Technology: Personal website could help you make a little money

If you've got a website, you should be making money from it.

That's the message from the web's monetization zealots. Monetization, as the word suggests, is all about transforming your blog, homepage, company website or other web-based venture into a way to earn cash. Others have done it, and so can you.

Or so you may think, once you start reading about the dizzying variety of programs for monetizing whatever it is you've got online.

Opportunities to earn a quick buck from the internet have been around for years. But now, with the tools for online publishing well-entrenched among the masses, even more people are likely thinking about whether to see if discreet ads or product links might help with the bills. The sorry state of the economy doesn't hurt, either.

Just about anything appearing on the web is subject to monetization -- a trend leading inevitably to an online sphere that's something of an unavoidable billboard for products and services. Company websites, videos, e-mail newsletters, blogs -- all of these can be monetized with programs promising a monthly check if your visitors click on ads or buy products.

The focus on monetization even means you can now sign up for a website building tool specializing in helping you earn money. DevHub bills itself as a "free website builder and publishing platform with full monetization capabilities." You want to build a website all about your expertise in pet grooming or time-lapse photography, and profit from it? With DevHub, you can do it all in one spot. Rather than cobbling together a hodge-podge of programs to make money from a blog or website, you can both publish your site and include the money-making gizmos all with one service. The website is currently in a testing (or "beta") phase.

More often, web publishers add monetization features after they've developed an audience. There's no easier way to scare away website visitors than by having a site that's crammed with ads or product promos, yet very little worthwhile to read or view. But if you do have a site or blog, or want to develop one, here are some of the ways you can earn money from the endeavor:

Advertising: Integrating ads into your web pages is a quick route to monetizing your site. With Google's popular Adsense program (google.com/adsense), web publishers -- even fledgling ones -- can have advertisements generated by Google to target a site's visitors. The ads will match the context of your page. You're writing about adventure travel? Expect travel ads.

In-text ads: Rather than having ads in a separate column or block on a page, companies with in-text ad programs, such as Kontera and LinkWorth, provide ads that are linked from the text appearing on your web pages. Think of it as something akin to movie product placements, for the web.

Affiliate marketing programs: With affiliate programs, like Amazon Associates (affiliate-program.amazon.com), you earn money by placing product links (or ads) on your website, then getting a percentage of the purchase. Affiliate programs have flourished since the web's early years, and now networks of affiliate programs, like ClickBank, Commission Junction (cj.com) and LinkShare, let you tap into a broad variety of programs without signing up for all of them.

Monetization widgets: A widget lets your site visitors buy or view products or services within a "widget" at your site, rather than leave your site (at least initially). WidgetBucks provides a variety of widgets for earning money from its partners, but other programs, like Amazon Associates, also provide widgets to add to your site.

Paid blogging and reviews: With spots like PayPerPost and ReviewMe, you can get paid to write about products. PayPerPost puts it this way: "Advertisers are willing to pay you for your opinion on various topics. Search through a list of opportunities, make a blog posting, get your content approved, and get paid. It's that simple." Controversial, yes, but it can earn you cash.

Products: Have fun slogans or logos to peddle? Slap them onto t-shirts, mugs and more at CafePress.

Tip jars: You still want more cash? You can always ask for it. By placing a ScratchBack's "tip jar" at your website, you make it easy for people to "tip" you and then allow them to post a link on your website.