Why Start a Membership Site? People are willing to pay for online content. In fact, the “Online Publishers Association” said that pay-for content is emerging as a hot revenue model. Business content, personals/match making, and entertainment are the hottest niches. But even smaller niches, like DVD authoring, sports coaching, marketing services, and dieting are producing profits. You can sell subscriptions for online content with your own membership site? Selling online content by way of a password protected website has become big business.