One thing is for sure: online businesses are here to stay and they’ve become increasingly popular.
This is because the internet has leveled the playing field so anyone with a decent website idea can make money online.
And the best part? You don’t need a ton of money to build and run a profitable website.
All you need to get started is a:
- website idea that has the potential to be profitable
- willingness to put in the work required, and
- basic understanding of digital marketing.
That said, you need an idea first. If you’re looking for inspiration, we’ve compiled the most profitable types of websites for building an online business.
Author’s note: If you’re looking for a tool to help you build a well-designed and responsive website in just a few minutes, check the GetResponse Website Builder.
Table Of Contents
Here are 39 of the best website ideas we’ve seen
1. Personal website/blog
Personal blog example – Enchanting Marketing
Why’s this a good website idea?
Creating your personal website is a great way to build your personal brand and carve a niche for yourself online. And done well, it’s arguably the easiest website idea to execute.
Usually, people who create personal websites have blogs on them, which they use to build thought leadership and followers in their niche.
So you can start a blog around topics you’re passionate about or have a ton of experience in. People who prioritize blogging are 13 times more likely to enjoy positive results from their website. And “positive results” here can be anything from thousands of website visitors per month, sales, leads, and so on.
Plus, since it’s personal, it’s easy to experiment with different topics and monetization ideas.
For example, business writer Henneke Duistermat (pictured above) shares practical business writing tips on her website which also serves as her personal blog. She has an active community of readers and uses her website to sell her books and courses.
Blogging will also help you build a tribe — a community of people who trust and value your contributions. One way you can achieve this is by building an email list. Henneke uses a free email writing course as an incentive to get people to join her email list.
To get more inspiration, read our article highlighting these wonderful personal website examples.
2. Business website
Business/service website – Grant Burke
Why’s this a good website idea?
If you are a business owner, you likely know why it’s worth having a website; you need a functioning website, where potential customers can find every info they need about your business, product, or services and purchase them or get in touch with you.
More than 80% of people are likely to research a business online before making a purchase. So if you don’t have a business website, you’re losing a lot of potential customers.
On top of that, a well-designed business website will help you make a good impression on your customers and boost your search engine presence. There’s no limit to the functionality you can explore on a small business website. You can include an ecommerce store, create landing pages for specific social media campaigns or use email marketing to increase product sales.
In addition to offering your already existing services, you can also create and sell digital products, such as ebooks and courses, that generate passive income for your small business.
Here you can learn more how you can build a small business website with ease.
3. Dropshipping website
Dropshipping website example – Prestigify
Why’s this a good website idea?
Dropshipping is one of the hottest ecommerce businesses you can try — the global dropshipping market was valued at $102.2 billion in 2018. And it’s a popular website idea because it does not require a lot of capital.
Dropshipping is a type of retail business that is different from traditional e-commerce because you do not need to own any physical products or manage inventory. Instead, you set up an online store and list selected products from a vendor. When a customer places an order, you in turn place an order with the vendor who then fulfills the order.
In other words, you serve as a middleman and your profit is the difference between the price your customer pays and the original price of the product.
A successful dropshipping business depends on choosing the right products and suppliers, setting the right margins so you can make a decent profit on the products, and providing excellent customer service.
4. Affiliate website
Affiliate website example – Headphones Addict
Why’s this a good website idea?
Affiliate marketing is a popular income stream among online marketers and bloggers. In 2019 alone, the industry hit $6.9 billion in turnover.
The affiliate model is simple: you promote other people’s products on your affiliate website and get a commission each time someone buys through your unique affiliate link. This means you must have a website where you promote these products.
More than 80% of brands have an affiliate program so you’d never run out of products or services to promote. You can also join an affiliate network, such as Amazon affiliates, CJ Affiliate or Rakuten. These networks have vetted products and services you can start promoting right away.
The most popular way to generate traffic to an affiliate site is through blogging; more than 60% of affiliate marketers generate traffic through this method. And the best performing affiliate sites are those that focus on a specific niche, which makes it easy to rank higher in search engines.
