Laziest Way to Make Money with AI (Starting From Zero)
In this episode of the Growth Stacking Show, Dan Martell examines practical ways to leverage AI tools for digital content creation and business growth. He covers strategies for creating effective YouTube content without appearing on camera, designing thumbnails that drive engagement, and developing blog content that performs well on search engines.
The episode also delves into how entrepreneurs can use AI-powered website builders to create sites more efficiently and establish automation agencies. Martell outlines specific approaches for implementing AI automation in business contexts, from cold outreach to client onboarding, and explains how to build a portfolio of AI-driven solutions that can lead to expanded business opportunities.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jun 17, 2025 episode of the Growth Stacking Show with Dan Martell
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1-Page Summary
Using AI for Content Creation and Design
Dan Martell explores innovative applications of AI in digital content creation, focusing on three main areas: YouTube thumbnails, blog content, and faceless YouTube channels.
AI-powered Thumbnail Design
For YouTube success, Martell recommends analyzing viral thumbnails using AI tools like One of Ten and View Stats. He suggests building a portfolio of high-performing thumbnails and using AI tools such as MidJourney, Photoshop, and Canva AI to optimize designs. ChatGPT can then generate new thumbnails based on these successful examples.
AI-generated Blog Content
Martell advises using tools like SEMrush or Ubersuggest to study top-performing blogs in your niche. He recommends using ChatGPT to create writing samples based on successful industry content, while tools like rank.ai can help boost visibility both on Google and within language models.
Faceless AI-powered YouTube Channels
In discussing faceless YouTube channels, Martell highlights their potential for high ad revenue. He emphasizes creating unique narrative styles through ChatGPT and using AI tools like Synthesia or 11 Labs for virtual narration, eliminating the need for on-camera presence.
Using AI for Website Building
Martell advocates for no-code AI-based website builders like Framer AI, Bolt, and Relume. These platforms can generate everything from copy to code, making website creation more efficient. He explains how these AI-built websites can be marketed to small businesses as cost-effective solutions, with opportunities for upselling services like hosting and AI automation.
Using AI For Business Automation
For entrepreneurs interested in AI automation agencies, Martell outlines a strategic approach. He recommends specializing in specific automation use cases, such as cold outreach or onboarding automation, and joining expert communities to stay current with AI trends. When implementing AI automation for businesses, Martell suggests starting with free projects to demonstrate value and build a portfolio, which can lead to expanded business opportunities.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- AI-generated content may lack the unique voice and creativity that human creators bring, potentially leading to a homogenized landscape of digital content.
- Over-reliance on AI for thumbnail design could result in a lack of originality, as AI tools might converge on similar design elements that are deemed successful, reducing diversity in visual content.
- The use of AI tools like ChatGPT to generate blog content might raise ethical concerns about authenticity and transparency, as readers may not be aware that the content was not written by a human.
- Tools like rank.ai may improve visibility, but they could also contribute to a focus on optimization over quality, potentially leading to content that is designed more for algorithms than for human engagement.
- Faceless AI-powered YouTube channels might diminish the value of personal connection and authenticity that many viewers seek in content creators.
- While no-code AI-based website builders can increase efficiency, they may not offer the same level of customization and flexibility that professional web developers provide, potentially leading to less distinctive websites.
- Marketing AI-built websites as cost-effective solutions to small businesses could undervalue the expertise and craftsmanship of professional web designers and developers.
- Specializing in specific automation use cases could lead to a narrow focus that might miss out on broader opportunities for innovation and cross-disciplinary learning.
- Starting with free projects to demonstrate value might not be sustainable for all businesses, as it could devalue the service being offered and make it difficult to transition to paid engagements.
- There is a risk that the proliferation of AI in business automation could lead to job displacement or undervalue human expertise and decision-making in certain industries.
Actionables
- You can enhance your YouTube channel's engagement by creating a feedback loop with your audience where they vote on thumbnail options before you publish videos; this not only involves them in the content creation process but also gives you real-time data on what resonates with your viewers.
- By setting up polls on your community tab or social media platforms, you can present multiple thumbnail designs for upcoming videos and let your audience choose their favorite. This direct engagement not only increases the likelihood of them watching the video once it's live but also provides you with valuable insights into their preferences, which can inform future thumbnail creation.
- If you're interested in content creation, try collaborating with other content creators to cross-analyze your most successful content and identify patterns that can be replicated across different niches or formats.
- Reach out to creators in your network or join online forums and groups where you can share insights about what types of content perform well. By comparing notes on topics like headline effectiveness, video length, or engagement metrics, you can uncover broader trends that transcend individual niches. This collaborative approach can lead to a deeper understanding of content performance and inspire innovative content strategies.
