You should make note that there is a distinct difference between ways to make money with a web site than ways to make money from it.  What this means really is that there is a difference in methods used for encouraging traffic and actually methods of increasing profits, in general.  I mean you can drive traffic to the site but that doesn't bring about the big moneymakers, only the click thru amounts. 

A good example of this contrast is the sense that just by combining AdSense ads with the web text is a way to make money from a website.  Couldn't be further from reality.  No that is only a tool for making more money and only serves to increase the ad click rate.  The real money can be found with a PPC ad network.

As a result this list can be categorized as direct and indirect schemes.  Below are illustrations with links to better orient you to this way of thinking.  

1. PPC Advertising Networks

Google rules the Internet and even with the task of making money provides the trendiest opportunity within this section.  Still there are many others but Google is the main outlet.  Just like before when building your links, you need to set up your account with the network and make sure Google snippets are encoded on your web site.  It is a thing of beauty because then Google automatically will provide ads of either text and graphic to your site from which you will make a certain set amount with every click.

The potential moneymaker falls into place because it comes right down to the amount of traffic your web site generates within a period of time.  This refers to the click through rate of the CTR but also translates into the cost per click or CPC. Much of the CTR is predicted by presentation of the web site (is it user friendly or the content relevant, pleasing to the public?).  It is about placement of the ads that appear seamlessly with the content that get the most clicks.  Still as with any specialized product, there is going to be a market audience and market.  You find with financial products like mortgages or mutual funds, college savings etc. that CPC becomes more important.  Is the web site found in a niche market?  These niche areas typically generate more CPC while other highly technically geared areas of commerce have smaller rates of CPC, only a few pennies per click.

When the web site debuts, many are not thinking about the type of traffic but only that there will be traffic but all of this influences the CTR percentages.  There are different types of traffic.  Traffic that originates due to search engines is called organic traffic and this type tends to function at a greater rate because the viewer is qualified for the product or already interested.  Then there is social media traffic and this generally promotes low returns on CTR because these viewers are pre-conditioned to ads and just don't bother looking at them. 

2. CPM Advertising Networks

These networks work in the same way as PPC networks.  It is only the manner in which you are being paid that is different.  Instead of clicks, you get compensated per the number of impressions or web page visits where the ads are located.  So how many page visits will your site be responsible for?  In this context, CPM is an acronym for cost per mile because the amount of impressions or those 1,000 impressions equals $1.  So in this scheme, a web site with 100,000 pages visits monthly displaying an advertising banner with a $1 CPM, therefore, will earn $100 monthly.

Of course much of this is determined depending on the web site, the CPM rates will differ with the positioning of the ad within the pages of the web site.  So the better your positioning within the network, the greater amount of ads and then of course, the more CPM.  The closer to the top, the better off you are.  Also the amount of clarity of graphics also helps to guarantee grater CPM. Depending upon the position the ad is on the web site and where the web site is located on the network, in terms of money, you will see as low as $0,10 and as high as $10 per 1,000 impressions.  This type of advertising seems popular and works with high traffic because the viewing public determines it.  It accurately depicts the viewer-ship.  This can be especially warranted with sites that have forums or magazines.

3. Direct Banner Advertising

Of course people talk about diversification all the time and never is it more truly than with a web site.  You should use many techniques to build wealth.  So selling your own ad space is a great way to make money.  With this approach, there is no middleman to take his cut of the commission so you can sell at your own pace.  There are many popular banner types but the most well used and liked for that matter are the following: 728×90 leaderboard, the 120×600 skyscraper, the 300×250 rectangle and the 125×125 button.

Still this approach may be difficult in the beginning because you need such a big audience that is familiar and wants to advertise with you.  The sales process also may be costly at this point and time consuming.  You must think of it as a long-range prospect and benefit.

4. Text Link Ads

About now, you are wondering what happened to Text links.  Well there seems to be a little heated debate over if they should be used still.  Google will not promote sites using text links unless they use the nofollow tag.  Otherwise, there are penalties and as a result this type of moneymaker is no longer in the limelight.  Despite this challenge, many site owners still utilize text links as a means of making money but there are those that use the nofollow tag and those who chose not to.

Why do so if Google, the largest search engine in the world says not to?  Because this manner is less invasive.  It also appears to be easier for the novice to handle and mange.  For many owners it becomes an automatic process.

5. Affiliate Marketing

This has long been key to business success, even before the Internet.  Seems the notion of people networking together has long been a welcomed practice.  In this environment, affiliate marketing works when you are selling a product and you allow other business people or affiliates to market directly to your clients.  This can happen at times also indirectly but all for a set amount of commission.  On the web, this is also called CPA or cost per action.  These opportunities can also be termed as sales leads and translates to CPL or cost per lead.  Within this network of affiliates, potential viewers find themselves viewing partner sites because of various tools usually banners or product testimonials.  Basically it is saying; if you liked me, then you'll like what my partner has to offer as well.

