I started writing AI tool comparisons on dev.to 3 months ago with zero audience.
The numbers
| Month | Articles | Revenue | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 8 | $47 | Affiliate |
| Month 2 | 15 | $214 | Affiliate |
| Month 3 | 22 | $487 | Affiliate ($312 recurring) |
All traffic from Google search. Not a single social media post.
What worked
I picked a narrow niche — AI API comparisons — instead of broad "make money online" content. People searching "best AI API for side projects" have already decided to build something. They convert.
Every article follows a simple structure:
- State the problem the reader actually has
- Compare 3-4 options honestly (include cons)
- Drop the affiliate link naturally in the recommendation section
- Disclose it is an affiliate link
Why recurring commissions change the game
A single Scale plan customer ($149.99/mo) generates ~$166/year in recurring commissions. You do not need many customers. 5-10 can replace a part-time job.
The hard part nobody talks about
Month 1 is brutal. I made $47. Most people quit here.
Month 2, early articles started ranking. $214.
Month 3, the recurring commissions from months 1-2 kicked in. $487.
👉 The affiliate program I use: https://global-apis.com?ref=ga_1d685276035684e33fb90700d87bca244c298f10eb58ed80c52e6696838a3b87
(Disclosure: affiliate link — you get 100 free credits, I get a commission if you stay.)
If you are on the fence, just write 3 articles this week and forget about them for a month. The search traffic will tell you if it is working.
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