5. Membership website
Membership website – Freelance Writer’s Den
Why’s this a good website idea?
Exclusivity sells. Research has shown that exclusive deals are preferred over inclusive ones and it’s the same idea behind membership websites. People are willing to pay for exclusive access to information, people, or resources.
Good examples of membership websites are the Freelance Writer’s Den by Carol Tice and Appsumo Plus. Offering tiered subscriptions is the main way to monetize a membership site, but you can also throw affiliate marketing into the mix, depending on the structure of the membership.
6. Product review website
Product review website example – Capterra
Why’s this a good website idea?
Online reviews play a big role in customer purchasing decisions. Nine out of ten customers will read online reviews before buying a product. In addition, three out of four customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
So building a reputable review website is a profitable website idea. You can monetize the website through affiliate marketing and advertisements. Examples of popular customer review websites include Capterra and Trustpilot. But you don’t have to build large-scale sites like these.
You can write detailed and high-quality reviews about specific products or services on your website and also encourage website visitors to leave honest feedback about any of the products they have tried. This will help to boost your credibility and build trust among new site visitors.
7. Job board website
Job board website example – Remote Europe
Why’s this a good website idea?
Recruitment is a never-ending process. There will always be job seekers and employers looking for competent candidates. Job seekers spend an average of 11 hours a week searching for work and will use an average of 7.6 job sites in the process.
So a job board website is one way to tap into this large market and there are several options for monetizing this website idea.
First, employers and recruiters can pay to post a job or to boost a job opening. For candidates, you can create an email newsletter and provide perks for job seekers who subscribe to receive new job alerts. You can also provide valuable career advice and step-by-step guides to help job seekers in the job search process.
8. Reseller hosting website
Reseller hosting website example – Reseller Panel
Why’s this a good website idea?
The global hosting market was worth $75 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $267 billion in 2028. As more businesses move online, the demand for reliable web hosting will only increase.
The good thing is that you can get a share of the market by piggybacking on the big players. As a reseller web host, you buy hosting space from larger website hosting companies and then sell the space to other businesses. Your profit is the difference between your retail price and the price offered by the parent hosting company.
To succeed as a web host reseller, you need to pick a reputable parent hosting company, price your resell space properly and provide stellar customer services.
9. Online course/E-learning website
Online course/E-learning website example – Learn UX
Why’s this a good website idea?
Online learning is here to stay, especially in the wake of the pandemic. The global e-learning market is expected to reach $499 billion by 2027. That’s a huge market you can tap into.
If you have expert knowledge that learners will find useful, you can create an online course and host it on your own e-learning website. It’s easy to set up an online learning platform using website builders like WordPress or you can use platforms like Teachable and Udemy.
The key to a successful e-learning platform is to choose a topic that people are interested in and you can use SEO strategies to uncover relevant keywords.
While it’s tempting to replicate a site like Udemy, try to focus on a specific niche so you can build a community of learners faster. For example, Learn UX offers only in-depth design courses, and their website ranks on page one in search results for keywords related to design courses.
10. Photography website
Photography website example – Mitchell Kanashkevich Photos
Why’s this a good website idea?
Looking for a way to monetize your impressive photography skills? Try building a photography website.
Original photography is always in high demand and can make all the difference when it comes to content publishing. For example, articles with relevant images get 94% more views than articles without images so marketers and businesses are always on the lookout for high-quality visuals.
As a photographer, your website can serve as your online portfolio while helping you generate income. You can sell digital photos or prints or teach photography courses online.
Here you can learn more on how to build a photography website.
11. Recipe website
Recipe website example – Delish
Why’s this a good website idea?
Food is a major part of our lives. More consumers are moving online in search of healthy recipes. In fact, 59% of millennials use smartphones and tablets in the kitchen to search for help while cooking.
So if you have a flair for creating mouth-watering recipes, consider this website idea. You can monetize a recipe website through affiliate marketing or by selling digital recipe cookbooks.
