The internet is filled with money-making schemes that promise life-changing income with little effort. One method that has gone viral on YouTube claims you can make between $300 and $1,400 per day using Google News—without any special skills or qualifications. The videos promoting this method have millions of views, but does it actually work?
As someone who has 7 years of experience as a content manager and editor in an online news website, I decided to put this method to the test. I’ll walk you through each step, analyze its effectiveness, and give you an insider’s perspective on whether it’s a legit opportunity or just another clickbait hustle.
Step 1: Using Google News to Find a Trending Topic
The first step in the method is to go to Google News (news.google.com) and pick a popular article in a trending niche like health or business.
I followed this step and found an article on CNN about a recent study that links ultra-processed foods to heart disease, diabetes, mental disorders, and early death. Since health-related topics always get a lot of engagement, I decided this would be my test article.
Step 2: Rewriting the Article Using Spinbot
The viral YouTube videos suggest using Spinbot.com, a free content spinner, to rewrite the chosen article. The idea is that the tool will replace words with synonyms, making the content unique while keeping the same information.
I pasted the CNN article into Spinbot, and here’s what I found:
🔹 Original paragraph from CNN:
"Eating ultra-processed foods raises the risk of developing or dying from dozens of adverse health conditions, according to a new review of 45 meta-analyses on almost 10 million people."
🔹 Spinbot’s rewritten version:
"Eating ultra-processed food sources raises the gamble of creating or passing on from many unfavorable medical issue, as indicated by another audit of 45 meta-investigations on just about 10 million individuals."
🚨 Problems with Spinbot’s Output:
- The rewritten text has grammar mistakes and awkward phrasing.
- Some words were replaced with incorrect synonyms (e.g., “gamble” instead of “risk”).
- The phrase “meta-analyses” was changed to “meta-investigations”, which does not mean the same thing.
In short, Spinbot butchers the text, making it hard to read and less credible.
Step 3: A Better Alternative – Using AI for Rewriting
Instead of Spinbot, I tested ChatGPT to rewrite the article in a better and more natural way. I used this prompt:
“Rewrite this article using simple language, clear structure with subheadings, bullet points, and references to the sources.”
The result? ChatGPT didn’t just swap words like Spinbot—it created a new structure, improved readability, and summarized key points while keeping the information accurate.
For example:
🔹 ChatGPT’s rewritten version:
"Ultra-processed foods aren’t just modified food items. They are products made with cheap, often chemically altered ingredients, such as modified starches, sugars, and artificial additives."
This version reads naturally, doesn’t have grammar mistakes, and provides a clearer explanation than the Spinbot output.
💡 Pro tip: If you’re serious about content writing, always rewrite articles manually or use AI tools like ChatGPT responsibly to create unique content rather than just rewording existing articles.
Step 4: Submitting the Article to a Website for Payment
The next step in the viral method is to find a website that pays for articles. The YouTube videos suggest using EatingWell.com, a well-known health and wellness site.
The instructions were to:
- Search for “Writer’s Guidelines” on EatingWell’s website.
- Find an editor’s email address and submit the rewritten article.
Here’s what actually happened:
- I searched everywhere on EatingWell.com but could not find the “Writer’s Guidelines” page.
- The editor’s email address suggested in the video no longer exists.
It’s likely that after millions of people spammed EatingWell with low-quality, spun content, they removed their submissions page and shut down the email.
As a former content editor, I can confirm that receiving thousands of spammy, AI-rewritten articles daily would be a nightmare. No serious publication wants to sift through junk content—they prefer expert, well-researched, and properly credited articles.
Why This Method Doesn’t Work as Promised
At this point, it’s clear that this method is not a reliable way to make money. Here’s why:
❌ 1. Spinbot Rewriting is Low-Quality
Spinbot does a poor job rewriting articles, making them hard to read and easily detectable as AI-generated.
❌ 2. No Attribution to Original Sources
Legitimate news websites credit their sources. Simply rewriting and submitting without crediting the original article violates journalistic ethics.
❌ 3. Websites Have Closed Submission Opportunities
Many of these sites have either removed their submission pages or changed their guidelines due to overwhelming spam from people trying to use this method.
❌ 4. Editors Easily Detect Rewritten Articles
Professional editors skim Google News daily and know where stories originate. If they receive a rewritten version of an article they already saw, they’ll ignore it or blacklist your email.
Legit Ways to Make Money as a Content Writer
Although the Google News method doesn’t work as claimed, there are real ways to get paid for writing online.
✅ 1. Find Writing Gigs on Problogger
- Visit Problogger.com/jobs to find legit writing jobs.
- Many companies post remote writing opportunities in niches like tech, entertainment, and real estate.
- Some jobs pay per article, while others offer full-time contracts.
✅ 2. Write for Revenue-Sharing Websites
- BlastingNews – Earn up to $20 per 1,000 views on your articles.
- Listverse – Get $100 per 1,500-word listicle.
- Long Reads – Pay $500 for in-depth articles (but no AI-written content allowed).
✅ 3. Start Your Own Blog
Instead of making one-time payments from other sites, you can build a long-term income by starting your own blog. Many bloggers replace their full-time salary after a year of consistent writing.
I personally quit my 9-to-5 job after my blog’s income surpassed my salary within a year. Some people blog part-time and still double their income while working full-time jobs.
If you’re interested, I have a free 7-day blogging guide that teaches you how to start and grow a blog. Check the link in the description to get it delivered to your inbox!
The Truth About the Google News Method
This experiment debunked the viral YouTube videos claiming you can make hundreds of dollars daily using Google News. The reality is:
🚫 It’s not as easy as they claim.
🚫 Spinbot produces poor-quality content.
🚫 Editors won’t accept low-effort, rewritten articles.
🚫 Submission pages get removed due to spam.
💡 If you’re serious about making money writing online, focus on real writing jobs, revenue-sharing sites, or starting your own blog.
👍 If you found this guide helpful, drop a like and check out my other “I Tried It” experiments! 🚀
