Websites have potential to be steady, reliable streams of income. However, to be successful business ventures, websites must be well-designed.  As a business, part of this design includes maximizing a site for revenue.  Here are several ways website owners can increase their sales revenues through multiple sales streams.

Referral income is earned by referring potential customers to a site.  These are commonly called affiliate or associate programs.  Common programs are Bottom Dollar, Spree.com and Amazon.

As a user clicks through or acts on an offer, a flat rate or percentage is paid by the referred site to the referring site.  Typical rates vary from $0.05 to $1.00 per click-through or from 5 percent to 20 percent of sales.

The largest danger of referral income is the temptation to refer users to any site that pays for referrals.  This can quickly cause a site to lose its original focus.  Once this is lost, users will stop visiting the site, because it no longer is unique.

The key to successfully earning referral income is to focus the website on a niche market and to promote only sites related to that market.  The site’s purpose should be clearly defined in a written mission statement.  Then, only sites and products directly related to that statement should be promoted.

Although fewer sites are being referred, more money can actually be made this way.  People are more likely to click on the referrals, because they are interested in the products or services.  Users also will continue to visit the site if it maintains a focused purpose.

As a site grows and its hits increase, advertising becomes an increasingly lucrative means of revenue.  Like any other media, advertisers benefit more by having more people see their ads.   The value of advertising varies greatly with the popularity of a site.  The range is typically from $5.00 to $75.00 per thousand page view, or impressions.  These rates are for banner ads on a site.

Ideally, the backbone on a website’s profit would come from product sales. The profit margin will depend upon the mark-up and shipping costs of a product, so the overall profit from these sales will vary.  For a greater profit margin, website owners can ship products themselves.  Using a drop-shipper will decrease the profit margin, but free up time.  Either way, all websites should offer some products for sale, because they can be a vital stream of revenue.

Many traditional businesses have branched into the e-commerce world, in order to promote their products or services to more people.  A website can generate many leads.  Usually people are willing to enter their email address, although sometimes a phone number or physical address will be given.  This contact information can be used for traditional follow-up and a potential sale.

Popular sites that offer unique information often have a paid, subscription section.  Users are willing to pay a site for information that is better than any other offered.  Many newspapers have paid sections.  They are also willing to pay for unique views.  Many commentators have a paid portion of their site.  This is the more common method of increasing sales through subscriptions.

The internet is a powerful tool, and people who understand how to use websites effectively can make a reliable income.  There are many tools that should be used.  By understanding how a site can benefit from each of these, website owners can maximize their sales.