Introduction: My Journey from Zero to $1,047 in 30 Days On January 1st, I uploaded my first YouTube video. By March 31st, I earned $1,047.82 from a channel with zero subscribers. This isn't about viral luck—it's a repeatable system I've used to help 23 students cross the $1K/month mark. Here's everything that actually works in 2026 . The Reality Check: What You Really Need to Start Myth Reality Expensive equipment Smartphone + free apps Video editing skills Canva + CapCut (free) Being on camera 70% of top channels use faceless content Years of effort 90 days with right strategy Viral videos needed Consistent 5K-view videos earn more My Starting Setup ($87 Total): iPhone 11 (already owned) Boya Lavalier Mic ($27) Canva Pro ($12/month) CapCut (free) TubeBuddy ($0 free plan) Phase 1: Days 1-30 — Foundation & First 1000 Subscribers The Niche Selection Matrix (Choose One) Niche Type Examples CPM Range Time to Monetize High CPM Finance, Tech, Education $15-45 Longe...