Another very simple one. Selling Text Links on your site(s)…

On some of my sites, I use a self coded script which allows me to use a flat text file on which I have a URL and Link Text. Using PHP, these are listed (and then styled using CSS).

It works very well, but of course the whole thing is manual. I really don't mind spending a minute or two adding a link to a text file and then FTPing it though - particularly when I get paid $20 or more, to do so, per month.

The other option, which is fully automated (after the initial installation) is Text Link Ads - these guys basically do the exact same thing as I do manually. But they take a 50% cut of the revenue earned.

So why not use a manual system?

For starters, advertisers need to somehow stumble across your site in order to learn about it. Of course, this can and does happen, but most advertisers like to spend time in a more productive fashion. Text Link Ads has a marketplace which is searchable - and has many thousands of available websites ready for `link purchase`.

In addition, purchases go through TLA - so any problems with billing, showing links and what-not is 100% down to them to sort out. So long as you correctly install 1 piece of code and 1 file to each website, that is the end of your input - you simply receive a Paypal payment once a month.

As I already mentioned, the site owner and TLA share the revenue equally…which is the downside. And that one reason is why I now tend to use my own manual system.