- You can diversify your content strategy by experimenting with different content formats on your existing platforms, such as incorporating short-form video content on platforms traditionally used for long-form content, to capture a wider audience and test new engagement strategies.
- For instance, if you run a blog, consider adding short video summaries of your articles that can be shared on social media or embedded within the post itself. This not only caters to the growing preference for video content but also serves as an additional entry point for readers who might prefer a visual or auditory summary before diving into the full article.
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Using AI for Content Creation and Design
Dan Martell delves into the innovative ways AI can elevate online content creation, specifically focusing on YouTube thumbnail design, blog content generation for SEO, and the creation of faceless AI-powered YouTube channels.
AI-powered Thumbnail Design For YouTube Channels
Martell underscores that thorough analysis of viral thumbnails is crucial to succeed on YouTube.
Analyze Viral Thumbnails In Your Niche to Identify Effective Design Patterns
Martell discusses the importance of using AI tools like One of Ten and View Stats to analyze dozens of viral thumbnails within a specific niche. This analysis helps in understanding the design patterns that make content stand out on YouTube.
High-Performing Thumbnail Portfolio to Inspire Designs
He recommends creators to compile a portfolio of their favorite high-performing thumbnails. This collection serves as inspiration and a reference point when designing new thumbnails.
Using AI to Optimize and Modify Thumbnails for Better Designs
Martell highlights AI products such as MidJourney, Photoshop, and Canva AI that are instrumental in crafting high-converting thumbnails. AI tools like ChatGPT can take a portfolio of effective thumbnails and use it to generate new, optimized designs. Martell suggests reviewing a channel’s video catalog and offering thumbnail improvements backed by AI-driven examples.
AI-generated Blog Content For SEO and Lead Generation
Martell taps into the power of AI to sculpt high-ranking blog content, with a focus on SEO and lead generation.
Modeling Top Industry Blogs Reveals Effective Content Structures
He advises using tools like SEMrush or Ubersuggest to identify the top 10 blogs in every niche, which reveals successful content structures.
Using AI to Build a Portfolio of Successful Blog Samples
Martell stresses the significance of using AI, like ChatGPT, to create a portfolio of writing samples modeled after the best in the industry. This trains the AI to generate content that’s effective and meets specific standards.
Ranking Blog Content Boosts Visibility and Authority
Additionally, Martell points out that employing tools such as rank.ai can propel blog posts to rank highly not only on Google but within large language models akin to ChatGPT, thereby boosting a blog’s visibility and perceived authority.
Faceless AI-powered YouTube Channels
Martell ...
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Using AI for Content Creation and Design
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While analyzing viral thumbnails can provide insights, it may not guarantee success due to the ever-changing algorithms and viewer preferences on YouTube.
- AI tools for analyzing thumbnails may not capture the nuanced reasons behind a thumbnail's success, such as timing, current trends, or the creator's popularity.
- A portfolio of high-performing thumbnails might lead to homogenization in design, stifling creativity and originality.
- Over-reliance on AI for thumbnail optimization could result in designs that lack human touch, which can be important for viewer connection.
- AI-generated thumbnail designs may not always align with the specific brand or message a creator wants to convey.
- Tools like SEMrush or Ubersuggest provide valuable data, but they may not capture the full picture of what makes content successful, such as the quality of writing or the engagement of the community.
- AI-generated blog content may struggle to replicate the depth and original insights provided by human experts in the field.
- Ranking high on search engines or language models does not necessarily translate to providing value o ...
Actionables
- You can analyze the emotional impact of viral thumbnails by conducting surveys on social media to see which emotions are most commonly evoked. Create a simple Google Form asking participants to describe how they feel when they see certain thumbnails and use the results to guide your own thumbnail creation process.
- Develop a content remix strategy by taking popular blog structures and infusing them with your unique insights or experiences. For example, if a top blog post is a listicle, you could create a video version of that listicle, adding your personal commentary or updates to make it fresh and engaging.
- Experim ...
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Using AI for Website Building
Dan Martell expounds on the convenience of using AI for website building, detailing how no-code AI-based website builders can benefit small businesses.
Leveraging No-code AI-based Website Builders
Martell suggests that individuals interested in website building should start by choosing a no-code platform and mastering it. He touts platforms such as Framer AI, Bolt, or Relume as ideal options for beginners.
AI Tools for Generating Custom Website Copy and Visuals
Martell emphasizes the efficiency of AI by discussing its ability to generate not just compelling copy and dynamic visuals but also the entire code structure of a website. This dramatically streamlines the process of website creation.
Selling AI-built Websites to Small Businesses
Martell lays out how AI-built websites can serve as a boon for small businesses by being more cost-effective and quicker to deploy than traditional websites.
Positioning AI-based Website Services As Cost-Effective and Time-Saving
Highlighting the advantage of AI-built websites, Martell notes that they offer small businesses significant savings in both time and money - two resources that are often at a premium for small enterprises.
