Entrepreneur Dan Martell Reveals "Boring" Method for Making Money Online in 2026

In a recently released video, entrepreneur and coach Dan Martell pulls back the curtain on what he calls the "two-engine business model," a strategy he claims has generated millions in sales for himself and his clients. The video, titled "How to Actually Make Money Online in 2026 (Copy Me)," eschews the common narratives of "passive income" and "get rich quick" schemes, instead offering a step-by-step guide to building what he terms "scalable income" through social media engagement.

Martell's central thesis is that making substantial money online boils down to two key components: the "magnet" and the "money" [00:00:58]. The "magnet" is the process of attracting your ideal customers, while the "money" is the process of converting that attention into sales. He outlines a four-stage process that he asserts can be replicated by anyone, regardless of their current audience size.

Stage 1: Finding Your Perfect Buyer

The foundation of the model, according to Martell, is a deep understanding of your target customer. He advises entrepreneurs to move beyond generic customer profiles and instead focus on a specific pain point. "If you can describe your buyer's pain better than they can explain it to you, you'll win their business," Martell states [00:02:56]. He suggests that the most effective way to do this is to help people solve a problem you once faced yourself, allowing for genuine empathy and understanding [00:03:27].

Stage 2: Creating Viral Content

Once the target audience is identified, the next step is to create content that attracts them. Martell introduces his "PSL" (Point-Story-Lesson) framework for creating engaging short-form videos [00:06:53]. He emphasizes that modern social media algorithms are based on an "interest graph" rather than a "social graph," meaning the quality of the content is more important than the size of one's following for achieving viral reach [00:06:23]. To put this into practice, Martell issues a challenge to his viewers: create and post one video every day for 100 days [00:09:58].

Stage 3: Being Social

With content being produced, Martell shifts focus to direct engagement. He expresses astonishment at the number of creators who have a large following but never interact with them directly [00:10:27]. His strategy involves messaging every new follower with a "this or that" question to initiate a conversation [00:12:42]. He also recommends using "hand raisers" in stories and posts to identify interested leads, followed by qualifying questions to weed out "tire kickers" [00:13:50].

Stage 4: Getting the Order

The final stage is the sales process itself, which Martell insists should happen within the chat conversation. He warns against "releasing the pressure valve" by downplaying a potential customer's problems [00:15:46]. Instead, he advises guiding them into the "buy zone," where they are emotionally ready to make a decision [00:16:29]. He reveals that his own multi-million dollar sales process often involves a simple, pre-written offer copied and pasted from his phone's notes app [00:18:03].

Review

Martell's presentation is a high-energy, direct-to-camera masterclass in social media sales. The advice is practical and actionable, providing viewers with specific frameworks, questions, and even a prompt for ChatGPT to generate content ideas [00:08:58]. While the promise of making thousands of dollars a month may seem lofty, the underlying principles of identifying a niche, providing value through content, and actively engaging with potential customers are sound marketing fundamentals. The video serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to monetize their expertise online, emphasizing that success comes not from a magic bullet, but from a consistent and strategic approach to building relationships and solving problems.