The pandemic has caused a significant shift in consumer behaviour, with almost 40% of people switching to online shopping as they continue working from home. This change provides an excellent opportunity to launch an online side business.
If you’re a beginner looking to make websites for money, you’ve come to the right place. This article will provide the most profitable website ideas for your inspiration. From eCommerce websites to personal blogs, there are plenty of options to earn money online.
1. Affiliate Website
An affiliate website promotes products and services in exchange for a sale commission. There are many different types of affiliate sites, with review sites being the most popular.
NerdWallet is an excellent example of a successful review site. It helps users compare financial products, such as credit cards, loans, mortgages, insurance, and savings accounts. Each article contains affiliate links to various finance companies, earning the site a referral commission for every user signup.
Design-wise, NerdWallet does a great job of simplifying the navigation process. Visitors can quickly access its main resources at the top navigation bar. An on-site search engine is also available, helping users easily find what they need.
2. eCommerce Website
Despite its competitive nature, an eCommerce store remains one of the best website ideas to generate income. Compared to a brick-and-mortar store, it requires less investment and offers unlimited growth opportunities.
Starting an online store doesn’t have to be complicated. Popular content management systems (CMSs) like WordPress and website builders like Zyro offer all the necessary tools you need to build successful online businesses.
Once you’ve chosen an online platform, decide which products to sell on your website. You can either promote self-manufactured goods or become a dropshipper.
Nike is an excellent example of how an online shop should look. The interface only uses three colours — white for the background, grey for blocks, and black for text. A simple colour combination enables visitors to focus on the products.
3. Personal Blog
A blog remains one of the most popular types of websites. It’s a great way for beginners to hone their writing skills, showcase their expertise, and build an online presence.
The first step toward creating a blog is finding a specific niche. It helps you attract visitors with similar interests and turn them into loyal readers. Common blog niches include fashion, lifestyle, travel, and food.
Alternatively, create a website based on your personal experiences or challenges, and build the content around solving them. Abby Organizes is an example of how to turn personal goals into money-making opportunities.
The founder, Abby Lawson, was frustrated by the mess in her home. She then began writing blogs to offer home organisation and decoration tips. Once she had built a loyal audience, Abby started monetising her blog through sponsored posts, eBook sales, and affiliate marketing.
4. Portfolio Website
Building a portfolio site is essential to showcase your projects and attract new clients. This is especially true if you’re working in web development, digital marketing, or the art industry. Take notes from this portfolio site example by Justin Eiler.
This photography website has a simple interface, putting visual content at centre stage. The homepage lets visitors choose between different project categories. When clicked, each section will show a gallery of Justin’s work, showing his photography style and image quality.
Moreover, the site also has a contact information section, providing an easy way for potential clients to connect in case they’re interested in hiring his services.
5. Membership Website
Another great website idea is a membership site. It works by restricting access to some of your content pieces, such as online courses, in-depth reports, video tutorials, or exclusive news coverage.
A news website like The New York Times often implements this strategy by offering a paywall subscription model. By paying just a few dollars a month, users will have unlimited access to its articles, cooking recipes, and buying guides.
Conclusion
Creating your own website is the first step toward building a successful online business. While there are more ideas to explore, here are the five best website types to generate revenue:
- Affiliate site
- eCommerce site
- Blog
- Portfolio site
- Membership site
We hope this article has helped you decide which type of website to build for your online marketing efforts. If you have any unique website ideas, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below.
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