While you're waiting for someone to buy your domain, there's no reason why you shouldn't be making a little extra money from it in the meantime. There are several ways to go about doing so using a technique called "domain parking".

When you "park" a domain, you set up a page with some form of cash-generating advertising on it which often also indicates that your domain is for sale.

Affiliate Programmes

Even if you're only getting a handful of visitors a day, if you have an idea of why they might be visiting your domain, you can sign up to an affiliate programme and capitalise on the traffic. The idea is that you display links to websites related to keywords in your domain name, and get paid a commission on click-throughs and sales on these websites which arrived via your domain.

There are several major affiliate networks, including LinkShare, FineClicks and Commission Junction.

Pay-Per-Click Search Engines

A pay-per-click (PPC) search engine is basically a small search box which you can put on the page to which your idle domain points. Usually, if you sign up with a PPC search engine programme, there will be links to relevant keyword searches on your page, as well as a search box. You will then be paid a commission for click-throughs to other pages from your site, or you will receive a percentage of revenues received for each visit. You could try Search123.com or 7Search.com.

Bulk traffic aggregators work on a similar principle; often, these programmes allow you to feature a "This domain is for sale" notice or personalised message on your page, as well as the search box, links and so on. Popular bulk traffic aggregators include Trafficz.com and NameRenters.com.

Google AdWords

Google AdWords is the archetypal PPC advertising model. The clever thing is that AdWords generates relevant advertisements based on search terms or the content of your web page. Again, Google pays a small commission for every click on one of their advertisements. Signing up for Google AdWords is quick and easy.

By Helena Henderson