Hi, I've been making and profiting from small online niche sites for a while now bt for the last couple months I've wanted to try something bigger, something riskier, something different but hopefully something more profitable. Heres my idea: Set up a site (probably with joomla and a nice commercial template) for my home state in which provides discounts around the state. Here's some ideas I have: 1- Set the site up to look nice and professional. 2- Contact many local businesses pitching a 'offer some sort of coupon for my site in exchange for exposure and potentially new customers' both in person and via mail. I'll try to get a variety of participating business, restaraunts, electronics, clothes, pizza etc. They can offer whatever they want. 3- Once I have a substantial number of discounts to offer I start promoting it. Something like 'Never pay full price in [My State] again'. Promotion would include: Mailing flyers, promotional events, branded freebies, newspaper ads possibly radio and maybe even TV down the road. I thought I could even offer premium spots on my site in exchange for sticking a poster for the site in their store window or something. Some reasons I think this might work: -Many businesses in this state have no web presence whatsoever. -There are HEAPS of tightasses around too. -Theres nothing else offering anything remotely similar. If it gets popular I can make money through ads and selling premium spots. I'd also implement a mailing list and try to monetize that. Anyway I'd love ANY feedback, criticism and suggestions you have.
If no one else is doing this in your state then it has great potential - you didn't mention it but are you planning on charging for the links on your site?
I think it might work, but you must be very careful on getting the offers in stores that your visitors can get to easily. You will have to target the traffic geographically and promote each offer in the correct area.