay you for a service).

Now, you need to e-mail each person on this list with this e-mail.

Adarsh,

I’ve been following you since last March when I saw you share Noah Kagan’s article on how to spend your first $100 on a retargeting campaign.

I love that article.

In fact, I started offering the exact process he laid out in that post as a service.

Trippeo is a really cool app and I’ve put together (based on Noah’s article) three different retargeting scenarios for Trippeo.

Here is a link to the full campaign and some projected results: [link to Google doc]

Would love to help you guys implement some of Noah’s awesome strategies.

-Bryan

 

If you offer this to all 5 people on the Topsy list, 1 person will buy.

Charge $1,000 for your service.

Need more service ideas?

My challenge to you.

Try this 5 times.

Don’t get married to one idea. Don’t look for a silver bullet. Don’t try to make a $1,000,000. Just make $1,000.

I’ve put together a list of 50 articles that are prime candidates to be turned into service businesses. You can download that for free in the Videofruit bonus section.

P.S. My wife and I took a last minute trip to NYC for her 30th birthday. So, the previously scheduled post on launch sequences will hit your inbox on Tuesday. See you then.

  • Brian Dean

    AWESOME post, Bryan. I’ve seen several people build businesses from scratch using this exact approach.

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Thanks Brian :)

      • dez82

        Ironic, Purely coincidentally, I’m using Brian Dean’s article for this exercise. Wish me luck. It’s this one http://backlinko.com/viral-marketing

        • Hassan Rashid

          @dez82:disqus, how will you turn it into a service?

        • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

          Love it. Make any sales yet?

    • http://zakmustapha.com Zak

      Just came here because of Brian Dean.

  • http://tresnicmedia.com/ Todd

    This is a great idea, Bryan! It’s like a link building strategy put on the business development track.

  • Keith Bresée

    Killer post! Not only are these good biz ideas, but they are great articles that can be used for the skyscraper technique!

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Do your thing Keith

  • http://www.sharonpivirotto.com Sharon Pivirotto

    You’re too smart Bryan. I have to stop reading your posts just so I don’t feel so stupid since I had always prided myself on common sense. I’m giving you a personal nickname of “The King of Common Sense”. Don’t worry if you don’t like it since I’ll probably make up another title for you after reading your next post, that’s how good each of your posts actually are. Thanks for the great info. Safe travels. (and I’m glad to see you have social sharing on your blog posts! Sharing…. done.)

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      :) thank you

  • http://covetedconsultant.com/ Alzay Calhoun

    Bryan, this is SO smart. The steps are simple and you’ve given us a template to execute on. You are high-level, sir!

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Glad you found it helpful. Plan to implement?

      • http://covetedconsultant.com/ Alzay Calhoun

        Excellent question. I’m working on my implementation plan right now.

        • http://wegalogistics.com Capital Terefe

          @Alzayc:disqus i am using @bharris007:disqus strategy and execute with your “How to get high end consulting clients by sending cold emails” formula. Thank you both

          • http://covetedconsultant.com/ Alzay Calhoun

            Yes sir! Now THAT is a winning strategy!

          • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

            Awesome!

          • http://insightscope.com Brian

            How did it go Capital?

        • http://insightscope.com Brian

          How did it go Alzay?

          • http://covetedconsultant.com/ Alzay Calhoun

            Thanks for the follow-up Brian. I followed the steps laid out here, but I got bogged (way) trying to find relevant contact information. However I did execute by sending out a series of Twitter messages. I got favorable response, but no new clients.

          • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

            Now you know what you need to do Brian.

            1) Don’t try to sell on Twitter
            2) Persist past the point that Alzay did
            3) Figure out how not to get bogged down

          • http://covetedconsultant.com/ Alzay Calhoun

            Bryan is 100% right. Please be better than me! Also I have now outsourced this project to a virtual assistant. Just started…so no results yet.

  • http://www.productivesuperdad.com/ Timo Kiander

    Never thought of this – just clever :)

  • http://deveshdesign.com DeveshKhanal

    Using the main principle of this article in the last 2 months has changed my life. And that’s not an exaggeration!

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      You are THE poster child for this strategy.

    • http://insightscope.com Brian

      Care to share the details? Drop me a note if you want connect via email brian@insightscope.com

  • Blake Frazier

    Bryan,

    I’ve been following you since today when I saw you share your article on how to make $1,000 in the next 14 days without an idea. I love that article. In fact, I started offering the exact process you laid out in that post as a service. For just $1000 I will generate a list of 50 great articles that could be the seeds of the next great business.