To ensure your recipe website gets the most visibility in search results, use the Schema.org formatting which allows search engines to display rich snippets with additional information like cooking time, reviews, and ratings. Many website builders like WordPress have recipe plugins and tools that make it easier to work with Schema.org formatting.
12. Events directory
Events website/directory example – All Tech Conferences
Why’s this a good website idea?
The events industry is big business — it was valued at $1,135.4 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $1,552.9 billion by 2028. That’s bigger than the growth rate of e-learning, ecommerce, and several other industries combined. An events website is a brilliant way to tap into this market.
It can serve as a directory for physical or virtual events in a specific industry or location. For example, All Tech Conferences (pictured above) lists virtual and physical events in the tech industry.
You can monetize an events website by receiving a commission on tickets sold (affiliate marketing) or promoting sponsored events listings to your audience.
Email marketing is crucial to the success of an events website because you need a list of engaged subscribers who are interested in receiving updates about new events.
Here are some of the email marketing best practices that will help you get results.
13. News aggregator website
News aggregator website example – Tech Meme
Why’s this a good website idea?
If you’ve ever struggled to get your news from multiple sources, then you’d understand the importance of a news aggregator website. People want to stay on top of the news but they want this delivered in an easily digestible format. A survey by Statista showed that 13 percent of respondents from North America used a news aggregator site like Google News every week.
An aggregator website gathers news or content from different sources and presents it in an easy-to-read format. To build a news aggregator website, you need an RSS aggregator tool that allows you to pull content from other websites.
Monetization options for an aggregator site include sponsored posts and display advertising.
14. Online forum
Online forum example – Weddingbee
Why’s this a good website idea?
Online communities are important. They are valuable resources for support and knowledge sharing and can be about any topic, from weight loss to business strategies. An online community can help a brand boost engagement by up to 21%.
Starting an online forum is a good idea if you already have an active audience, such as blog readers, email subscribers, or social media followers. Without an already engaged audience, growing the online forum may be tougher, but it’s definitely doable.
15. Tutorials/How-to website
Tutorials/How-to website example – Instructables
Why’s this a good website idea?
Tutorials and how-to guides are two of the most popular types of content users love. Websites like WikiHow and Instructables are examples of this website idea. But yours does not have to be as broad as these.
Creating a niche how-to or tutorials website will limit your competition and help you build an active community. You can share tips and provide detailed step-by-step guides on various topics.
16. Fansite
Fansite example – MuggleNet
Why’s this a good website idea?
Are you a diehard fan of a TV program, celebrity, book, or any other interesting thing that has millions of followers? This website idea is for you.
You can set up a website about your favorite book, TV show, etc., and create high-quality content that other fans will love. MuggleNet is a Harry Potter fansite — a good example of a fansite. The website earns revenue through affiliate sales of Harry Potter books and patron membership.
17. Quizzes and games website
Quizzes website example – Brainfall
Why’s this a good website idea?
If you’ve been on the internet long enough, you may have come across this website idea. Sites like BuzzFeed popularized this website model through their hard-to-resist quizzes and you can create something similar.
Creating a successful quiz website requires a fair dose of creativity and resilience, but it will be well worth the trouble. You can monetize an online quiz or game website through display advertising and affiliate marketing.
18. Quotes website
Quotes website example – BrainyQuote
Why’s this a good website idea?
Ever searched for a quote online? Then you’ve come across this website idea. Quotations serve as social proof and are used to spread ideas.
You can create a valuable resource for web searchers by collecting quotes around a specific topic or industry. These quotes can come from books, speeches, or presentations. A quotes website can be monetized through display advertising.
19. Travel website/blog
Travel blog/website example – Lonely Planet
Why’s this a good website idea?
Despite the negative impacts of the pandemic, travel and tourism remain an important source of revenue for many countries. If you’re a frequent traveler, then a travel blog is a great website idea.
Great content will set you apart in a competitive online travel market. Create high-quality content about destinations and share travel tips. Photography is crucial when it comes to a travel website and can even be a source of additional income by selling breathtaking shots of travel destinations.
