When many start-up websites launched (including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and others), they didn’t have much of a monetization plan initially. Their primary goal was focusing on creating something that would attract attention and big traffic.
Once they had the traffic in place, lots of different ways to make money will present themselves. Although, I suspect that none of us will be creating the next huge internet start-up (like Facebook), we would be wise to have a few things in mind when creating a new site.
First, we should make sure there is a market for our site (keyword research is big part of this). Secondly, we should try to create something of value. Finally, we should ideally find a niche that has money being spent in it.
Today, I want to focus on different ways that you can make money from your website.
In the past, I’ve primarily focused on Google Adsense for my own niche sites. I did try out a few Adsense alternatives, but I came back to Adsense because its the highest paying contextual ad network out there…by far. Its easy to implement, pays the most, and just works.
However, as I set out to start my very first public niche site project, I have decided to use something besides Google Adsense to monetize my site. (You can learn more about the niche site project and live webinar to be held here).
I’m not going to pick a particular monetization strategy until I pick a niche and keyword. Right now, I’m thinking that I would like to build an email list and monetize that list with affiliate offers or my own products. However, this is not set in stone, and could change as I pick my niche OR as I test different strategies on the same site.
However, as I contemplate how I should make money from my new niche site, I am again reminded of how many options are out there. First, I’m going to list the general ways to monetize (categories like CPA, contextual ads, etc) and then I’ll number off the specific networks or options within each of those general categories.
These are networks like Google Adsense that have ads displayed based on the content of your site. Typically you will get paid per click from these types of contextual networks. Here are a few (there are likely many many more):
2. Media.net (now manages both the Yahoo and Bing ad Networks)
3. Infolinks
4. Kontera
6. GumGum (In-image ads)
7. Chitika
8. Clicksor.com (both eCPM and pay per click).
Rather than paying on a per click basis, these ad networks pay on a per view basis (usually a dollar amount based on 1000 pageviews). Most of these networks require that you have a large visitor base to be approved to their network; therefore most of these won’t work for a smaller niche sites.
10. Tribal Fusion (500,000 unique visitors per month required).
11. Adbrite (update – Adbrite is shutting its doors on Feb. 1st 2013).
12. Casale Media
13. ePom.com
14. Adblade.com
15. Advertising.com (part of AOL)
16. Burst Media (25,000 monthly page views)
17. CPX Interactive
18. Technorati Media
There are a TON more CPM ad networks out there, this is just a small sample. You need to find one that fits your niche or works best for your site.
These types of ads pay a fixed dollar amount based on an action taken (like an email submit form filled out). Many of these ad networks listed below offer both affiliate commissions (% of the actual purchase price) AND CPA opportunities. There are also a LOT more ad networks out there than I could possibly ever list in this category – this is just a few.
19. Neverblue Media
20. Clickbooth
21. MaxBounty.com
22. PeerFly.com
23. CPAway.com
24. Adscend Media
25. ShareaSale.com
26. CPAlead.com
About a thousand others…
An affiliate network pays out a fixed amount or a percentage of the sale amount. You refer someone through your link and get paid if someone actually buys something. As mentioned, some of these networks bleed together; meaning some of these affiliate networks pay out on CPA offers as well.
27. Amazon Associates – Can be a good option because you get paid no matter what the person buys on Amazon within 24 hours (not just what you referred them to).
28. Commission Junction (CJ.com)
29. Clickbank
30. SkimLinks (This is actually an in-content ad network, but it pays out based on actual sales made. So its not a per-click basis, but does display ads automatically based on the content of your site. Its a pretty cool option actually that I’ve used and like).
31. LinkShare
32. ClixGalore
33. eBay Partner Network (Actually pays on a per click basis – but the amount you earn goes up or down based on the history of actual sales you’ve generated. So if lots of people buy through your links, you get more per click.)
