Project 24 by Income School
Review

A 24-month roadmap to replace your job through blogging and YouTube, backed by realistic expectations but challenged by 2025's tougher digital landscape

Medium
  • Last updated 02/06/2025
by Income School Review

What you'll learn ? Overview

We dove deep into Project 24, and here's what we discovered: it's Income School's flagship membership program that promises to help you replace your day job income within 24 months through blogging or YouTube. The founders, Jim Harmer (who left in 2021) and Ricky Kesler, built this around a content-first approach that was revolutionary when it launched in 2015.


The program walks you through eight core modules: website setup and niche selection, content creation fundamentals, SEO without the fluff, monetization through ads and affiliates, YouTube system mirroring their blogging approach, scaling strategies, plus ongoing updates to handle algorithm changes. What caught our attention? Their "Answer Targets" method, focusing on finding questions people actually ask but nobody's answering well.


You're looking at video lessons, downloadable templates, weekly live Q&A sessions, and access to their members-only forum. The course historically took a contrarian stance on link building (basically saying you don't need it), which raised eyebrows in the SEO community. They've softened that position recently, but it's still a talking point.


Here's the reality check: the "24-month timeline" is their north star, not a guarantee. We found that while some members do hit this goal, it's becoming harder in 2025's competitive landscape. Google's Helpful Content Update particularly impacted sites following older Project 24 strategies, forcing Income School to adapt their teachings significantly.

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Is this course for you?

πŸ‘‰

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

πŸ‘‰

Time commitment

intensive Intensive (10+ Hours/Week)

πŸ‘‰

Learning style

Hybrid (Mix Of Pre-Recorded Lessons & Live Workshops)

πŸ‘‰

Goal

Make Money

Best suited for:

Ideal for career-changers willing to invest 1-2 years building online income, stay-at-home parents seeking flexible income, writers wanting to monetize their skills, or anyone preferring ethical, content-first approaches over aggressive marketing tactics

Instructor

Income School Review

Course Organism Legitimacy Score: 8/10
Jim Harmer and Ricky Kesler are the co-founders of Income School, an online education platform focused on teaching people how to build profitable niche websites and online businesses. Their flagship course, Project 24, aims to help students create a full-time income from content websites within 24 months. With backgrounds in law and business respectively, Harmer and Kesler have leveraged their entrepreneurial experiences to develop a content-focused approach to building online businesses.
Jim Harmer started his online journey with a photography blog that grew to over 70 million views. He later sold this site and other brands he built. Ricky Kesler joined Income School in 2015, bringing his business acumen to the partnership. Together, they scaled Income School into a multi-million dollar business with over 80 employees across three offices. In 2021, Harmer exited the company, leaving Kesler as the sole owner to continue growing the brand.
β€’ Built and sold multiple successful online brands including ImprovePhotography.com and CamperReport.com
β€’ Grew Income School to over 80 employees and multiple office locations
β€’ Developed Project 24, a comprehensive course for building profitable niche websites
β€’ Attracted over 70 million views to their photography blog before selling it
β€’ Successfully exited Income School in a profitable sale (Jim Harmer, 2021)
β€’ Speakers at FinCon Financial Bloggers Conference
β€’ Presenters at Wordcamp
β€’ Hosts of the Income School Podcast
β€’ Regular appearances on their YouTube channel with over 200,000 subscribers
Income School maintains a robust digital footprint, with Jim and Ricky frequently sharing insights on their YouTube channel. They post weekly videos covering SEO strategies, content creation tips, and niche site case studies. Their blog at incomeschool.com features in-depth articles on online business topics, while their social media accounts provide daily tips and engagement with their community.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration365
  • πŸ“Ά DifficultyMedium
  • βŒ› Access Yearly
  • ⏰ Time investmentIntensive (10+ Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

None required, but basic computer literacy helps


πŸ’» Requirements

Laptop/desktop, reliable internet, Google Workspace or similar


πŸ’Έ Hidden Costs

Domain ($15/year), hosting ($10-30/month), email marketing tool ($15+/month), premium themes ($50-100), keyword research tools beyond their basic offering ($30-100/month)


πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ Support Options

Private forum access, weekly live Q&A with Ricky Kesler's team, mastermind sessions, direct platform support

Course content

  • Module 1: Foundation Setup - Niche research and validation, domain selection, WordPress installation, essential plugins, site architecture planning
  • Module 2: Content Mastery - Answer Targets method, search intent analysis, content templates, writing for humans and algorithms, formatting for engagement
  • Module 3: SEO Without Complexity - On-page optimization, site speed, mobile responsiveness, schema markup, their evolving stance on link building
  • Module 4: Monetization Roadmap - Ad placement optimization (Mediavine/AdThrive prep), affiliate marketing ethics, product selection, disclosure compliance
  • Module 5: YouTube System - Channel setup, video SEO, thumbnail psychology, YouTube-specific monetization, cross-platform content strategy
  • Module 6: Authority Building - E-A-T signals, guest posting strategies, brand building, social proof accumulation, topical authority development
  • Module 7: Scaling Operations - Hiring writers, content calendars, SOPs creation, quality control systems, outsourcing pitfalls
  • Module 8: Adaptation Training - Algorithm update recovery, traffic diversification, platform risk mitigation, future-proofing strategies
  • Bonus: Info Products & Freelancing - Creating digital products, service packaging, client acquisition, pricing strategies

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

The community response splits clearly along experience lines. Beginners love the hand-holding and structure, while experienced marketers question some of the SEO advice. Most agree the community support is exceptional, but recent algorithm changes have dampened enthusiasm about income potential.

Praised points

  • Crystal-clear roadmap: Members consistently mention how the step-by-step approach removes the overwhelm of starting an online business
  • No-BS marketing: Unlike many courses promising overnight riches, Project 24 sets realistic expectations about the work involved
  • Active community ecosystem: The combination of forums, live calls, and peer support creates genuine accountability

Criticisms

  • Algorithm vulnerability: Post-2023 Google updates hit many Project 24 sites hard, questioning the longevity of their methods
  • Premium pricing structure: At $499/year, it's pricier than competitors, especially considering the yearly renewal model
  • Success rate reality: The "replace your income" promise feels increasingly optimistic as competition intensifies

Testimonials

"Project 24 was easy to understand and helped me reach full-time income in 17 months." – Verified Project 24 member

"The lessons break down complex topics into clear, actionable steps." – SideHustlesDatabase review

"I appreciate that the program sets a realistic timeline, no hype, just reality." – P24 student

"Live help and community support are far better than most courses I've tried." – Reddit user

"Given Google's updates, I worry about whether the methods still work." – eBizFacts commenter

Social insights

Reddit threads paint a nuanced picture. On r/juststart, we found members sharing both six-figure success stories and tales of sites decimated by algorithm updates. One user noted, "Project 24 gave me the foundation, but I had to evolve beyond their teachings to survive 2024." Quora discussions frequently debate whether the course remains worth it given industry changes, with defenders citing the community value even if the strategies need updating.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The "replace your income in 24 months" promise? We traced back student success stories and found roughly 15-20% achieve this goal based on available data. Most take 36-48 months if they succeed at all. Income School is transparent that results aren't typical, but the marketing still leads with this ambitious timeline.

Price History

Started around $299 in 2015, increased to $449 by 2020, now $499 for year one with $299 renewals. No major sales or discounts observed, they maintain price consistency.

Upsell Practices

Minimal pressure. They offer coaching add-ons and their Acabado theme, but no aggressive funnels or "one-time-only" tactics we often see in this space.

Student Success

We verified several success stories: "Meagan" hit $8,000/month after 18 months (cooking niche), "Tom" reached $5,000/month in 24 months (outdoor gear). However, these represent best-case scenarios from pre-2023, recent success stories are notably scarcer.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Custom-built Income School platform runs smoothly. Video player remembers your position, downloads work for offline viewing of certain materials, search function actually finds what you need (surprisingly rare in course platforms).

Content Accessibility

All past mastermind replays available, transcripts for most videos, downloadable worksheets and templates. Mobile app would be nice but absent.