Monetization options for a travel website include affiliate marketing by earning commissions when your website visitors book at participating hotels or booking sites.
You can also create an online store and sell relevant travel items. For example, Lonely Planet sells destination guides, phrasebooks, and non-English guides. They also offer a membership plan that gives access to Lonely Planet TV, where users can watch exclusive travel shows.
20. Book review site
Book review website example – Goodreads
Why’s this a good website idea?
A book review website is a great idea if you’re a book lover. According to Statista, annual print book sales in the US stand at $675 million. A study by Penguin Random house showed that 72% of readers consider online book reviews important when making a decision about what to read.
By providing searchers with useful information about relevant books, you can earn a decent income. The easiest way to monetize a book review site is through affiliate sales from Amazon Associates.
21. Listicle website
Listicle website example – Listverse
Why’s this a good website idea?
You can think of a listicle website as a regular blog with a twist. Listicles are articles formatted as numbered lists, which makes the content easy to scan or read.
Wonder why listicles are so popular? According to research published in the Journal of Consumer Research, the human brain processes categorized information faster because it makes the content easier to digest.
When starting a website like this, focus on a specific niche or angle so you won’t compete with bigger sites.
22. Podcast website
Podcast website example – The Newsworthy
Why’s this a good website idea?
By 2024, there will be 100 million podcast listeners in the U.S. alone according to estimates. That’s a huge listener base waiting to be tapped.
On the business side, podcast advertising reached $708 million in 2019. With many brands looking for an engaged podcast audience, that’s a huge market to explore.
The good thing is that you don’t have to recreate the wheel when it comes to your podcast content. For example, The Newsworthy podcast summarises important news stories in 10 minutes. So, all you need is creativity and a fresh take on everyday topics.
23. Industry website
Industry website example – Food Quality and Safety
Why’s this a good website idea?
If you have expert knowledge about a particular B2B industry like manufacturing, biopharma, cybersecurity, restaurants, etc., you can create a valuable industry website. Content ideas for this website include industry news, editorials, industry-specific research, case studies, and infographics.
This type of website requires expertise or at least connections within the industry so you can produce high-quality content that will be useful to a B2B audience. But once you have built a reputable publication, you can earn money from publishing branded or sponsored content.
You can also put some of your content behind a paywall and charge readers for access to premium content.
Read more: 21 Restaurant Website Design Ideas and Examples & How to Build a Law Firm Website
24. Film review website
Film review website example – Rotten Tomatoes
Why’s this a good website idea?
If you have a great interest in films and movies, then a film review website might be a profitable website idea. Film is big business — box office revenue numbers stood at $11.89 billion for the US and Canada alone.
By helping movie lovers choose their next film, you can make some money on the side. Integrating a movie ticket purchase system that links to major vendors is a cool way to monetize a movie review website. When website visitors purchase a ticket through your website, you earn a commission.
Display advertising is also a great way to monetize this website idea. You can also sell or affiliate market products that movie fans will love.
25. Website design ideas site
Website design ideas website example – Site Inspire
Why’s this a good website idea?
People are always searching for website design inspiration online, from those looking to create a DIY website to professional web designers. A website design idea website collects different web design examples, including website templates.
This website idea is easy to implement if you have an eye for good design. You can monetize this website through affiliate marketing. Specifically, you can recommend website hosting companies, website builders, themes, templates, and other website design tools.
26. Video game website
Video game website example – Game Informer
Why’s this a good website idea?
The video game market — valued at $151.06 billion in 2019 — is large enough. From PC games to VR/AR to mobile video games to console games, there’s a huge revenue opportunity in this industry. So if you’re an avid gamer, a video game website might be your next passive income source.
Content ideas for this website include game reviews, features, and news. As with any content website, it’s best to focus on a specific niche or angle so your website can stand out from the competition.
27. Comparison website
Comparison website example – Host Advice
Why’s this a good website idea?
This website idea is similar to a product review website but focuses on comparing products side by side. If you like testing new products and are good at picking out the fine details, consider this website idea. Websites like GSMArena and Host Advice are good examples.
