Hi everyone. This is the latest installment of my “Extra Income” series. If you’d like to be featured, please send me an e-mail. Other posts in this series include: I Run a Resume Business, I Help Businesses Create Online Campaigns, I’m a Creative Web Entrepreneur, and I’m a Frequent Flyer Mile Redemption Specialist.
The following post is from My Money Design (MMD). My Money Design covers traditional personal finance topics like investing and retirement, but also focuses on building passive income streams to earn money on the side.
In 2013 the site had a breakthrough with a niche website initiative: creating a portfolio of focused, authoritative websites that generate passive income through advertising.
Related: 12 Passive Income Ideas That Will Let You Enjoy Life More
Below is a detailed look at how this approach developed for My Money Design and what lessons were learned along the way.
How did you get started with your side hustle?
I first encountered the idea of niche websites while researching keywords to improve traffic to My Money Design. Many SEO resources kept pointing toward niche sites as an effective strategy. After reading sites like Niche Pursuits and other case studies, I realized this was an opportunity I hadn’t tapped into.
I began building small, targeted sites and, after a few months of consistent effort, they started to gain traction and generate income. Once the first successes appeared, my main goal became replicating and scaling that success to multiply earnings.
What got you interested in this side hustle idea?
Building niche sites appealed to me because it felt like a practical residual income strategy. Compared to running a content-heavy blog that needs constant promotion and networking, niche sites can often be set up to run more passively. Many tasks can be automated or outsourced to a virtual assistant: keyword research, content creation, and even link building can be delegated affordably.
Once a niche site is live, it can continue to earn with minimal ongoing work, requiring mostly monitoring and occasional tweaks. The startup costs are low as well: you can launch a site for under $100 and, with good execution, aim for $500 to $1,000 per month after the initial development period.
That said, creating niche sites isn’t a cold, purely mechanical process. Many site owners build around topics they enjoy, which keeps the work engaging. For example, one of my sites focuses on retirement planning; by writing and editing content, I’ve gained more knowledge about the topic than the average person.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a small business owner?
I still maintain a full-time job; the websites are a side project. The most important lesson I’ve learned is: treat your hobby like a business.
That means having a clear plan. My approach is simple:
- Identify a topic or problem that others find valuable.
- Build a website that addresses that need.
- Choose a monetization strategy for the site.
- Manage costs carefully and work toward profitability.
Approaching niche sites with a business mindset—setting goals, tracking expenses, and measuring results—turns a casual hobby into a reliable income stream.
What are the start-up costs?
Starting a niche website is inexpensive. Typical first-month costs include:
- Domain registration and hosting: I used a budget package that cost about $36 for three years.
- Content creation: 10–20 quality articles can range from $50 to $100 when hiring freelancers.
- Virtual assistant for link building: roughly $5 per week or about $20 per month.
Investing a small amount up front can feel risky, but once a site earns its first $100, those expenses quickly seem worthwhile.
What are your business goals for the upcoming year?
In 2013 my portfolio grew from nearly nothing to three sites collectively earning close to $1,000 per month. My plan for the following year was to expand that momentum by launching a new niche site using a different monetization method: Amazon affiliate marketing.
So far my sites primarily used Google AdSense. After reading many success stories about Amazon-focused sites generating higher revenue per visitor in many niches, I decided to explore that model next. Beyond that, I’ll continue scouting for well-balanced keywords—low competition, high search volume, and solid revenue potential—and building new sites when opportunities appear.
What’s the most positive thing about your side job?
The best part is the confidence and freedom it provides: I now know I can build additional income streams beyond a day job. That realization is liberating. Many people assume their paycheck is the only way to earn significant money, but there are numerous paths to generate income.
My strategy is to use the extra income to accelerate growth—reinvesting profits to expand the portfolio faster than I could on my own. The ultimate aim is to create enough passive income to enable early retirement.
Thank you to My Money Design for sharing this story. If you have comments or questions, feel free to visit My Money Design or send an email.
Have you ever thought about creating a niche site?
Do you want to make money online? Why or why not?