Earning commissions
We can offer advice, and/or add the following features to a site to help it earn commission. It's important not to compromise the design of a site to include these elements and be aware that they could draw customers away from a site. These sponsored schemes are usually well described by the relevant providers on their websites.
Sponsored Search
An example of this is Google Adsense. You need to set up an Adsense account with Google, then add a Google search box (linked to your account) to your site.
Receive commission when the site visitor performs a search and then clicks through one of the sponsored search results.
Sponsored Context Sensitive Advertising
An example of this is Google Adsense. Again an Adsense account is needed. In this case, advertisements are placed on your page. The content of the underlying web page has a bearing on the advertisments are displayed. An advert of this type is shown on the left of this page (as long as you are not running ad blocking software). There are a number of different display formats.
Referrals or affiliate schemes
With these schemes, you also need to have an account with the advertiser. Sometimes, commission is only earned when a visitor both clicks the button/banner AND buys a product or service from the advertiser. There may be additional conditions governing the products and services on which commission is payable. Below are examples of a button for google adsense and a banner for 1and1 web hosting (these may not be displayed if you are running ad blocking software).
Joining individual affiliate schemes could lead to you building up a number of individual accounts. There are also schemes, such as that run by Tradedoubler, where a single account covers a number of different affiliate schemes thereby simplifying billing.
Some affiliate schemes are only available through one of these affiliate network partners. For example, at time of writing (04 Dec 2006), Skype's affiliate scheme is only available through one of three affiliate network partners.