This website idea works best when you focus on a specific product category because it makes it easier to make head-to-head comparisons. For example, GSMarena allows users to compare smartphones based on several specs such as display, battery life, memory, and sound.
28. Sports website
Sports website example – SBA Nation
Why’s this a good website idea?
The sports industry is evergreen, which makes this a great website idea. The global sports market is projected to grow from $388.28 billion in 2020 to $440.77 billion in 2021. So creating a valuable online resource for sports fans is a sure way to tap into this market.
There are several ways to execute this website idea. You can create a sports news site, club fansite, commentary website, or build an ecommerce website for sports-related products. Monetization strategies include display ads and affiliate marketing.
29. Fashion blog/website
Fashion website example – Go Fug Yourself
Why’s this a good website idea?
Fashion is an insanely lucrative industry. The global fashion market is expected to reach $672.71 billion in 2023.
Since everyone has a unique sense of fashion, it’s easy to carve a niche in this space by offering original fashion ideas and content. For example, Go Fug Yourself focuses on celebrity fashion, taking swipes at their fashion choices in a hilarious way.
And when it comes to monetization, fashion is the most popular affiliate marketing category, accounting for 23% of all affiliate programs. The bottom line is that you would never run out of products to promote.
30. Statistics website
Statistics website example – Statista
Why’s this a good website idea?
This website idea is great for data analysts and number-crunching lovers. If you can organize vast amounts of data into meaningful and easy-to-understand resources, then you’d love this website idea.
Good and accurate data is always in high demand and you can charge a premium to provide this service. You can summarize publicly available reports, create infographics that explain data better, and conduct your own surveys.
Websites like Statista offer a subscription model that gives website visitors access to different levels of statistics.
31. Language learning website
Language learning website example – Rachel’s English
Why’s this a good website idea?
Apps like Duolingo and Babbel are a testament to the profitability of this website idea. If you have a flair for languages, you can help scores of people searching for language tutors online. The language learning market is projected to hit 172.71 billion by 2027.
But you do not have to execute at the scale of Duolingo or other top language learning sites. Consider focusing on a specific language or learning area.
For example, Rachel’s English teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) learners how to speak English with confidence. Rachel offers a free 10-day mini course as a lead magnet to grow her email list and is active on social media channels including YouTube, where she has over three million subscribers.
32. Self-help website
Self-help website example – Tiny Buddha
Why’s this a good website idea?
Self-improvement is a top priority for many people so it’s no surprise that the self-help industry is a billion-dollar market. The self-help audiobook revenue alone reached $769 million in 2018.
With plenty of other thriving products and services in the self-improvement category, this website idea is a profitable one to explore. You can create content around evergreen self-improvement topics like relationships, work fulfillment, and mindfulness.
Sites like Tiny Buddha and The Good Men Project also incorporate online forums for community building and online stores for selling various products, such as books and mindfulness kits. These are all great ways to monetize a self-help blog. You can also use affiliate marketing and display advertising to bring in additional revenue.
33. Niche stock photo site
Niche stock photo website example – Nappy
Why’s this a good website idea?
This is another great idea for photographers or photography lovers. While there are several stock photo sites out there, you can earn a decent income by creating a niche stock photo site.
A good example is Nappy, which curates photos of black and brown people. You can monetize the website by selling premium photos, earning affiliate commissions through referrals to bigger stock photo sites like Shutterstock, or advertising related niche items.
34. Coupons/deals website
Deals/coupons website example – Deal News
Why’s this a good website idea?
Who doesn’t love a good deal? Businesses are always looking for new customers and customers want the best prices. A coupon website allows you to offer value to both groups while making money on the side. The business gets a sale, the customer gets a discount, and you earn — it’s a win-win situation for everyone.
In fact, 92% of all consumers have used coupons at some point and 86% of consumers say coupons and deals influence the brands they try or new products they buy. So, there’s a big market for coupons and deals.