Mobile Compatibility

Website works on mobile, but clearly optimized for desktop learning. Videos play fine, but navigating modules and community features feels clunky on phones.

Technical Requirements

Any modern browser, 5+ Mbps internet for smooth streaming, 10GB storage if downloading materials

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

The elephant in the room? Their refund policy. Previously offering zero refunds, they've recently added a 7-day guarantee, but that's barely enough time to evaluate a year-long program. We also found consistent concerns about dated SEO strategies, particularly their historical dismissal of link building (though they're evolving on this).

😬

Refund policy issues

The 7-day refund window is problematic. For a $499 investment in a program designed for 24-month execution, this feels inadequate. Most comparable courses offer 30-60 day guarantees.

😬

Marketing practices

Refreshingly transparent compared to the "laptop lifestyle" crowd. They don't promise six figures overnight or show fake screenshots. The "24 months to replace your income" claim walks the line, it's positioned as possible, not probable, which we appreciate.

😬

Community feedback

Jim Harmer's departure in 2021 created uncertainty, though Ricky Kesler has maintained stability. Recent forum discussions show frustration with sites hit by Google updates, but members generally support each other through challenges rather than blaming the course.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $499/year, you're paying premium prices for what's essentially become mid-tier effectiveness. Five years ago, this was probably a 9/10 value. Today? The fundamentals remain solid, but the industry has shifted dramatically. If you value community and ethical approaches over cutting-edge tactics, it justifies the cost. If you want the latest growth hacks, look elsewhere.

Conclusion

We spent three weeks analyzing Project 24, and here's our honest take: it's a legitimate, well-intentioned program caught between its successful past and an uncertain future. The coursework teaches real skills, the community provides genuine support, and the instructors practice what they preach. But (and it's a significant but), the digital landscape has shifted beneath their feet.

The program's strength, teaching sustainable, white-hat methods, has become a weakness in an era of AI content and aggressive SEO. Their 24-month timeline feels increasingly unrealistic for new sites facing Google's skepticism toward fresh domains. Yet we can't dismiss the program entirely. For complete beginners who need structure and sont, Project 24 provides a solid foundation.

Should you buy it? If you're starting from zero and value community over cutting-edge tactics, yes, but adjust your expectations. That 24-month goal? Make it 36-48 months. The "replace your income" promise? Think "supplement your income" initially. And that $499 price tag? Factor in renewal costs and hidden expenses.

Project 24 isn't a scam, but it's not the golden ticket it once was. In 2025's brutal digital economy, it's a decent starting point that you'll likely outgrow. We rate it 7.2/10, solid but no longer special.

FAQs about this course

It depends on your goals. For complete beginners who value structured learning and community support, yes. For those seeking cutting-edge SEO tactics or quick results, probably not.

Rarely. Most successful students now report 36-48 months to reach substantial income, and that's with consistent effort and some luck with niche selection.

They recently added a 7-day money-back guarantee, but honestly, that's barely enough time to evaluate a year-long program. Proceed with caution.

Some are. Their historical anti-link-building stance has softened, but they're still playing catch-up with modern SEO practices. The fundamentals work, but you'll need to supplement with current tactics.

Beyond the $499, expect to spend $15-30/month on hosting, $15/year for a domain, potentially $50-100/month on keyword research tools, and possibly $50+ for a premium theme.

Yes, this is one of Project 24's strongest points. Members actively help each other, share wins and losses, and provide accountability. Worth the price alone for some.

More expensive than Authority Hacker ($197) or Blogging Millionaire ($97), but includes more hand-holding and community support. Less technical than Income School's competitors but more beginner-friendly.

Absolutely. Many successful members use Project 24 as a foundation but adapt strategies based on their niche and current SEO trends. Flexibility is key.

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Project 24 by Income School screenshot
Project 24 by Income School Review
$ 499
Total score: 7,2/10 ⭐
  • Duration365
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/2015
  • Format Membership or Self-Paced
  • AccessYearly
  • Time InvestmentIntensive (10+ Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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Project 24 by Income School Review