01The main ways websites make money
Every model below comes down to the same thing: the site attracts people, and something is sold to them or because of them. What differs is who pays and how much traffic each needs.
| Model | How it earns | Needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sell services | Clients book or contact you | A clear offer and trust | Freelancers, local businesses |
| Sell products | Online store | Products, payments, shipping | Makers, brands |
| Digital products | Templates, courses, downloads | Expertise and an audience | Creators, specialists |
| Affiliate links | Commission on referred sales | Trusted content, disclosure | Review and guide sites |
| Ads | Pay per view or click | Large, steady traffic | Content sites |
| Memberships | Recurring access fees | Ongoing value | Communities, publishers |
| Lead generation | Selling leads to businesses | Targeted traffic | Niche directories |
02What people who tried it say
Asked how a non-subscription site can make money, Hacker News replies were blunt: ads need serious traffic, ideally in a niche, to command decent rates, and every site ultimately sells something, whether products, services, other people's goods or the audience's attention. One founder described giving professionals a free listing and selling them a useful paid tool instead of relying on ads.
The lesson: decide what you will sell before you build for traffic.
03Ads and affiliate links: the rules
To show Google AdSense ads, Google's eligibility page says you must be at least 18, have high-quality, original content that attracts an audience, and be able to access the HTML source of the site you submit. Other ad networks set their own traffic minimums.
In the US, the FTC's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) require clear disclosure of material connections, which includes earning a commission from links. Put the disclosure near the link where readers see it, not only in a footer, and say it plainly.
04Getting started
For a store, how to start an online store walks through the setup; for services, how to get your first sale online covers early customers.
- 1Pick one modelStart with what you can offer now: a service, a product or expertise.
- 2Build the page that sells itA clear offer, proof and one action; what should a landing page include? covers it.
- 3Bring the first visitors yourselfYour network, communities and existing customers.
- 4Add content that brings search trafficAnswer the questions your customers ask; SEO for a new website covers the basics.
- 5Measure and adjustTrack where visitors come from and what they do.
05Realistic expectations
Most websites make little or nothing from ads or affiliates in their first year, because search traffic takes months to build. Service and product sites can earn from the first visitor if the offer is right. Be wary of anyone promising passive income from a new site; the honest version is that a website is a tool for selling, and the selling still takes work.
06Which model fits your site
If you already have a skill people pay for, sell the service. If you make things, sell products. If you know a niche well and enjoy writing, build guides and add affiliate links later. If you have a large audience already, memberships or ads can work. Start with one; adding models before the first works usually means none of them do.
What people who tried it say
Hacker News replies to a founder asking how a free site can make money said ads need large niche traffic, and that the reliable path is selling something useful to the audience the site attracts.
- Ask HN: How can non-subscription based website make money?Hacker News
Replies said ads need serious niche traffic to pay, and that sites make money by selling something: products, services, leads or premium content to the audience they attract.
Looking for more first-hand opinions? Search Reddit for “how to make money with a website”. We link the live threads rather than summarizing them, so you read them in full.
Our take
start by selling your own service or product. A site with 200 visitors a month can support a business; it cannot support ads.
Where this falls short
Rules on advertising, affiliate disclosure, consumer protection and tax differ by country. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
If your plan starts with selling a service, Orlume can build the page that sells it, with your offer, proof and a booking or contact action, from one description.
Free to start · No card required · Live in one click
Sources
- 1.Eligibility requirements for AdSense · Google AdSense Help
- 2.16 CFR Part 255: Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising · US Federal Trade Commission, via eCFR
Researched and written by the Orlume team · Updated October 2026
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