Website Ideas for 2026- How to Choose the Right Idea (Demand, Competition, Monetization) + A Simple Scorecard
Introduction Picking a website idea in 2026 feels different — AI tools, subscriptions, and local marketplaces change the playbook. The smartest approach is a simple, repeatable framework that balances demand, competition, and how you’ll make money. The quick framework: five things to score Before you build, score each idea on five practical criteria. Score 1–5 (1 = weak, 5 = excellent) and total the points (max 25). Search demand — Are people actively searching for this topic? Competition — Are top results dominated by strong brands or low-quality gaps you can exploit? Monetization — Is there a clear revenue path (ads, affiliate, subscriptions, lead fees, product sales)? Build complexity — How hard is the minimum viable site to build and maintain? Time-to-first-revenue — How fast can you realistically get your first paying customer? Use the score to prioritize: 1–10 = rethink, 11–17 = testable, 18–25 = prioritize. How to evaluate each criterion quickly You don’t need...