Some companies are turning their Websites in a different direction by splitting them up into micro sites. They offer to handle all the design and layout, along with the HTML coding, and provide the actual space, while you provide the content. Money is earned through ads placed on the site. Revenues are based on a click through ratio and are wholly dependant on the amount of visitors. The plus side to joining a site such as this is that even though your individual site is small, the overall site is large and has a better chance to attract visitors than if you were to build a similar site on your own. Some companies even offer a base pay for the first few months until you can build up your site, but those companies are rare.
Be sure to read the fine print, and if you are doing a large proportion of article writing with no upfront payment, be sure to retain your copyrights so that you can reuse the articles if the site does fold.
Making money on the Internet is possible, if you are willing to work. Get rich quick schemes may exist, but mostly in the minds of those looking to earn money off the average person, and not from any work, they themselves will perform. If you are serious about earning extra cash, be prepared to work for it and you may be surprised by how many opportunities truly exist.