We've all seen them - those flashing and garish banner ads emblazoned across every website you come across begging you to sample the advertisers' wares. What you probably don't appreciate, however, is exactly how this works and how much you could make - and they don't need to be large, overwhelming banner ads. Many advertisers also provide more subtle text links which are less obtrusive and far more effective in encouraging the click throughs which can be a valuable source of income for the entrepreneurial webmaster.

Don't get carried away by the thought of reaping untold riches from associate programmes such as those run by Amazon and Internet Bookshop. The idea that someone's going to pay you money to do things on your Web site is so appealing that you bend over backwards to complete the sign-up procedure, add logos and links and redesign your site to accommodate the whims of your benefactor. To start with it's all well and good, but once a visitor has clicked through to Amazon (or wherever) from your site, they can easily return to Amazon directly and cut your site and your commission out of the loop.

What Amazon is doing is buying, very cheaply, a mind-boggling number of links from sites all over the Web, thereby getting its name and logo in front of more people.

Still, if you target your advertising closely to the subject matter of your site, you should generate money, but be warned: the days of being paid for just someone clicking through are gone. Advertisers have wised up to the abuse that is around and now usually only pay for positive leads and/or sales.

£££££	Brilliant program, recommended
££££	Good
£££	Worth a look
££	Hmmm…
£	Forget it

£££££ - Trade Doubler's affiliate program is better than the Commission Junction one because it is based on UK and European advertisers and so is likely to be more popular with and relevant to UK websites. Aside from that, the program is essentially the same as CJ, and if you own a popular site or can generate sales from it, you stand to make some good money from Trade Doubler. Click the banner to join or just click here.

££££ - This site pays you to visit websites, and will also get you reciprocal visits to your own site. They pay once you get to $12 and normally do so via PayPal, although you can also ask for payment in E-Gold. It's reliable, but it takes a while to get a decent balance. Click here to join