How I Started A Niche Website Earning $1500 Monthly
Read Time: 3 mins
Welcome, my fellow side hustler.
You’re now part of the most authentic community of successful side hustlers who work a full-time job.
Time is our most valuable resource, so let’s not waste it.
No online courses, no lambos, no drop-shipping shills.
We’re here to help you find *your* ideal side hustle by sharing real stories of people who are already running profitable side businesses.
And what better way to start than to share my own side hustle story?
Quick Intro: Who's behind this?
Hey, I’m Frey. Like you, I work a full-time job during the day. But it’s never been the end goal.
My dream?
Browse the shelves of Whole Foods. Buy anything my tastebuds desire, without looking at the price. Dine in at the fancy restaurant and when the waiter asks “Can I start you off with any appetizers?” The answer is yes. Every single time.
After starting a couple businesses, starting multiple side hustles, and working a corporate job, it’s clear to me that side hustles in 2024 are the ticket to living life without constant financial stress.
Even if it’s just an extra $1500 a month, it goes a long way.
How I Earn $1500 Monthly In Passive Income From My Niche Website
Back in October 2022, I started a website called goodwilloutlets.com out of pure sh*ts and giggles.
It was an experiment. I wanted to learn how SEO worked so that I could build a website that gets organic traffic and then monetize it somehow.
After spending 100+ hours learning SEO on Youtube, I needed to put my new SEO knowledge to the test by building my own website.
Today, the website gets 60,000+ monthly visitors.
You know those websites that have a bunch of spammy ads? That’s what this is (sorry). It’s monetized through display ads and digital product sales.
Why it works
I was scrolling through TikTok and noticed a bunch of videos of people thrifting at these Goodwill Outlets. I learned that these outlets are basically Goodwill warehouses where people can shop for clothes by the pound. Which means they’re super cheap.
Gen Z’ers are especially big on second-hand clothes and thrift finds. These videos would rack up hundreds of thousands of views, with hundreds of comments asking, “Where’s this outlet located?” “Is there one in Denver, Colorado?”
This is when I realized the official Goodwill website and Google maps did a poor job at locating these outlets.
Goodwill Outlets are often ran by volunteers, so stores close, re-open and have weird hours. And no one was updating these locations and store hours.
Starting costs
Initially, this website costed me about $400 to start. This covered a domain name, hosting through Bluehost, a premium WordPress theme called Elementor, and a monthly subscription to ahrefs.
Ahrefs is a keyword research tool used by SEO experts and costs a hefty $99/month. But it’s how I was able to confirm that my niche was worth chasing in the first place. To save money, I’d front-load my keyword research and cancel the subscription until I needed it again.
Skills to start a niche website
Keyword research, on-page SEO, website design, and copywriting are the main skills I needed to learn to turn this into a cash flowing side hustle.
Bonus points if you have an eye for making websites simple, easy to navigate and aesthetic.
Also, a necessary skill is PATIENCE. If you’re familiar with SEO, you know it takes months to see your work pay off.
Time investment
I worked on this website for 200+ hours over the course of 8 months before I saw my first dollar. These types of businesses are amazing, but they take a huge time investment upfront.
If you’re looking for quick cash flow, this isn’t the side hustle for you. However, these days I spend literally 1-2 hours a month maintaining the website.
Earnings
This website earns about $1200-$1500 a month through displays ads, and an additional $300-$400 through digital product sales. On a typical month, I’ll take home about $1400-$1500 a month.
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Join side hustlers who are earning beyond their full-time jobs. Unlock side hustle ideas and tips to earn an extra $500–$10,000 a month by building a legitimate side business.
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Join side hustlers who are earning beyond their full-time jobs. Unlock side hustle ideas and tips to earn an extra $500–$10,000 a month by building a legitimate side business.