A coupon website works like an affiliate website — you partner with ecommerce websites and offer a discount to the customer when they buy a product using your link.
35. Web portal
Web portal example – Kadaza
Why’s this a good website idea?
While the internet contains an unlimited amount of information, the downside is that finding the exact resources or materials can be challenging. A web portal solves this problem for internet users.
A web portal is a website that collects information from diverse sources and presents users with a customized access point to information. You can create a web portal for just about any topic that you can create a database for, such as a list of suppliers or companies in a specific location.
For example, Kadaza (pictured above) lists the best websites in a particular category like fashion and shopping, making it a useful internet guide. A web portal can be monetized through display advertising or paid subscriptions.
36. Dating website
Dating website example – Eharmony
Why’s this a good website idea?
Finding a life partner is serious business. 30% of Americans say they’ve used a dating site or app and revenue from online dating reached $602 billion in 2020. So, there’s a huge market to explore.
Bringing a unique angle to your dating site will help you stand out from the crowd. You can focus on a specific demographic, user segment, or location. This will make it easier to attract a good clientele.
The easiest way to monetize an online dating site is by offering subscriptions. You’d have to get creative with each package so users will be encouraged to subscribe.
37. Stock music website
Stock music and video website example – Pond 5
Why’s this a good website idea?
The demand for royalty-free and licensed music has increased as more content creators focus on video content and podcasts. The global stock music market is valued at $1.1 billion and is expected to increase by 7% each year.
So you can create a useful resource for creators looking for royalty-free music. Clearly, this idea will work best if you already have an interest in music or can create your own beats.
38. Personal finance website
Personal finance website example – Mr. Money Moustache
Why’s this a good website idea?
Money is a delicate topic for many people and one that hits close to home. Only 39% of Americans have enough savings to cover a $1000 emergency. So, people are always looking for websites that offer credible personal finance advice that can help them improve their finances.
If you have expertise in finance, then this is a great website idea. You can share actionable advice and insight on the most pressing personal finance topics, from how to save money to debt management. You can also focus on a specific demographic such as students or business owners.
Ways to monetize this idea include affiliate marketing, creating a paid community forum, or display advertising.
39. Online marketplace
Online marketplace example – Artisan Born
Why’s this a good website idea?
The first sites that come to mind when we think of an online marketplace are the big players like Amazon and Alibaba. Third-party sellers make up 55% of all sold units on Amazon. An online marketplace connects sellers with buyers and allows multiple vendors to offer their products on one platform.
Since this is a competitive space, the best way to build a successful marketplace is to focus on a specific niche or product category. You can also consider covering specific locations. The key is to offer value and customer services that consumers may not get on larger marketplaces.
Revenue-sharing on goods sold is the most popular way to monetize an online marketplace, but you can also explore other methods, such as a subscription model.
Wrapping it up: Key tips for implementing any website idea
- Choose an idea you’re passionate about. This is very important because running an online business comes with a lot of challenges and you’ll need all the enthusiasm and drive for the bad days. While it might be tempting to pursue a website idea because of the potential earnings, consider if you have the interest needed to sustain it.
- Adopt SEO strategies. Optimizing your website content for search engines is crucial when implementing any website idea because it helps your website get found in search. See this article for some of the best tools and tips for writing SEO-friendly content.
- Choose a niche. Niching down can make all the difference when implementing a website idea. It helps you stand out and comes with less competition.
- Build an email list. Create valuable content that you can share with those on your list and encourage website visitors to subscribe. Email is an ‘owned’ media type, meaning you don’t need to pay to keep reaching your audience and nurture them until they eventually buy from you.
- Choose a website builder that makes things easy. For example, GetResponse offers a website builder along with its email marketing, live chats, webinar, or paid ad features. All of these tools are integrated out of the box and you can just focus on building useful content that your audience will want to engage with.
Irrespective of the website idea you choose, having realistic expectations is important when you’re starting an online business. Don’t expect to rake in huge profits in the first few months. Put in your best work and apply best marketing practices and you’d see results over time. Good luck!