Avoiding False and Exaggerated Claims as Beginners
We see it all the time … earn $45,000 … make $700 per hour … I made $8,000 per day by … earn $100,000 per month … and, on and on it goes.
Naturally, as individuals seeking to make money online, we tend to be attracted to videos or blog posts that seem to have exclusive information, or perhaps, a secret formula to determine how much money we “will” actually earn. Anxious for shortcuts and not wanting to be left out, some of us follow these YouTubers or bloggers, hoping to duplicate their strategies for earning thousands of dollars.
Well, it is not that all the suggestions for earning precise sums of money online are always intentionally misleading, or untrue. However, we need to be careful about what we accept as facts from certain online sources, or we could end up with unrealistic expectations, or even worse. What is it that we need to need to look for? Here are some examples:
- How to Make $40,000 in your First Month of Blogging
Yes, this is a common type of headline used by some apparently successful bloggers. While it is not impossible to make thousands of dollars from blogging during your first month, it is a well-established fact that most people do not. Of course, there may be exceptions to the norm, now and then. However, even if money is made during the first month of blogging, it is not likely to be as huge a sum as some people claim.
Think about this – if you are a newbie on the web, with hardly anybody knowing about you, how would it be possible for you to earn an exceptionally huge amount of money blogging in the first month? One cannot say this is totally impossible to achieve. However, in most cases, it is highly unlikely.
- Earn $20,000 Per Day with Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways to earn money online. However, many factors can affect your actual net income from affiliate commissions, including traffic, advertising costs, the cost of the skills you might have hired, and so on. Always be mindful of the fact that what works for one digital entrepreneur – as claimed – may not necessarily work for you. One size does not fit all.
- Make up to $700 Per Hour With Online Surveys
Online surveys require a lot of your time, patience and effort. Often, the actual amount that you can earn is much lower than what is suggested in headlines like these. Conduct your own research. Use reputable survey sites.
- Make over $100,000 a Month with YouTube!
It is a well known fact that some individuals make thousands or millions of dollars on YouTube through their channels. Income reports are regularly published by some YouTubers. While it is certainly possible to earn six-figure monthly incomes on YouTube, the amounts quoted as actual or possible earnings by some YouTubers are sometimes questionable.
For example, DeepSeek R1 was released on January 20, 2025 – the same day as the presidential inauguration in the United States. Within days or weeks of DeepSeek’s availability, there were already YouTubers claiming:
• “$5,000 per month in minutes with DeepSeek”
• “Earn $3,500 per week with DeepSeek”
• “$7,500 per day with DeepSeek”, etc.
We could also see a few YouTubers claiming earnings of $30,000 and close to $50,000 with DeepSeek (assumedly, per month).
Clearly, these individuals could not have been using DeepSeek for a month. At the time of writing (February 9, 2025), DeepSeek was not yet even one month old. Before telling us how much we will earn per month with DeepSeek, these YouTubers would have done well to have waited for at least 30 days. Perhaps, then, what they are telling us that we could earn per month would be more believable.
Set Your Own Goals
In the final analysis, it is the quality and consistency of your content, the number of views, your particular niche, monetization strategy, how hard you work in promoting your channel, and so on, that will determine how much you actually earn on YouTube.
As a beginner, don’t focus too much on the headlines suggesting how much money you will make. Set your own goals and keep your expectations realistic.
- Make over $400,000 a Year as a Freelance Writer
Freelance writing is a proven way to earn money online, and there are many success stories. However, this is a very competitive field and requires a lot of hard work and commitment in order to succeed. Needless to say, there are many freelance writers who would be delighted to earn $60,000, or even $30,000 per year.
Motivations for Exaggerated Claims
Why do so many individuals online make exaggerated claims about how much money one “will” make by following their suggestions? Well, people tend to follow what others are doing, but there are a number of other possible explanations:
• Credibility and Authority
In some cases, a blogger or YouTuber may want to be established as an authority on a particular topic. In that regard, they may try to build credibility with their audience by claiming to have earned a significant amount of money through online opportunities.
• Affiliate Commissions
In some cases, the blogger or YouTuber may be promoting other people’s products or services through affiliate marketing. Suggesting how much money you will make is intended to grab your attention, attract more views, gain more subscribers or followers, and hopefully, get a positive click on the affiliate link.
• Attracting Views and Followers
With so many competitors, some online entrepreneurs will continue trying to attract you to their content with exaggerated claims. Be assured, however, that there are many other individuals earning good money online – without the need for exaggerated or misleading income claims.
No Guarantees
Irrespective of the purported income earning potential of a particular online activity, there is no guarantee that you will earn the precise amounts being suggested by anyone. In fact, nobody can predict the precise amounts that you will earn online, for in many cases there will be income fluctuations and varying expenses.
Do Your Research
Nevertheless, even if some of these claims prove to be legitimate, never fail to do your own research, before making any moves. Remember that you are running a serious business, which requires that you act with prudence and carry out the necessary due diligence before buying into anything.
Be Realistic
Be cautious and realistic. Don’t simply swallow the claims being made online about how much money you “will” make, almost instantly, from a particular online activity.
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