[1] There’s at least one company pushing the idea to many bloggers, among other identified online venues, that if those responsible for the site add a snippet of code to the pages, they will be at the head of the pack to make money.

The ads are supposed to be around four to six seconds in length, and they payout is supposed to be higher than the industry standard, paying a whopping 25 percent of the cost per thousand. That’s where the money comes in.

The feel of newly-printed money, especially when you get to break the U.S. Mint’s wrapper, is a great feeling. Earning that money, though, can often be a pain. A pain in the butt, sore hands, soiled hands, or even a sore body. Sometimes the work you do to earn the money is purely mental, making many people feel burned out at the end of the day, but earning an honest day’s pay — especially when you’re paid fairly — is always a good feeling. Making money online, though, can often be less than fulfilling. [2]

Yes, I’ve earned a dollar or two online. Well, I’ve earned more than that, but generally, it’s a dollar or two, per day, on a slow day. But a dollar for an affiliate program or other venture that I am testing out, checking to see if it’s a good fit for me, is better than nothing. In fact, earning money — and earning it quickly — is always good with online ventures.

I am not one of those people into pyramid schemes, get-rich-overnight dealings, or anything illegal or immoral, I do like things that will make me a legitimate, honest dollar, online or in the brick-and-mortar world.

When it comes to me allowing ads on my site, I always check — or test — that I will be getting compensated nicely for my time, for my site, and for the visitors that are exposed to the ads, especially when I know the benefits the advertiser, as well as the company responsible for paying me, will be much greater than anything I will see as a result of the ads. Bear in mind, sometimes an affiliate program, other times it comes directly from the advertiser, but it makes no difference how the money gets into my hands, just as long as it makes it there.

I was contacted a few months ago about a new concept in online marketing. It’s an ad program, still in development, that will play a short ad, around five seconds long, and for each audio ad played, I will get a cut of the cost for the ad. That’s all fine. The hook that snares many content publishers is the "25 percent of the cost per thousand." Twenty-five percent? Very nice.

Get paid 25% of what the advertiser spends "per play" on audio ads that you serve on your website(s). You get paid for every visitor that remains on any web page (where you place your PPP code) for more than 2 seconds.

Whoa, Nellie! Whoa. Back up here. Twenty-five percent of the cost per thousand audio ads played? The average cost per thousand ads is $20, which means I would make just around one-half cent per play, or almost 1.5 cents for three audio ads that are played to site visitors. I will get paid every week, just as long as I’ve earned at least $25 from audio ads that have played.

To help pull you into the pitch, the company says:

25% (your cut) of the $20 CPM is a $3.50 CPM which is well above industry standard CPM rates. There is no other form of advertising that compares to this commission structure except for per impression banner advertising. The revenue you receive from banner ads compared to audio ads is significant.

As an affiliate running ads on your website you will earn your 25%. So let’s say that you get 100,000 visitors a month that hear a 5 second ad then you would earn $350 in found money.

Ah, there lies the truth. If you get 100,000 visitors that month and if all 100,000 visitors are played an audio ad, you will make $350. If your site has over 100,000 visitors that month, but if the ad network doesn’t have ads for all those visitors, guess what? You won’t be making $350 because the number of ads to make that money didn’t play. Well, that’s just like a retail outlet. Over 100 people may enter the doors in the morning, but only 30 of those people may buy something.

When looking for an online program to generate some income online, be sure to carefully calculate how much you will be paid for each sale, play, or display, and once you have that number, determine if less than one-half cent per play for a five-second audio is is worth it to you. In the case above, over 830 audio ads would have to be played — not necessarily heard — to site visitors for you to earn the minimum $25 for payment. Earning that $25 or more, especially on a regular basis, could be earned quickly, or, if the program doesn’t have enough ads to support its entire network of affiliate sites, it could take months to earn that same $25.

As the old saying goes, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.