Is it a good idea to try making money offering free support (PHP/JS/WordPress/Drupal...)

Hi

After years of working as an independent contractor, I got tired of continuously looking for projects, so I thought, maybe I could spend my time and efforts in a more lucrative way. I mean, instead of spending time searching for clients, spend it writing useful content. So I came up with an idea, and I hope you guys will help me decide if I should give it a try.

The idea is to create a free service where people can contact me publicly (like in a forum) about issues they are having with their websites/apps/etc, something like what happens in the Progamming forums here in DP.
- I will provide free support on the simpler issues
- if someone requires my help for a complicated issue, probably where I need to access his server/website and dive into code an stuff, I will make our discussion private and try to sell him my service.

So earnings can be made from 2 channels:
- Ads an affiliate links on the publicly accessible pages
- Selling my services

So what do you think? Does it sound lucrative? Is it worth?


Thanks,
Nabil

 

its sounds good to me, but somehow i think it will be a hard work for one man. how much traffic are you aiming for ?

 

I though forums are for that purpose?? It is not a bad idea to have a specific website or blog and answer questions related to topics but Quora is doing that too, even Reddit is kind of doing it.
And also you said offer this for free, how do you wanna sell it? you mean if something is too complicated then they contact you to get your services?

 

Yes, exactly

 

That might work, not sure if you are targeting properly though, the thing is when people are referring to a free service (consumer behaviour) to grab information and fix stuff, there is a chance they do not have the purchasing power you need to purchase your services and can easily replace you with another free service or information. Just make sure you're targeting the right people.

 

simply your idea matched with this forum and currently this forum also on this way.

 

Actually, I'm not aiming for the social aspect of forums (lots of opinions, thanks and chit chat), it would be more like free support by me and maybe a few other paid members, and paid support when free is not adequate.