Build and Sell an API With No-Code Tools (100% Free)

In this post, I will show you how to build an income stream online with a $0 Budget.

We will build an API and Sell it without writing any line of code. 

What is an API?

API Stands for Application Programming Interface (No need to memorize or know this 😅)

Simply, APIs allow programmers and developers to interact with a specific platform or access data and tools directly from their custom application (code).

Example:

Suppose a programmer wants to develop social media management software like Buffer or Hootsuite. 

In that case, he will need access to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social platforms directly from his code so he can publish, schedule, access analytics, and do other stuff from his own application.

But this is not possible by default because if you want to post on social platforms, you must use their interface. So what to do?

How do social media management tools access platforms like Facebook and Twitter?

Here, the API solves this issue and acts as a gateway or a broker between the programmer and the target platform.

For example, Facebook allows programmers to access Facebook through Facebook API, just like Twitter, Pinterest, Google, and many other platforms.

Another Example of APIs is allowing programmers to access data on a specific server or database.

We can’t give programmers public access to our servers and databases, so we create an API that can manage and handle this securely.

And if you like reading technical definitions, here it is:

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of rules and protocols for accessing a web-based software application or web tool. Simply, it allows communication between different software systems and enables them to exchange data.

I think that’s enough; hopefully, you’ve grasped the concept of APIs.

The API Business Blueprint 

Let’s Understand the idea behind making money with APIs. How can we establish an online income stream with APIs?

We mainly have ways to make money with APIs:

1. Build and Sell APIs
2. Consume an API and Build your own tool or SAAS.

1. Build and Sell APIs.

And this is what this post is all about.

The idea is simple. You will find an idea that can solve a specific problem for certain people.

Then, you will build and host the API, list it on marketplaces like RapidAPI, promote it, and establish a recurring monthly income.

The Idea may seem complicated, but it is not. Believe it or not, you can do this every month!

2. Develop a tool, app, or SAAS based on APIs.

The second method is to build a tool’s website based on APIs. This website can be a free tool or a SAAS subscription-based website. Or even a mobile app!

I do this on my website, where some of my tools are based on APIs. For example, the Domain Authority tool is built on top of the Domain Authority API.

This method is out of the scope of this post.

Why APIs?

The use of APIs speeds up the development time and process. It also simplifies the work of developers since they can use ready-made solutions. There is no need to reinvent the wheel and spend time building something already existing.

Let’s take Google Maps as an example, which developers can embed in applications and websites. Rather than building a map each time you need one, you can use the one provided by Google. Can you see how much time and resources you save this way?

Thus, by using APIs, you can save time and resources and also monetize your work!

How to Build APIs?

Building APIs can be as easy as dragging and dropping boxes in no-code tools or as complex as developing enterprise programs.

In short, We can build APIs using one of the following methods:

1. Develop yourself from scratch if you are a programmer (or if you are willing to be one)
2. Hire a Developer to do the job for you.
3. Use No-Code tools to build an API.
4. Use AI To Generate an API.
5. Use a mix of the above methods 🙂

In this post, we will go with no-code tools.

Build an API with a No-Code Tool

Usually, to develop and build an api, we use a specific programming language like Python, C#, Java, JS…

We write the code to build our target API. Today, we don’t want to write code! And I am not talking about prompting ChatGPT to write for you—NO!

We want to build an API without code! I will use a no-code tool called Xano.

The Idea

APIs are like any business; you need to find a profitable idea and build an API around it. Let me share with you some ideas fast:

1. Build an API based on other APIs. For example, I used a YouTube API to build the Popular Videos Explorer API. You can find the tool online here to test.
2. Combine multiple APIs to achieve a specific result; for example, I used multiple APIs to build the Questions Explorer API, and you can also check the UI here.
3. Build APIs based on Data. For example, I collected millions of Keywords with search metrics and turned the data into a CPC explorer tool.
4. You can build an API on top of trends like AI, ChatGPT, and so on. I have built multiple tools and APIs like this, including the AI Image Generator and most of my tools.

Note: When I say, I built a tool, it means it is built on top of an API the I built 🙂

Today, to keep things simple and help you practice this, I will go with the third approach, which is building an API based on data.

I will give you the data so that you can follow up with me.

Our API Project

I have a database of email subject lines containing two fields; subject lines and scores.

We will turn this into an API where developers and users can search for Subject line ideas and check their scores. I created a 5 minutes video to show you how to implement the API step by step. I really hope you follow up and try it yourself. Everything is free, try and learn!

Turn the API into an Income Stream

Now, after you create the API, you need to host it online with services like Heruko, Digital Ocean, or any service you want (you can start for free). 

After that, you will list the API on marketplaces like RapidAPI. Then, you will promote the API, and you will establish a recurring monthly income. You can learn all the steps needed with promoting and marketing the API in this full guide!

This is what I did with The Domain Authority API that I am selling on RapidAPI Marketplace.

Don’t forget if you have any questions I’ll be on the forum almost everyday.