How I Made Money Selling AI Services (Without Being an AI Expert)

I have a confession:

I sold AI services... without having the slightest idea how AI really worked.

No coding skills.

No fancy algorithms.

No idea what half the buzzwords even meant.

All I had was sheer guts — and Google.

And if that stings a little, it should.

Because the truth is, you’ve been misled.

You don’t need to be some Silicon Valley genius to start offering AI services.

I'm living proof.

Back to the Beginning

I was broke.

The type of broke where rent’s due, your heart’s racing, and you’re refreshing your inbox like it owes you money.

One night, while doom-scrolling Twitter, I saw someone mention “prompt engineering.”

Didn’t know what it was. Sounded like some niche nerdy thing.

But this random guy said he made $5K a month just writing prompts for ChatGPT.

Skeptical but desperate, I Googled:

"How to write prompts for ChatGPT."

I copied exactly what I found. Word for word.

Zero shame. Zero pride. 100% survival mode.

Then, I set up a Fiverr gig titled:

"I'll create powerful ChatGPT prompts for your business."

Description?

"I'll craft effective ChatGPT prompts that save you time, improve results, and help you grow effortlessly."

Price? $25 for 5 prompts.

And guess what?

Someone bought it.

I delivered it in an hour (using ChatGPT itself to polish the prompts).

Got a 5-star review.

That $25?

It flipped a switch in my brain.

I realized:

You don't need to be an AI expert.

You just need to know a little more than the client.

Clients Don’t Care How Smart You Are

Clients don't care about how deep your tech knowledge runs.

They care about outcomes.

If you help them save time, close more deals, or look cooler with an "AI tool" on their site, they’re happy.

They don’t care how you do it.

They just care that it works.

And the reality is...

Most clients are comically clueless about AI.

They know they should be using it, but have no idea how.

You don’t need to be 10 steps ahead.

Just one step.

How I Turned $25 Into a Real Business

After that first gig, I started thinking bigger.

I found small businesses that wanted to:

Speed up social media posting

Automate customer service

Send faster sales emails

Add some "AI magic" to their websites

So, I made a bold offer:

"Done-for-you AI setup — $300."

Was I qualified?

Not really.

But I knew how to use:

ChatGPT for writing

Notion AI for organizing

Zapier for automation

That’s all they needed.

They didn’t care about the tech behind it.

They just wanted their problems gone.

I packaged it simply.

I spoke their language.

I charged real money.

And it sold.

The Dirty Secret: Most "AI Experts" Are Just Good Marketers

Real talk:

Most so-called "AI consultants" are just really good at using ChatGPT and copy-pasting into neat reports.

They're not tech wizards.

They're not frauds either.

They're marketers who understand one thing:

Perception matters.

They deliver results, not complicated explanations.

Lesson?

Being useful beats being smart.

Every. Single. Time.

How YOU Can Start (Even if You’re Clueless)

Here's the simple 6-step plan I wish someone had given me:

1. Pick a niche.

Coaches. Realtors. Etsy sellers. Pick one.

2. Find one painful task.

Emails. Listings. Scheduling.

Something repetitive = opportunity.

3. Find an AI shortcut.

Use ChatGPT, Zapier, Notion. Combine them smartly.

4. Package it as a solution.

Don't say "AI service."

Say "I'll save you 5 hours a week automating your X."

5. Start small, charge money.

First clients: $100. Then raise rates: $300, $800, $2,000.

6. Double down on what works.

One good offer beats ten mediocre ones.

Here's What Most People Miss:

You’re not faking it.

You’re solving real problems.

You’re selling peace of mind, time, and energy — not "AI."

And that’s priceless.

My Biggest Lessons:

Confidence beats credentials.

Simplicity sells better than complexity.

Clients don’t want tech — they want solutions.

You don’t have to be the expert.

You just have to care more than the average person.

I’m not special.

I was just desperate enough to start.

And bold enough to keep going.

You can too.

You don’t need permission.

You don’t need another course.

You don’t need a fancy portfolio.

You just need to start.

Google the rest.

That first $25 didn't just pay a bill.

It changed my entire mindset.

Because it proved:

I wasn’t powerless.

And neither are you.

If you’ve read this far...

It’s your turn.

Start something before you feel ready.

Figure it out as you go.

Just like the rest of us do.