It seems everyone and their mother now has a website or a blog. We hear the success stories like the woman who blogged about cooking and had a major studio buy it to make the movie Julie & Julia. But how can the average web designer make any money without waiting for that kind of luck?

Here are three off-the-beaten-path ideas you should consider:

1. Direct Banner Advertising. Use your web design skills to create an eye catching banner that advertizes a particular company or service. You probably won’t be able to charge much if you don’t have a big audience, but if you’ve built up a following then ask relevant companies if they want to buy reasonably priced ad space.
2. Sponsorships. Does your website have weekly podcasts, monthly surveys, an interview series, or specific columns? Contact companies about sponsoring one of them. This allows the company to target a very specific audience. Both Mashable and Problogger demonstrate this tactic.
3. Highlighted Posts from Sponsors. To get an idea of how successful this can be, check out Techmeme. They created a sidebar for sponsor posts that can help direct traffic to their sites. If your website has a big enough audience, you can charge a few thousand dollars for one of these spots. Techeme, for instance, charges $5,000.

Of course, if your website is still in its infancy and doesn’t have enough traffic to generate big advertising sales, you can always start by asking for donations with a “Donate” link. If your blog or website offers valuable information, people may be willing to send a few dollars your way.

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