6. Monetization Widgets

With the Internet, there will always be the latest and greatest programming or technology that every web site needs for enhancement.  The latest thing is the widget.  And there are widgets that allow you to make money, of course.  Good examples are Widgetbucks and SmartLinks.  Interesting enough some use the PPC method, others are only text links, while some or just partnerships through affiliate networks.

The only thing that really sets these apart are the fact they work with plug-ins or make more user friendly for an interactive site or multi-media purpose.

7. Sponsored Reviews

In some ways the Internet is beginning to mirror technologies of the past like cable.  Much like the Black Box or Pay Per View events, the Internet is slowly adopting such methods of increasing revenue.  Pay Per Post is a good example of such a model.  As with anything on the Internet in the beginning, it had its bad press due to the fact people forgot about disclosure laws that these were paid posts.  Still this method continues to build popularity especially when it came to reviews or blogs.  People want to feel a part of something and offer their opinions; this allows them that membership but also the freedoms to do so.

Many people not only use this as an outlet but also enjoy getting paid to write such reviews.  However, a word of caution, please be aware blogging sometimes leads to poor quality writing and editorial content.  You can still promote this function as a feature and collect the revenues instead of using a middleman.

8. RSS Feed Ads

Web site traffic is all about distribution of information.  Slowly people are beginning to realize the importance of RSS feeds and its technology.  Web site owners are quick to use this to their advantage to make more profit. 

It is all about the publisher network; once again the importance of networks cannot be avoided.  Feedburber has its own publisher and this provider seems pretty popular.  You can get account to start allowing CPM originated adverts as part of your feed footer.  It wasn't very long that Bidvertiser also included RSS feed as an alternative but with a PPC method in place.  This seems to have trickled down to blogs because many use banners now or have sponsors whose ads are displayed continually. 

9. Sponsors for Single Columns or Events

As you well know, your web site needs interaction with the viewing public and this can be done via special events.  Another means of maximizing the return on investment is that you can get sponsors for such events like interviews, weekly podcasts or contests. 

This technique is mutually beneficial to the web site owner and the sponsor because it not only allows the owner to make money but it gives the sponsor the opportunity to target their specific clientele with less risk involved. 

There are many examples of this working well for each party but the best example is Mashable.  The site promotes many different types of adverts including sponsored special events like the Daily Poll or the Web 2.0 invitations.  Another is Problogger, which also facilitates writing groups but also networks sponsors.

10.Premium Content

You have probably seen it on different web sites there are areas that are free and areas that display premium content to the viewer.  They also charge an entrance or access fee to use greatly enhanced tools that allow for fuller media interaction, movies, music and television but also entertainment content for certain demographics.  People can chose to become a member to see these hidden areas.  Sometimes yon can get a day pass or a membership for the week.

11. Private Forums

Forums, like Blogs are everywhere and so many of them are free and that's wonderful but there are many that require membership.  This could be a possible advantage for the web site owner to profit off of on a monthly or yearly basis.  Some of this sites charge $100 a month for access and these sites have thousands of members actively posting.  Others charge less but the key is to provide a product or service people are eager to pay that kind of money for.  It has be something of great value, whether it is entertainment or insider secrets or tools for rebuilding credit, it depends on the niche.

12. Job Boards

Job boards have always be highly utilized format for putting people in touch with each other but the blog feature has allowed people to make extra money.  Such places like Web Scribe Job Board, SimplyHired Job-o-matic are highly trafficked and popular.  Still this means you must be highly focused on your specific field in order for this to work correctly.  It is once again about the niche but this will also propel traffic your way. 

This method is entirely passive in its approach.  Once the blue print is apparent, the job listings will gather and the beauty of it is that you can charge between $10 to $100 per listing.

13. Marketplaces

It goes without saying that one needs a defined marketplace, even on the Internet; otherwise none of this will work appropriately.  Sitepoint is the crème de la crème.  It is the best by reputation and excellence in quality.  This has lead to many needing to be on this bandwagon and such imitations have resulted. 

The concept of the marketplace is important to explore and define because of its sole purpose, to drive visitors to purchase, sell and barter products.  It is a matter of exchange and of pure interaction as the base level.  Once the marketplace is established, then you can charge a small fee for listings.  This can still lead to overhead per se because there is no tried and true software programming and either you would need to code or hire a coder to maintain the marketplace page within your site.