Affiliate Programs stink--or is that AdSense?

I've been told by some that Affiliate Programs don't make any money and to stick with AdSense. Others say that Affiliate Programs are the only way to make real money on the internet.

I have more experience with AdSense than affiliate programs, so I wanted to get your opinions about which is true and which is not--if either.

Thanks!

 

You should check up on the usefulness of your sources.

Do you reckon that if affilate schemes wouldn't work they'd still exist?

As with most things, there is no straight answer. Some sites work better with affilate programs, others with AdSense. But they both have huge potential, as proven numerous times by several people.

 

I both use affiliate programs and adsense, it is both working for me though adsense makes a huge percentage of my income

 

yah..it doesn't hurt to have both...adsense earns you money as long as you have traffic to your site. For affiliate programs, it is easier to earn money if you have a good relationship with your list.

 

It depends what types of sites you have. Content (or article) sites work well with adsense. product review sites work well with affiliate programs if there're good affiliates there.

 

I'd agree with Shawn in that Affiliate programs take more work to make the big bucks.
AdSense almost optimizes itself so that you get the best income out of it.

Plus it all depends on what type of site you have as mentioned above.

Either market someone elses product/service (affiliate marketing).
OR
Provide good content that gets lots of views and use AdSense.

 

AdSense accounts for about 20% of my income, affiliate sales the other 80%. Users are going to either buy or leave the site - I might as well give them something to click on in the hopes that they WILL click on it and put something in my pocket.

 

Adsense is #1 in my book, CJ #2

 

Any tips on how to work at affiliate progs besides using SEO?

 

I would not put too much emphasis on affiliate programs. They are a good way of making money on the side, but having your own product/service is what I recommend.

Mike

 

True, but if I can make what half of shawn makes/month with affiliate progs, I will be pretty happy with that and won't even need my own product anymore!

 

Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I'm sorry I didn't respond soon--I had my account set to send me daily email notifications, but I wasn't getting them. =(