    Would love to help you implement some of your awesome strategies.

    -Blake

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Meh. I guess you could do that. I would go for a more functional approach though.

  • http://www.internetgeeks.org/ Internet Geeks

    Wow very nice idea. If you don’t want to make $1000 and happy with less, then market that on Fiverr.com or peopleperhour.com.

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Completely different. I couldn’t NOT recommend those two more.

  • http://chrisronzio.com Chris Ronzio

    Very creative! What an easy process for anyone to get started. Thanks for sharing!

  • Thanh Lan Nguyen

    well Bryan, challenge accepted :)
    ps: best wishes to your wife!!

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Thank you Thanh :)

      It’s been 3 days. What is your service?

  • Hassan Rashid

    Many times people ask us if they can see our work – how does someone with not experience cope with this? Should we straightforwardly answer that we’re new to this? Anyway, GREAT post! :)

    • http://covetedconsultant.com/ Alzay Calhoun

      Here are a few ways to approach this.
      1 – It is totally cool to say “we are looking for our first client” and offer a discount to the first client that signs.
      2 – Use your own business as a case study for the service you choose
      3 – Use a preferred client as a case study for the service you choose. (Bryan spells this out in his Santa Clause formula)

      Most importantly, don’t let anything keep you from executing. Keep reaching out to people until you get a win.

      • Hassan Rashid

        Nice – thanks for sharing! :)

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Thats the beauty of this approach, you don’t have to have experience.

      You rely on the experience of the person who wrote the post. Notice this line in the email…

      “In fact, I started offering the exact process he laid out in that post as a service.”

      This puts the ‘experience need’ back on the author.

      You are simply doing what they already researched and tested.

      Make sense?

      • Hassan Rashid

        Such a stupid I am. Thanks!

  • http://www.mycostatrip.com/ Joe Gatto

    Not to be a smart ass, but this is a serious question so I learn how to qualify leads well — why would someone want to pay me $1000 to do a service for them, just because they shared something on Twitter?

    • http://blog.mmasomnia.com/ Solmadrid Vazquez

      I’m sure Bryan will answer.

      My thought is that their willingness to share the post, shows they are interested in it and find value in it. That being the case, they are more likely to accept your proposal. Letting them know you noticed they shared the content, also has the added benefit of showing that you pay attention to them. Everyone likes attention.

      You could take the shotgun approach and email everyone that you think could use your service but targeting your market will get you quicker results with less frustration.

      • http://www.mycostatrip.com/ Joe Gatto

        That’s what I was supposing too. But, in that case I think they would already know how to do it themselves. Or, is the thinking they can, but don’t have time & prefer to pay someone that gets it & has the gumption to make the pitch?

        • http://blog.mmasomnia.com/ Solmadrid Vazquez

          Exactly. They’ve recognized it as something that’s valuable and would probably like to do it themselves if they had the time. But they don’t have the time, and that’s where you, me, and anyone else who follows this comes in.

        • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

          Knowing and doing are two very different things.

          For example: I have a goal to weigh 200lbs and have 10% body fat. Currently I weight 195lbs and have 16% body fat.

          I’ve shared articles on this topic. I’ve read blog post. I’ve read book.

          I KNOW everything I need to do. But…I haven’t done it.

          Would I pay $200 per month for trainer and nutritionist to help me implement. You bet!

          • http://www.mycostatrip.com/ Joe Gatto

            I see, thanks. So the thinking goes that if they are interested enough in the technique, they’ll see the value in doing it, yet still not be motivated enough to actually do it themselves, then eventually if you approach enough people like this some will want the help & pay for the implementation?

          • Bryan

            Hi, Bryan. My name is Bryan, too. I just came across your interesting article and was especially intrigued by this comment. I have developed a weight control strategy that has worked for me for the past two years. I lost 24 pounds in the first twelve months and kept it off in the next twelve. I have two “students” who have followed the plan as well and they are each on target for reaching their ideal weight levels. I know that two is not a lot, but it’s a start. The plan is simple. No bells or whistles. No special foods. No supplements. No meetings. No starvation. No cleansing. Nothing to buy. Nothing stupid. Just basic stuff. That’s not to say that it’s easy. It’s not tremendously hard, but it’s not easy either. I like to say that being on my plan sucks a little, but not nearly as much as NOT being on it. So, here’s a deal for you. I’ll charge you $200/month to be your weight coach under my plan. And here’s the kicker. You don’t pay me anything until you have lost your desired amount of weight and kept it off for 6 months. If you don’t lose your desired amount of weight, but are nevertheless satisfied, you can pay me whatever you think my coaching was worth. If you are totally unsatisfied (which you won’t be, but still), then you don’t have to pay me anything. What do you say?

      • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

        Yup! It’s not 100% but I most people only share stuff that resonates with them and is interesting. It’s a super easy way to qualify them.

        • Hassan Rashid

          Thanks for the reply – you’re right :)

    • Hassan Rashid

      Thanks for asking this – I’m also waiting for @bharris007:disqus to answer

  • http://bit.ly/mmgetsocial Meg Rulli

    This is genius… mind blown! Thanks so much for sharing!

  • http://twitter.com/ddeffenbaugh Danny Deffenbaugh

    Sorry if this is a dumb question, but once you have your list of influencers, how do you email them? Some people list their address in their Twitter bio, but many do not.

    • Robin Geuens

      A lot of them have their website in their bio. Visit their website and check their contact or about page. If they’re an influencer they are probably promoting something.

      Check out Bryan’s ‘How to get your first 3000/month contract’ pdf. It tells you in detail how to find someones email address.

      Hope this helps

  • http://www.navidmoazzez.com/ Navid Moazzez

    This is a fantastic post, Bryan! I forwarded this to a friend who wants to start a business and make some additional side income to get things going. Keep up the awesome work!

  • http://pucknkhaosblog.com Gigi Rodgers

    This is a great post, but I’m going to be that guy. My crew is image based (Instagram, FB, and Pinterest). Is there a website that can do the exact same thing as Topsy?
    Fingers, toes, and legs crossed….

    • http://www.weaponhero.com weaponhero

      http://buzzsumo.com/ will show Pinterest + FB

      • http://pucknkhaosblog.com Gigi Rodgers

        Cheers! 😀

  • http://blog.mmasomnia.com/ Solmadrid Vazquez

    Well, here we go! I just submitted my first proposal using what I’ve learned here and in your other posts about offering a service. It took over 20 hours to create the proposal, haha. I’m sure the next one will go a bit faster now that I’m familiar with the steps. Will see what happens from here!

    • http://covetedconsultant.com/ Alzay Calhoun

      Best of luck Solmadrid!

      • http://blog.mmasomnia.com/ Solmadrid Vazquez

        Thanks Alzay!

    • http://praburajasekaran.net Prabu Rajasekaran

      What happened?

    • http://insightscope.com Brian

      Hey Solmadrid,

      Curious to hear your final results after 2 months. Did you get any buyers? If not, why do you think SRS the case? I just shipped mine last night so I’d love to hear your experience. Drop me a line if you want to connect via email brian@insightscope.com

      I am planning to post my results in a week or so (good, bad, whatever)

      • http://blog.mmasomnia.com/ Solmadrid Vazquez

        Hey Brian,

        My result was not too awesome. haha. They liked my proposal but said they were really busy and asked me to get back to them in a month or so. So in other words, “Thanks but no thanks”, haha.

        I put consulting stuff on the backburner for now because it takes too much time away from my core goal of getting email subscribers.

        May do it again in the future when I have more time.

        Look forward to hearing about your results!

        I’ll send you this via email as well.

        • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

          How many people did you pitch?

          • http://blog.mmasomnia.com/ Solmadrid Vazquez

            Oh, not a worthwhile sample at all. I only pitched 1 person. I am
            absolutely positive I would land consulting gigs if I pitched more
            prospects. But I decided to stick with my main goal of getting email
            subscribers, then creating a product to sell to them. I’m putting all my
            time and energy into that.

            My message above was just in response to the other Brian’s question about my result.

          • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

            Focus = good!

            How is your list building progressing?

            What has worked the best?

          • http://blog.mmasomnia.com/ Solmadrid Vazquez

            Is going well!

            Best as in quantity-wise = Giveaways, by far

            Best as in targeted subscribers = Sponsoring podcasts, posting my articles on forums, and using Twitter.

            I think I can improve the targeting of the giveaways by using a couple of things you mentioned in your recent post. Once I hone that, giveaways will be an unstoppable juggernaut. hah.

          • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

            Shoot me an email (bryan@videofruit) would love to hear the specific results of your giveaways.

  • OLOYEDE JAMIU

    Nice strategy here Bryan,

    I have saved it in order to implement it later.

    I will keep you updated.

    -Oloyede Jamiu

  • Jarratt Horton

    Bryan, this article is AMAZING. It’s 3a.m. and I really need to go to bed, but I am going to follow through on this tomorrow. Check in on me in 24 hours and see how I’m doing. Cheers!

    • http://insightscope.com Brian

      Let’s see it Jarrat! I was up until 4:00 AM putting mine together — but I shipped it! :)

  • Andrew Medal

    This is for the group:

    What Google doc is everyone linking to for their strategies?
    Article body, re: “Here is a link to the full campaign and some projected results: [link to Google doc]”

    And, how well has this strategy worked for everyone? Any cool success stories/tips?

    • http://insightscope.com Brian

      Hey Andrew,

      I took the original article, then summarized, condensed and outlined everything into a one pager over view. I added a high res image at the top with a brief 2 paragraph introduction and a small about me section at the very bottom. I also included a link to my Gumroad subscription page where they can purchase instantly.

      I’m planning to post my results (good, bad, whatever) in the next week or so…

  • http://raynforest.com/ CliffG

    Hey, I’ve just been clued-in to your blog, and what I’ve read is terrific. Can’t wait to read more.

  • http://www.VineSocialMedia.com Andrea at Vine Social Media

    Damn! Sweetest post I’ve read in a month. Thank you!

    • http://insightscope.com Brian

      Hey Andrea,

      Did you get any results? I’d love to hear about your experience.

  • http://www.joshuardavis.com Joshua Davis

    Hi Bryan, great idea and post! However I’m having trouble finding influential twitter users that are not part of or associated with the company that made the original blog post. Any suggestions?

    • http://insightscope.com Brian

      Hey Joshua,
      I’d move on to another topic. Bryan’s list was a great starting point but I found something that was a little more recent. I found a few dozen influencers and ended up sending 9 emails for the first batch. Free free to drop me a line if you want to connect via email brian@insightscope.com

      • http://www.joshuardavis.com Joshua Davis

        Thanks Brian!

        • http://insightscope.com Brian

          You’re welcome, Joshua. Nice connecting with you via email. Enjoy your week!

  • anonymous

    Anyone tried this and would love to share your results?

    • http://insightscope.com Brian

      Hey anonymous,

      I just went through this exact process and will be sharing the results (good, bad, whatever) in the next week or so. Even if my first attempt doesn’t work out, I’m going to keep trying. As Bryan mention, don’t get married to the idea. Now that I’ve been through it once, it can’t possibly take me more than 6 hours to go through it again.

      Shot me an email if you want to connect via email brian@insightscope.com

  • http://insightscope.com Brian

    I went through this entire process tonight (it’s 4:00AM local time now…so it took about 6 hours total) and ended up emailing 9 influencers. Getting the emails was by far the toughest part (since these folks are top marketing influencers, their email addresses are often hidden or hard to find).

    I found a great article that was very in depth and the value prop was obvious, but missed a lot of the detail (vague screenshots or unclear instructions). The post had been shared by hundreds/thousands of folks (about 125 were top influencers). I was able to put together some decent copy and a nice PDF document that links straight to my Gumroad product page. I picked the $1000/month subscription because my service could theoretically be monitored and updated each month.

    Bryan — I sent you a separate email with details :) Excited to share my results!

    • Nicole Silliman

      What ended up being your results with this? Email me if you would like coachnicole12@gmail.com

      • http://insightscope.com Brian

        Just sent you a note Nicole. Thanks for reaching out!

  • Nicole Silliman

    Okay are you saying making an online course, video series or what? I have had an awesome idea to help get more people to my direct sales company but I don’t know if it will be stupid or be information they will buy etc.

    And do I stick to my area of expertise? Or just pick from the list and go with it?

  • http://dynamik365.com/ Dino Gomez

    Hey Brian, I’m curious what did you use to make your sidebar blog image? “make 1000 banner? Thanks!

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Keynote + Skitch

      • http://dynamik365.com/ Dino Gomez

        You’re the man Bryan. That was a fast response!

  • http://profitpursuits.com/ David (ProfitPursuits.com)

    Hey Brian,

    Great article, really enjoying your site!

