If you run a website, but do not sell a product or service, there are still many ways to bring in money. Perhaps the most popular choice is to carry ads.

There are numerous sites, such as Google’s Adsense program, that pay you for carrying ads. For the most part, you’ll get paid per click, but sometimes you’ll only get paid per purchase.

Also, there’s something else to consider: Google requires that you earn up to $100 before they pay out. Depending on the size of your site, and depending on how many people actually click on the ads, that could take a week, a month, or longer. In other words, unless you run a large site, consider ad income to be a bonus, and not a certainty. And, the money you do bring in will likely serve to let you break even on the cost of a server.

Still, money is money, and there are many choices out there for bloggers and forum hosts to choose from. Some things to consider when choosing one:

• Minimum required for payout.
• How do they pay out: Paypal, bank wire, or cheque?
• Do you get paid per click or per purchase?
• Can you filter out ads you feel are objectionable?

If you take these factors into consideration, you can make a wise choice as to who provides your ads, and you will likely earn some nice side income as well.