I would run them all through a system to each build and promote a single site and break it down into modules, something like this:
1) Site design, setup and maintenance
2) Content creation - writing, videos, etc.
3) SEO - research, on page and site structure
4) Backlinks
5) Monetization
6) Social promotion
Once they were finished I would see which strengths each had. I would put appropriate candidates in charge of specific modules and get the entire group to start cranking stuff out from a list I made. The smartest/best one or two of them would continue to build complete sites from the ground up and help me go over and manage the work of the rest.
This would be a good start.