    I had a couple of ideas (admittedly, not tested personally), that I think would help with gaining even more traction.

    1) Find a relatively recent how-to article that has had a
    ton of social shares. (Check buzzsumo.com and alltop.com for recent
    articles)….Being recent will help ensure it’s fresh in people’s minds
    and still getting shares.

    2) Try to comment on the post early, so that people will see your
    comment. Share some additional useful insight related to the topic, and
    then mention that you actually can help with the implementation.

    3) Reach out to the original article creator, tell them you have a
    service that can help people implement the process in their article.
    Then offer to give them a small cut of the revenue/sale if they will
    post a link to your service’s landing page within their article.

    4) Interact with people who have shared the article on social media.
    First contact should just be a useful comment about the article, and
    mention you actually perform that service. Ask them if they’d like to
    learn more about it.

    5) If they respond, then shoot them a link to your service landing
    page. This has the added benefit of allowing their followers to
    potentially see your comment as well.

    P.S. Personally, I’d try to find a how-to that is replicable and
    systematic. Also, if it can be a monthly service, even better.
    Finally, think of a service that you could eventually train others to
    do. Then you can scale.

    Cheers!

  • http://www.kashifaziz.me/ Kashif

    Very interesting and practical concept. Allow me to label it as Business-Idea-As-A-Service: BIaaS. In fact, I just tweeted the same :)
    https://twitter.com/kashaziz/status/553822238173319168

  • http://onlinesideincome.com Jeff

    Than you for this. I’ll be using this in 2015 to build an income stream and hopefully leave my day job.

  • RahulKuntala

    Excellent stuff, Bryan! I found your blog yesterday, shared your stuff and subscribed to your mail list today. Way to go :) Keep rocking.

  • http://www.phillip-lopez.com/ Phillip Lopez

    Bryan, I love this idea. It’s out of my comfort zone since I’m very new to internet marketing but have gotten my feet wet.

    My problem is probably a common one. I see a million different ways on how you can make money online and don’t drill down on seeing one through. I really like this one though and I’ll post my results on here once I actually do it lol.

    Thanks for the excellent free info sir.

  • http://YOUTUBE.COM Adam James

    I have a question : how to e-mail each people who share the article on Twitter ?
    Have a nice day

    • http://videofruit.com Bryan Harris

      Checkout http://blog.videofruit.com/vacuum for details

      • http://YOUTUBE.COM Adam James

        I don’t know what to say now .So Awesome! sir !

  • nicki nicole

    you can easily start making money here makemoneyaday.com

  • Edgardo Vergara

    Anyone actually try this?

  • Jay

    So, I think I am missing something you all can help me with. I found an article with 71 influencers. I have a business that I am already using these strategies with. How did you get their email, and how can you say yo have been following them since whatever date the article came out?
    I know I must be overlooking the obvious, but… anyway.. Help?

    Thanks in advance

  • Jeremy

    I haven’t seen anyone post success with this yet…

  • http://www.quickcashaffiliate.com QuickCashAffiliate

    As a successful internet entrepreneur, I’ve helped hundreds of people earn money online, and it can be done… fast. As long as you are committed, with the right expertise and guidance… anything is possible. I have created a unique system that maps out everything you need in order to consistently earn over $3000 every week! (a step by step guide, if you will).

    If you are serious about making money online, you can check it out at http://www.quickcashaffiliate.com

    Also if you have any questions or need any advice, just let me know. You can send me a message or find me on social media.

  • Christopher Jan

    Bryan,

    Not getting results with Topsy; any suggestions on why?
    Here is an example of a tweet that got lots of retweets, but not getting any results in Topsy:

    ….
    http://lptraining.leadpages.net/facebookadvertising/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=Twitter_PPLA&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Twitter_PPLA_18_65_US_Lookalike%20_MNF_safe_image

  • Emilie Pelletier

    Thank you!!! Very useful!

  • Dillon Carter

    Amazing idea Bryan! I’m pouring over the bonus list to try it out now :)

    btw, what platform is your site/blog on? I love it!

  • http://willyoulaugh.com WillYouLaugh

    I screwed around for a long time with no results. Im doing this now.

  • Sunrise AP

    Will this still work ??

  • kadon76

    Topsy just shut down. So we will have to find another way to search Twitter now.

  • http://planetcorey.com/music Corey Koehler

    This is a great article. BUT for the record. Topsy no longer exists. Just letting you know.