So I was answering questions in a Reddit cooking thread – nothing promotional, just sharing a few of my go-to kitchen tools that I genuinely use every single week.
People were really into it. One comment turned into a dozen replies.
So I thought: what if I just bundled my favorites into something easy to share?
That night, I made a simple one-pager – I started calling it my secret PDF – and I offered to send it to anyone who wanted it.
No pitch. No landing page. Just: “Hey, if you want to see everything I actually use – let me know.”
I figured a few people might check it out.
Next morning, I had $18.72 in my Amazon Associates dashboard.
Not life-changing, but it definitely caught my attention.
Day two: $91.40.
By day four, I was sitting at $387.
And it hasn’t really slowed down since.
The funny part is, I didn’t go viral. I didn’t run ads. I didn’t even use my face.
All I did was talk about stuff I already owned – and quietly give people my secret PDF if they were curious.
The reason it works? It’s not just a list. It’s things I’ve used, tested, replaced, and still recommend.
I update it every month and tweak it based on what I’m actually cooking or what people ask about the most.
At this point, the whole thing runs like a quiet little engine. I check stats in the morning, answer a few messages, maybe update a link or two.
Most days it pulls in somewhere between $300 and $500.
And every time someone says “this was super helpful” – it reminds me why it works.
It’s just a simple share – with a little strategy behind it.
That’s my secret. The secret PDF that started with a casual Reddit comment and turned into real daily income.
Step 1: I Picked a Niche I Actually Knew
I cook every day. I don’t consider myself a chef or anything fancy, but I’ve collected a few tools that have made my life easier in the kitchen.
I started by making a list of the 5 gadgets I couldn’t live without — things I’ve used 100+ times. Not trendy junk. Just the real stuff that stuck around.
Think: my go-to cast iron pan, a garlic rocker, a meat thermometer that hasn’t failed me, etc.
If you’re not into cooking, this method also works in niches like home office, gardening, DIY tools, or even pet stuff.
But I stuck to the kitchen. It’s what I actually care about.
Step 2: I Turned It Into a “One-Pager”
I opened up Google Docs and made a super simple layout.
Title at the top:
“Top 5 Kitchen Tools I’ve Used Over 100 Times”
Under each tool, I wrote:
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What it is
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Why I personally use it
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A photo (just taken with my phone)
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An Amazon affiliate link to the exact product
I signed up for Amazon Associates if I hadn’t already (free and fast to get approved). Then I used their SiteStripe to generate affiliate links for each item.
That was it. No fluff. Just five tools with real explanations.
I exported it as a PDF.
Step 3: I Posted in the Right Reddit Threads
This part matters.
I didn’t spam. I joined relevant subreddits like:
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r/Cooking
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r/BuyItForLife
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r/MealPrepSunday
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r/EatCheapAndHealthy
Then I created value-first posts like:
“I’ve been slowly refining my kitchen setup over the years. These are the 5 tools I’ve used more than 100 times and still love. I put together a one-pager if anyone wants it.”
Sometimes I dropped the link in the comments. Sometimes I said “DM me and I’ll send it.”
The key was not pushing anything. Just being genuinely helpful.
Step 4: I Watched the Clicks and Earnings Start
The first post got like 8 upvotes. No big deal. But 20 people asked for the one-pager.
The next day, my Amazon dashboard showed $27 in commissions.
Day after? $68.
By day five, I hit $240.
That’s when I started testing other subreddits. And updating the PDF monthly.
Step 5: I Kept the PDF Fresh and Circulating
Every month, I made minor tweaks:
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Swapped out a product if I found a better version
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Updated photos
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Changed the title slightly for seasonality (e.g., “Holiday Kitchen Essentials” in December)
Then I’d repost in different threads, always waiting 2–3 weeks before revisiting a subreddit.
Sometimes I’d rephrase the post entirely:
“If you cook 5+ times a week, these are the 5 gadgets that made life 10x easier for me. I made a quick sheet if anyone wants it.”
This kept traffic coming without getting flagged.
Step 6: (Optional) I Added an Email Capture Later
Once I had a rhythm, I created a simple form using ConvertKit (could also use Gumroad or Beehiiv).
I said something like:
“Want future updates or swaps I make? Drop your email and I’ll send them every month.”
Not everyone signed up, but the ones who did started turning into repeat clicks — and bigger commissions over time.
Final Notes
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Most of my links are to $15–$50 tools
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I don’t use any automation tools
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This still works in 2025, because Reddit is always looking for real-user recommendations
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The PDF is nothing fancy. Just honest, specific, and personal
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The method now brings in between $280–$460/day depending on the week
It’s not about hype. It’s about helping someone buy smarter, using your real-world experience.
This is what I call my “Top 5 + PDF Funnel”, and it’s been the most quietly powerful thing I’ve ever done online.