Review Website Success Stories [2024]
Looking to carve out a niche in the online space? Consider starting a review website. This business model revolves around creating a platform where users can read and post reviews about various products or services.
You'll be responsible for setting up and maintaining the website, ensuring it runs smoothly, and continually generating content to keep visitors engaged. Focus on building a community of trust by encouraging honest, comprehensive reviews and rewarding active participants.
Monetization can come through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or even premium memberships. The key is to offer valuable insights that help consumers make informed decisions.
It’s straightforward yet demands consistency and dedication. If you have a knack for digital marketing and enjoy helping people find the best products or services, this venture could be highly rewarding. This business idea not only has the potential to generate income but also allows you to become a trusted voice in any niche you're passionate about.
In this list, you'll find real-world review website success stories and very profitable examples of starting a review website that makes money.
1. Cogneve, INC. ($180K/year)
Alexandru Stan, a serial entrepreneur and tech investor, came up with the idea for Tekpon.com after realizing that many people buy software but never use it, creating a $30 billion/year problem in the US. With his experience in the industry and previous successful exits, he saw an opportunity to help people and companies choose the right software for their business. Since its launch, Tekpon.com has attracted thousands of customers and is working towards becoming one of the main marketplaces for software.
How much money it makes: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $425K
How many people on the team: 8
Tekpon, a software marketplace launched by Alexandru Stan, is helping individuals and companies combat a yearly $30bn issue of buying and never using software, generating $4,000/month, and has secured investment from private angels and two VCs with hopes of becoming a unicorn within the next three years, all while holding one of the largest Facebook groups for founders: Entrepreneurs and Startups, with over 65,000+ active members in the last 60 days.
2. Parkdale Brass ($120K/year)
Shawn Santiago, the founder of Parkdale Brass, came up with the idea for his business while working as a web developer for a digital agency that created cannabis websites. He noticed that most existing cannabis products had similar designs and were made from materials that often arrived broken. This inspired him to create his own brand, focusing on classic, luxury, and durable designs using brass. Since its launch in 2019, Parkdale Brass has gained recognition from prominent publications like Forbes and Weedmaps and has seen an average of 10k in monthly sales.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 1
Parkdale Brass specializes in mindful cannabis use and their high-end, vintage-inspired brass pipe, The Brockton Mk2, has been featured in Forbes and Weedmaps, with the company now seeing approximately $10k in monthly sales and focusing on expanding their product line and B2B sales.
3. onlinecasinoguide.in ($120K/year)
Arjun Patel, a dedicated casino player and SEO manager, noticed a lack of online casino information for Indian players. Combining his expertise in SEO and his passion for casino games, he created onlinecasinoguide.in, an online casino affiliate that provides honest reviews, game guides, and bonus offers. With a monthly visitor count of 30K, the platform has become profitable and Patel plans to expand into other emerging casino markets in Asia and South America.
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 0
Indian founder Arjun Patel created online platform onlinecasinoguide.in which provides honest reviews, guides and details about casino sites and promotions in India, gaining 30,000 monthly visitors through dedication and patience in building a solid SEO foundation.
4. Up The Gains ($67.2K/year)
While deep in debt, Sammie Ellard-King had a spark during a candid conversation with friends in Vietnam; months later, he'd self-taught his way to financial freedom and launched 'Up the Gains,' aiming to demystify personal finance for beginners.
How much money it makes: $67.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
How many people on the team: 3
Up the Gains Founder Sammie Ellard-King managed to turn a side hustle from her spare bedroom into a profitable content site in the crowded personal finance market, growing from zero to 44k page views monthly in under a year, with current revenue levels at £4.5k profit per month and forecasting £147,000 in revenue over the next 12 months.
5. Points Panda ($45.6K/year)
Freddy Lansky, the CEO of Points Panda, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the value of transferring points to airlines for discounted business class flights. He started by offering award booking services to friends and family before turning it into a full-fledged consultancy business. Through consistent content creation and strategic partnerships, Points Panda has steadily grown and aims to expand its team in the future.
How much money it makes: $45.6K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 5
Points Panda is a points & miles travel blog/award booking consultancy business that helps people maximize their points; the business began after CEO Freddy Lansky realized he could turn his passion for booking award flights for small “hassle fees” into a thriving business.
6. Episode Ninja ($15.6K/year)
Steve Sanders came up with the idea for Episode Ninja when he couldn't find a good place to find rankings of the best episodes of TV shows online. With his background in web and app development, he built a website that aggregates ratings and ranks episodes of a show using data from open APIs. Since its launch, Episode Ninja has gained over 200,000 unique visitors per month and generates around $1000 in revenue.
How much money it makes: $15.6K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Episode Ninja is a successful side project that has steadily grown, currently making over $1,000 in revenue per month from advertising and TV streaming affiliate programs and with steady traffic of over 200,000 unique visitors a month, providing a great example for founders starting their own businesses.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
