Consider starting a blog that offers unique and valuable information about something you're good at.

Learn how to promote it to grow your traffic, then after you've got traffic learn to monetize it. Understanding promotion and how to reach your target market is probably the biggest skill you need if you want to make money online.

There's a good chance that your first site won't make much money, but what it teaches you will make your next site more profitable.

Consider starting a blog that offers unique and valuable information about something you're good at.

Learn how to promote it to grow your traffic, then after you've got traffic learn to monetize it. Understanding promotion and how to reach your target market is probably the biggest skill you need if you want to make money online.

There's a good chance that your first site won't make much money, but what it teaches you will make your next site more profitable.

Hmmmm....I'm not too savy on blogging, let lone starting one. As far something I'm good at? I feel that I'm good at alot of things, but I'm finding it hard to put into terms. Maybe I'm just looking into it so much, I'm over looking the simple.

When you say, "something you're good at.", do u mean on the internet, dealing with computers? I'm not sure what subject areas your relating to. Is it what about what ppl want and cater to it?

</Unpredict2ble>

Is it what about what ppl want and cater to it?

Yes, exactly.

It could be about anything, not necessarily about computers, and there would be other possibilities besides blogs.

The bottom line is that whatever you do, if you want to make $$$ it somehow needs to be part of some path that ends up with people opening their wallets.

You could sell something directly, or you could provide services (including advertising) to others who sell things.

The bottom line is that whatever you do, if you want to make $$$ it somehow needs to be part of some path that ends up with people opening their wallets.

Thats where I'm having trouble. Figuring out a path. I don't wanna sell anything directly as in an item. I'm looking more towards providing a service/info. Just can't figure out what.

I do appreciate your help. Are you making money online at all?

</Unpredict2ble>

not necessarily about computers

I wouldn't recommend anything to do with technology. The competition is fierce (people in technology know first hand how to do web sites, for starters), and unless you bring something really unique to the table, traffic will be hard to find, and monetizing will be even more difficult.

Are you making money online at all?

Yes ... enough to be self-employed.

Few of my projects were profitable right away, and some were total losers, but along the way I learned enough to figure out some things that pay the bills.

For now, don't worry about making the perfect choice of topic, as the odds are very high that your first site will be for education more than for profit. Start working on your dream topic after you've developed enough skills to give it a fighting chance to be profitable.

@Unpredict2ble, many websites start up this way... "I have skills, I like computers, surely I can do something" and a site is born... one without purpose or passion. The first bit, the building side, is kind of fun, but then reality sets in: What do I do next?

Get the idea first before thinking about starting a website. Else it might become a frustrating money and time pit. More importantly, having the dedication and patience to keep after it long enough to be found and grow.

Getting the site to pay is the problem. I have built and monetised two very similar sites for not for profit organisations in the same field in different locations. Neither has monetised well, one brought in sufficient to cover hosting and other expenses, the other gets better traffic but is only bringing in pennies per month. The only difference in the demographic is location - one a mix of commuter belt semi rural and medium/large town the other big city.

1) create a niche site and put Adsense ads on it.. as the site will become visible in Google and start getting traffic - people may click ads and you'll earn some money.

2) create a high PR site and sell links (monthly/annually) and sponsored posts

3) create a high traffic site and sell banners on BuySellAds

4) create a popular niche blog.. and as you have a big audience sell them ebooks, webinars, personal training, courses

5) create some digital product, launch a store and sell it online

6) launch a store for a dropship business and promote it online to get sales.

7) affiliate marketing - just google it, too long to explain :)

PS:

8) go and sell any of the above 7 on Flippa :)

Thanks so much. I'm trying a niche site currently. I found an interest, and I'm running with it. The site is almost complete. I give it about 3 more days til complete.

If anyone is currently running a niche site, I'd appreciate some tips, tricks, or any other info you can provide. I'm new to it all, and am in no hurry. Maybe things will turn out better than I plan.

</Unpredict2ble>