You’ve probably come across an email, a web site or a free download that talks about how setting up a niche site can bring in lots of money without using advertising from publishers like Google, Yahoo and so on. A colleague had been telling me that I should set up a similar site because I already have the ability to produce content and articles.

I had thought about it ages ago and decided it wasn’t worth it. A niche site is one focus on a specific area (hockey equipment, lamps and laser treatments, for example) keywords all over the place, headers, footers, navigation, body and after looking around the site — you figure out it’s mostly fluff.

This article explains part of the reason why I don’t think it’ll work without putting hours into it. Not five hours like many claim… but weeks. I believe the best thing to do is provide fresh and honest content, and if possible, sell a product. That’s another problem area, however. Funny thing is that the guy promotes his own product at the end. Same thing. Nothing new.

Many of these sites sell packages of CDs, electronic files with documentation and videos telling you about their system or how to do something so well that you can make a ton of money. Well, there are so many freebies and people selling these products that few will want to shell out the money unless they know about the person’s reputation.

I’ve got hundreds of PDF files sitting on my hard drive. I just remember those whenever someone comes along selling products promising everything or making you better at something. Truthfully, I wasn’t impressed with the reports and didn’t think they were worth the money.

I know some have done very well. It’s this group that often gets the word out to the masses and that’s how they get the bucks. No doubt, many will argue against me. Please do. I love to hear all sides of a story.

Tags: money, web sites, marketing, business, meryl k. evans