Monetizing Website .

... Without Ads?

[pab1953]

A colleague is exploring ways to monetize a website the main focus of which is children's mental health and technology. As its a site offering professional advice, he doesn't want to carry advertising, but he will be including product guides for a wide range of high-tech products (game systems, digital cameras, etc., plus video games and books).

Are affiliate programs like Amazon the only way to earn a few dollars from such product guides?

[ibQuixote]

Amazon is one of hundreds of affiliate programs. Do a search on affiliate networks, and you'll find quite a few. Each have a multitude of programs. You might also just go straight to the merchants sites you want to represent. Either somewhere in the Contact Us section or at the bottom of the home page you'll likely find information about affiliate or partner programs.

[Quadrille]

But be careful. Some affiliate programs neither pay when you've earned it, or give a good service to customers.

Check carefully. Amazon ain't perfect, but it does offer a wide choice and - and this really matters - it is known and trusted by visitors.

Search for affiliates, then search for info on the company from an affiliate POV - and a customer POV.

[bwnbwn]

I would create a google Custom search and connect it to my adsense account. This way you get a great search and make good money as well.

Plus it doesn't look like advertisment but a search that happens to have adwords on them with the search

[msparkle]

There are many advertising companies that offer XML feed that you can integrate into your search results. Users would just think they are natural search results, but you get paid by them clicking on the results.

[edited by: engine at 8:18 am (utc) on May 15, 2008]
[edit reason] WebmasterWorld TOS [/edit]