How to Make Money Hosting a Website

1. Choose a strong domain name that will help people not only find you, but understand what your website is all about. Whether you are an author writing about your books, or a business woman handing out marketing tips, your domain name should be as catchy and marketable as your website.
2. Buy a hosting package with a Web hosting company that has an affiliate program. Affiliate programs require you to place a simple HTML ad with a specialized link on your website. When interested users click on that link and buy a hosting package, you get a referral bonus from the Web hosting company. Be sure you place your referral ad in a place your visitors can see it, but that does not obstruct or interfere with your content.

3. Sign up with affiliate sponsor programs, such as Google Adsense, AdBrite, Commission Junction and Anastasia's Affiliate Programs. (See links in Resources.) Browse through relevant sponsor ads when setting up your affiliate account so the most relevant advertisements to your website type appear in rotation on your site. The more relevant the ads are to your content, the more likely you will be to draw in clicks and sales.
4. Draw people in to your website. Use social marketing sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, and put up free ads on sites like CMF Ads and Entrecard. (See Resources for links.) CMF Ads and Entrecard allow you to upload a small button other users add to their high-traffic websites in exchange for the placement of a button on your page. Regular use helps draw in traffic to your site and expose your ads to more viewers.
5. Update your site regularly with content to keep readers and subscribers from losing interest and moving on. Regular content updates will also draw in new viewers, increasing your earning potential from pay-per-click sponsors.