34. AvantLink.com
35. Google Affiliate Network (different than standard Google Adsense).
37. JVzoo.com
38. WarriorPlus.com
Thousands (yes thousands) of companies offer their own affiliate programs that are NOT listed in any network. These can be harder to find, but often pay very well. Here are just 2 examples of companies that run their affiliate program in house:
39. HostGator – runs affiliate program here
40. Unique Article Wizard – runs affiliate program here
This is probably the biggest category because you can also contact companies directly and ask to start an affiliate program with them or otherwise work out a deal with them directly.
This is a big market as well with lots of options. You can contact people directly on your own or use an ad manager/network to help. Here’s just one option:
41. BuySellAds.com
The most profitable way to monetize your site is usually going to be with your own product. Obviously the kinds of products you can create are only limited by your imagination. Here’s just a few common options:
42. Create a video training course
43. Create an eBook
44. Create a membership area or paid forum
45. Sell a physical product and ship it.
46. Create a piece of software
47. Create other tools, services, or information that customers are willing to pay for
Obviously this won’t be right for everyone and many consider questionable. But there’s a huge marketplace. Here’s just a few places you can sell links:
48. Text-Link-Ads
51. Warrior Forum
When all else fails, you can ask for money 
. Many sites have done this in the past.
52. Ask for donations
Even if you never monetize your site, you might be able to sell out for a pretty penny! If you build the traffic of your site or otherwise have an audience, there is value there. If the traffic is high enough, you could sell for a lot (think Twitter kind of traffic…). And of course, people buy brand new sites all the time that have no traffic or audience based on design and niche (but usually for very cheap).
53. Sell Your Site
To be honest, I probably missed several other ways that you can monetize your site, but this is a good start! And most certainly there are thousands of other ad networks or affiliate programs out there that you can use. But for the most part all your options for monetization are going to fit in these main categories covered: Pay Per Click Networks, CPM Ad Networks, CPA Networks, Affiliate Networks, Direct Affiliate Programs, Selling Ad Space, Creating a Product, Sell Text Links, Donations, or selling your site.
Overall, as I begin the process on Thursday evening on the live webinar, I’ll be thinking these different ways to monetize my site. I’ve excluded Adsense as a choice, but I have at least 52 other ways I could make money from my niche site.
I would love to hear your thoughts! Did I miss any major money making networks or methods? Let’s discuss below.
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Excellent list except UAW.
I wrote a review about that product at my site.
I would recommend anyone read it before they buy that product.
Thanks for sharing.
This list is not a reflection of whether or not I think any of these ad networks or affiliate programs are good or bad. These are just ways to make money from your site – options.
Pretty detailed list!
Looking forward to seeing how you test which option is working the best. What tools you use for split testing etc.
It can change a lot from niche to niche!
Great list. Thanks a bunch. Only one chance to it. Adbrite have officially turned in their cleats. They are no more.
Gotta love iPhone. That should say change
Actually Adbrite is still alive and well. Just logged into my adbrite account to make sure – so unless I’m missing something Adbrite is still active.
I received an email from AdBrite yesterday, they will be ceasing operations on February 1, 2013.
Well, there you go – Adbrite is no more (updating post). They were a very low paying network from my experience anyway.
Great post! I think you covered all the possible ways to make money (at least, all the ones I know).
Maybe the 44. “Create a membership area or paid forum”
could be the most profitable, but the most time consuming!
Spencer, right about time: how do you reply all the email you receive from your 200-300 website?
Tnx,
Ago
Hey — I know Spenc was just mentioning ways to make money…
But donttttttttttttttt use hostgator. Pick godaddy or neverblue they pay on time and dont rip you off
hostgator is notorious for not paying (just google it)
Wow, I’ve been an affiliate of Hostgator for well over 4 years. They have never missed a payment. Response is super fast too.
