Today’s post has to do with Amazon Associates, an easy and quick way for you to offer products from the Amazon.com website by providing a mini-store or list of products as an affiliate.

Billing itself as “The web’s most popular and successful Affiliate Program,” this program allows you to set up a free username and password, which then gives you formatted links. When your web visitors click through these formatted links and make a purchase, you earn up to 15% on products purchased.

You have access to traffic and earnings reports and ways to integrate the affiliate program into your content: this is great if you offer things like product reviews, book reviews, or if you focus on a particular niche and do articles or recommendations on products within that niche.

http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/join

While affiliate programs may not be for everybody, if you have built up a website to receive a fair amount of traffic and you have a specific, targeted niche, consider using Commission Junction (or other affiliate programs) to find ads that target your web visitors.

In exchange for the ad space on your website, you receive a percentage or commission of any sales generated through click-throughs on your site.

Some samples of advertisers within that network include Yahoo, Zappos, Adobe, Staples, Apple Store, AT&T, Priceline.com, Monster, and eBay.

If you’re a publisher, “Maximize your revenue opportunities by developing sustainable relationships with top-tier advertisers. Perform and get paid for every sale and lead you generate. For qualifying publishers, take your program to the next level with our industry exclusive solution for top-performers.”

I would recommend doing a combination of direct advertising to sponsors interested in your niche market, as well as advertising through automatic programs like Commission Junction.

If you have ideas on how to generate revenue online, or if you have had success (or failure!) with any of these ideas so far, please leave a note in the comments section or contact me. I’d love to share your ideas.

If you already have a product or service for slae, or you’re already knowledgeable about your field, then consider using Linkedin to increase your credibility and to expand your network. While regular usage of Linkedin will not pay you directly, it will expand your ability to market your business and it will increase your potential customers’ comfort level with your services and products.

Over 16 million people use Linkedin, and while it’s not meant to be a “fun” type of social networking site, it is very heavily based on professional abilities and connections, so if you’re doing research on a particular person or a company, your network here is a good place to find more information.

The premise of Linkedin is that you know certain people, who know others, who know others, so as you expand your personal connections, you’re expanding the universe of people you may contact for job searches, information, expert advice, product reviews and the like.

Your profile may also be made public, which increases your search engine results. Typing Monica Flores into Google lists my Linkedin Profile and increases the capacity for people wondering about me to find me and learn more about my professional background.

I recommend Linkedin as a first step to establishing your credibility and increasing your network, which leads to more and more ability to sell your products and services.