The Most Overlooked Way to Make Money On the Internet

In this episode, host Kerner interviews Freychu, a directory‑building expert who stumbled into the niche after a failed business. Freychu reveals how simple directory websites—often overlooked—can generate $2,300–$3,000/month in passive income with minimal ongoing work.

🔍 What’s a Directory & Why It’s Overlooked

A directory is a curated list of businesses or resources (e.g., TripAdvisor, HappyCow). Most people use them daily but never see them as a business model. Freychu argues there are millions of untapped niches where search demand exceeds supply—perfect for a low‑cost WordPress site that can rank organically.

🧠 How to Find Profitable Niche Ideas

• “Near me” search in Ahrefs: Filter by keyword difficulty (KD) 0–20 and look for green (low competition) terms. E.g., batting cages near me has KD ~5 with 15k monthly searches.
• The “bounty” method: Find a successful but simple competitor (“mom‑and‑pop” publisher) using Ahrefs site explorer. If they rank with an ugly site, it’s a green flag that you can overtake them.
• Social listening: TikTok comments and Reddit threads reveal real‑world pain points (e.g., thrifting location queries → thrift‑store directory).

🛠️ Build & Monetize a Directory

• Tech stack: WordPress + Elementor Pro (fast MVP). For programmatic builds with 1,000+ listings, use Geodirectory plugin + JetEngine for filters.
• Monetization: Display ads (Mediavine Journey, RPM ~$16–$17), digital products (e.g., $19 PDF), or affiliate links. A directory pulling 80k monthly visitors can earn $4,000–$6,000/month.
• Backlink strategy: Find your competitor’s backlinks via Ahrefs, then reach out offering $50 to swap the link to your directory. One such swap earned Freychu 2 years of passive income (~$2k/month).

🎯 Key Advice for Beginners

• Start ultra‑niche (KD 0–5) – avoid broad terms like “towing near me.” Prove SEO works first.
• Focus on skill, not money – treat your first directory as a playground to learn SEO.
• Be patient – organic traffic takes months. Build multiple sites simultaneously to stack wins.

Final takeaway: “Once you see directories, you can’t unsee them. With $100 and a few tools, anyone can build a passive‑income asset—just find a niche where demand outruns supply and dominate it.”