What does it take to be lucrative in the freesite game nowadays?

[neveremail]

Originally Posted by Bill

Linkster, I feel I know exactly what you mean. Working a whole system, taking advantage of all the traffic oppurtunities out there, tapping search engine money (which is a lot _slower_ these days than it used to be, remember, if you are starting from scratch), I agree, a skilled person could do it.

I believe I could probably do it, for instance. But I sure as hell would hate to have to try.

But that's not from freesites alone. The traffic coming from linklists alone is just not that lucrative these days.

I understand the point you are trying to make - but, I think you are splitting hairs here, and going fairly far outside the original scope of the question.

I don't want people to feel bad because they aren't seeing that 50k a year you are suggesting should be "fairly easy to make".

I keep coming back to one essential point - if it's so easy, where are the people doing it?

Because the only people I see doing it are the oldtimers with established networks and a wealth of contacts and skill and resources.

I think Linkster is trying to say if someone who is prepared to work really really hard at it can achive it. But I'd agree with you on saying dont get your hopes up.

I have read a few tutorials of experienced webmasters pretending they were newbies staring from scratch to show you can make money (LB did one on netpond) and they make it look much easier than it actually is.