Upselling Services: Hosting, AI Automation, Maintenance
Upon securing ...
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Using AI for Website Building
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- No-code platforms may not offer the same level of customization and flexibility as traditional coding, potentially limiting the uniqueness and functionality of a website.
- AI-generated content may lack the nuance and personal touch that a human designer or copywriter can provide, which could impact brand authenticity.
- Relying heavily on AI for website building could lead to a homogenization of web design, with many sites looking and feeling similar.
- Small businesses may have specific needs that AI cannot yet fully understand or implement without human intervention.
- The initial cost savings of AI-built websites might be offset by the need for future customizations or changes that require hiring a developer.
- Upselling additional services like AI-powered SEO and automations assumes that these AI services are as effective as their human counterparts, which may not always be the case.
- The audit-to-deal process might oversimplify the complexities of a business's needs and the potential of AI to meet those needs, leading to unrealistic expectations.
- AI-built websites mi ...
Actionables
- You can explore the potential of AI in website design by participating in online challenges that focus on creating AI-generated websites. These challenges often provide a structured environment where you can learn from others, see examples of AI-generated content, and get feedback on your own creations. For instance, join a community challenge where the goal is to design a website for a fictional small business using an AI platform, and then compare the results with traditional methods.
- Consider offering your services to local small businesses by conducting a free website efficiency audit using AI tools. This hands-on approach allows you to demonstrate the tangible benefits of AI-built websites, such as improved load times and user experience. You could reach out to small business owners in your area, offer to analyze their current website for free, and present them with a report that highlights potential improvements through AI integration.
- Experiment with AI-powe ...
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Using AI For Business Automation and Workflows
Dan Martell offers advice on how to leverage AI for automation to streamline business operations and workflows.
Developing an AI Automation Agency
For entrepreneurs interested in starting their own AI automation agencies, Martell provides an action plan, specialization strategies, and community engagement tips.
Action Plan For Starting an AI Automation Agency
Martell underscores the importance of having a detailed action plan for starting an AI automation agency. He recommends utilizing tools like ChatGPT to create a list of specific steps needed to launch an agency focusing on business automation, advising that the plan be both detailed and concise.
Becoming a Specialist By Mastering an Automation Use Case
To be successful, Martell advises focusing on a specific area of automation such as cold outreach, team training, building bots, or onboarding automation. He suggests becoming a specialist in one of these niches to offer targeted and expert solutions to clients.
Joining Communities to Learn From Experts and Stay Current On AI Trends
In order to accelerate learning and remain updated on current AI trends, Martell recommends joining communities. He highlights experts like Dave Ebelar for technical agency systems and Steve and Pope for content and automation.
Automating Internal Workflows and Processes
Martell advises enterprises on how they can apply AI to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their internal procedures.
Identifying Client Business Pain Points and Inefficiencies
Martell explains that AI automation offers value to businesses by helping them identify complex processes in their operations. This clarity allows businesses to reduce redundancies and streamline their workflows.
Implemen ...
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Using AI For Business Automation and Workflows
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While having a detailed action plan is important, it's also necessary to remain flexible and adaptable, as the AI industry is rapidly evolving and new challenges can arise unexpectedly.
- Relying solely on tools like ChatGPT for creating a launch plan may not capture the full complexity of starting a business; human expertise and industry knowledge are also critical.
- Specializing in a specific area of automation can be beneficial, but it may also limit the agency's ability to adapt to changing market demands or to offer comprehensive solutions to clients with diverse needs.
- Joining communities is helpful, but it's also important to critically evaluate the information shared within these groups, as not all advice may be applicable or beneficial to one's specific business context.
- AI automation can identify inefficiencies, but it may not always capture the nuances of human-centric processes, and over-reliance on automation could lead to a loss of personal touch in customer service.
- Implementing AI to streamline workflows assumes that all processes can be improved with automation, which may not be the case for creative or highly specialized tasks ...
Actionables
- You can map out your learning journey by creating a visual roadmap that includes AI concepts you want to master, with timelines and resources. Start by identifying the basic concepts of AI automation and then branch out to more complex topics, ensuring you cover areas like data analysis, machine learning, and the specific niche you're interested in. For example, if you're drawn to cold outreach automation, your roadmap might begin with learning about email parsing and then progress to understanding natural language processing.
- Develop a habit of daily experimentation with AI tools to discover practical applications in your routine tasks. Dedicate a small portion of your day to using AI tools for tasks you normally do manually, like scheduling, sorting emails, or even creating content for social media. Keep a journal of your experiences, noting any efficiency improvements or challenges faced, which will serve as a personal case study of AI's impact on your productivity.
- Offer to automate a small, ...
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