Let's say that you are an expert in a given field- boat building, for instance.
Is there a way you can leverage your knowledge and share your expertise for a fee? The answer is 'yes, you can'! There is powerful, new membership website software available today that allows you to protect your content behind a 'pay wall'.
This allows you to provide free content to entice visitors to your site, and then have paid content that requires a fee.
How does all of this work? There are many models that work, but the simplest way to do this is to use a blog, such as Word Press, and install membership website software plug-in that turns an ordinary blog into a paid member site.
You can collect your fees using PayPal, and then the plug-in automatically gives the paid user access to your premium content.
You can have multiple levels of membership on your site, for example, Bronze, Silver and Gold - and the membership website software takes care of the technical details of providing access, automatically.
Most of the membership plug-ins also have a free trial feature.
You may be asking yourself, 'Why would anyone pay for my content?' - the important thing is to do your research.
Make sure there is demand for what you know.
For example, if there are many online 'help' forums related to your topic, chances are there is a need.
Also check out Yahoo Answers - if there are a lot of questions about your subject, you have hungry customers waiting.