How This Niche Job Board Earns $7.5K Monthly for Ranchers

Overview

RanchWork is a specialized job board focusing on ranch and agriculture roles. It launched as a side project and turned into a dependable revenue source, earning $7,500 monthly. This case shows how a small operation and a clear lane can beat giants.

How RanchWork Found its Gap

In 2014, a simple search for a ranch job on Google returned results on big general job boards that left a lot to be desired. Instead of going to all those general sites, a user wanted one dedicated to ranch and ag roles. That’s when Peter Askew, who had spent years around ranch crews, saw an opening and chose to build a focused solution: RanchWork.

Building the First Version

Peter kicked off with a $60 WordPress theme and a few days tuning the mobile layout and SEO basics. He seeded early listings himself to give the site some life. Pricing for job posts was set at $25 to match industry standards. It wasn’t fancy but it was enough to start gathering interest from passionate ranchers and small farm operators.

Growing through SEO and Focus

Instead of chasing high headcount or seeking outside funding, Peter concentrated on keywords like “ranch jobs” and “agriculture positions.” He added content over time, kept an eye on Google Search Console, and slowly chipped away at big board rankings. Eventually, organic traffic climbed to around 40,000 visitors every month, cost free.

Smart Domain Moves

To widen the funnel, Peter paid $5,000 for RanchJobs.com after an initial $15,000 quote. Redirecting hundreds of extra viewers each month gave a small but consistent lift. It also sent a signal to Google that RanchWork was the hub for ranching jobs, further helping search rankings.

Revenue and Community

Year by year, revenue rose from $10K in the first year up to $88K in 2022. Today the site brings in about $7,500 every month. A big part of that success came from letting users post “Job Wanted” listings, which now account for a healthy slice of income. On top of that, buying RanchJobs.com and redirecting extra traffic boosted visibility further.

The Power of Persistence

Growth was never instant. There were slow months, dips when big boards tweaked their SEO, and times when listings slowed down. But sticking with the niche paid off over about a decade. By focusing on ranch-related queries and keeping the experience easy, RanchWork built trust with both employers and job seekers.

Yearly Revenue Growth

Here’s a quick look at annual revenue milestones:
2014: $10,479
2015: $16,487
2016: $20,139
2017: $26,552
2018: $26,152
2019: $20,355
2020: $31,933
2021: $62,113
2022: $88,534

Key Lessons

A niche focus can level the field, even against bigger players. Starting lean and adding features that direct users want can pay off over many months. With a modest budget and some strategic SEO, a motivated creator can carve out a reliable revenue stream in a crowded market.