How to track an AI side hustle like an experiment: the 28-day log
Last updated · By Orenston
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Short answer: Treat every AI side hustle as a 28-day experiment. Write a one-line hypothesis, set a keep-or-kill rule before you start, log nine fields weekly from evidence, and keep earned (credited) separate from paid (received). Unknown is "pending", never 0.
The 9 fields to log every week
| Field | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Spend | Subscriptions, AI credits, ads, domains: from receipts |
| Hours | Your time and any agent run time |
| Outputs | Drafted, approved, published, with URLs |
| Reach | Impressions and clicks, with the source and date window |
| Affiliate clicks | From the program dashboard or your link tracker |
| Conversions | Sales or sign-ups the program reports |
| Earned | Commissions credited, with an as-of date (can still be reversed) |
| Paid | Money received, with the date and method |
| Evidence | Screenshot or export behind each number |
The 5-step routine
- Write the hypothesis. One sentence: which content, for which demand, through which approved program.
- Set the keep-or-kill rule. Decide on day 1 what result after 28 days means keep, change or stop.
- Log weekly. Fill every field once a week from evidence. Unknown is written as pending, never as 0.
- Separate earned from paid. Earned is credited; paid is received. Count only paid as income.
- Review at day 28. Apply the rule you set on day 1, then log what worked and what didn't.
Three mistakes the log prevents
- Counting credited commissions as income before they're paid and past the refund window.
- Forgetting costs. Tool subscriptions and hours belong in the result.
- Moving the goalposts. A rule written after the data arrives isn't a rule.
[GATED · Starter] The 28-day log template
Members get: the log as a spreadsheet (one row per week, the 9 fields, built-in checks that flag a 0 with no evidence), a keep-or-kill rule builder, and an AI prompt that turns the four weekly rows into a plain-English review.
FAQ
What should I track for an AI side hustle?
Spend, hours, what you published, reach, affiliate clicks, conversions, and commissions earned versus paid, each with the evidence behind it.
What's the difference between earned and paid?
Earned means the program credited a commission, which can still be reversed for refunds or cancellations. Paid means the money arrived. Count only paid as income.
Why write pending instead of zero?
Zero is a measurement. Pending means you haven't measured it yet. Mixing them makes a method look better or worse than it is.
Related: Find demand with AI · Earnings disclaimer