Spencer – I’ll be looking forward to your seminar…would love to see how you narrow down on your niche..this is one big struggle which ive not been able to overcome for years
Great list Spencer… you forgot one
54. LTP Affiliate Program by Spencer Haws
Hey Spencer,
Good stuff (as usual). I just wanted to say that I’m leaning more towards non-AdSense type solutions as well as of recently. I’ve found that since both of my AdSense accounts were disabled (and my new Adsense account has yet to be approved for 2 months and counting), it’s much easier to work with different ad networks. This is because it seems like Google has tightened up their restrictions or something as of recently as far as approval is concerned. Most ad networks, from what I’ve found, don’t pay nearly as much as Adsense. However, I’m currently using Infolinks (which is decent) and also Chitika (not so good of results thus far). I’d really like to know what other companies have payouts that are reasonable as far as ad networks are concerned. Even though I’ve yet to try them, I’ve heard Altitude Digital Partners are pretty good. The same goes for Proioxis and ContextWeb, and Lijit to name a few you hopefully haven’t yet. Hope this helps everyone a bit. Please let us know what kind of experience you may have
Media.net is actually a good option. I’ve been using it only a very little the past few months, but the payout is better than infolinks or kontera from what I can tell. Still not as high as Adsense, but a good alternative.
Thanks Spencer. I’m trying out media.net now. I’ll keep you posted. Obviously, despite the fact that the general quality of the advertiser/your site content, your particular niche stands to gain the most via the relevance of profit distribution of any ad network.
Thanks again.
Thank you,
I know Internet Marketing historian late 2011, and have tried several business models such as Adsense and Amazon but I have never earned more than $100.
I still believe that making money online is much easier than working offline. As someone who has been successful, do you have any recommendations for me?
Find a strategy that interests you and stick with it (niche sites, authority blogging, ppc, etc).
Great post Spencer – I’m glad to see a list of PPC and CPM companies.
You might think about adding MoreNiche to your list of affiliate networks – I’ve found them excellent for monetising health and beauty type sites.
Cheers!
I agree. I could have gone a lot deeper, but there are SO many that I never could have covered them all.
Wow, Spencer – you’ve outdone yourself here. This post is absolutely getting bookmarked. I’ll be going through this list and seeing if they make sense for some of my sites.
I especially like #42 – Create a video training course.
I wonder how using the YouTube partner program would fit in with this list? While it’s not exactly on your site, the views you could get on your site would help, no doubt. Anyway, just thinking out loud! Cheers!
Good point on Youtube…I’m not very knowlegeable on that one. Although, doesn’t Youtube use Adsense to monetize their videos? Anyway, if someone has a video site or produces videos, they should absolutely look into that!
Quite the list! I appreciate the quality effort and time that went into creating it.
With so many ways to make money online it’s still interesting to see how many people have no idea how to make money online (when you talk to non-internet marketers). They just give you a blank stare…
It is a great list of ways for making money online. But as beginner, I feel to have to focus on one way. It takes more time to be successful. That is what I experienced. Could you give me advice to make better? Thank you.
really great list of all kinds of network, i should consider other sources too rather then Adsense only.
Definitely remarkable, particularly the potential Adsense substitutes. Media.net has been especially noted and I will be checking it out one of these days.
Great list Spencer, helps to get the mind thinking more broadly…the more options, the better!
FlexOffers is a pretty decent CPA network with tons of goodpaying advertisers from several different niches.
Thanks Spencer for great lists, with lot of inspiration
Hi Spencer,
I have a site that is trickling in a small amount each month but I’m convinced it could do so much more.
I was wondering what your opinion was on whether its a good idea to monetize a single from a few different places? E.g Adsence plus affiliate network. Or is it better to stick to one stream per site?
I would test multiple monetization methods, see what combo pays the best.
I every time used to study paragraph in news papers but now as I am
a user of net therefore from now I am using net for articles, thanks to
web.
Hello
I one of your post http://www.nichepursuits.com/how-to-get-a-google-penalty-using-affiliate-links-and-how-to-recover/# you told about affiliate link penalty. I noticed that Google penalized all my sites one by one for affiliate links. But I have only one link – not 100 as you said. The penalty is -30 position for my “domainname” query. How do you think what can I do in such case?
Thank you
I don’t think its a penalty based on your affiliate links. Its probably a penguin or panda penalty.