3) Ants: http://www.ants.com

Another auction-like site where you bid on projects that interest you. Categories of jobs are more limited but you can make money telling all your friends about this great service.

4) eWork Exchange: http://www.eworkexchange.com/

Part of registration involves building your online resume which can be added to by creating a skill profile to go with it. Searching for projects is simple. When you see something you like you can e-mail project owner with your comments through use of a private profile number. You won't receive any direct contact information until you accept project. eWork boasts they have over 170,000 members

5) Free Agent: http://www.freeagent.com/

Claiming over 100,000 members, this is another one getting a lot of press. Upon registering you have to fill out a lengthy form detailing your skills and qualifications. They don't use open bidding, but you can search for projects by category. Free Agent uses a skill-matching engine that matches your skills with possible employers. Your name is then sent to them so they can contact you and work out money details.

So next time your business is slow and you're not quite sure where your next paycheck is coming from, browse through these sites and you'll have a "gig" in no time at all!

7) Join affiliate/associate programs that offer products or services that lend themselves to repeat sales.

For example, Internet marketers regularly use services such as web hosting, autoresponders, etc. Some affiliate programs that offer such services pay residual commissions to resellers for as long as original customers they've referred remain paying customers.

8) Join affiliate/associate programs that pay commissions on two levels.

Certain affiliate programs can also generate residual income in another way: by paying affiliates a percentage of commissions earned by those who sign up under them.

For sake of this article, I'm not referring to MLM (network marketing) programs with many levels. I'm referring to affiliate programs with no more than two levels.

Since many affiliate marketers don't actively promote their programs, don't sit back and rely on income from second-level commissions, but view it as icing on cake. You'll have better success with a program if you actively market it yourself.

Some of most ideal affiliate programs combine best of both worlds: Products or services that lend themselves to repeat sales, plus residual commissions based on earnings of those who sign up as resellers under you.

I've done a lot of research on affiliate programs. For a list of best e-commerce affiliate programs my research has revealed, see: http://AffiliateProfitInfo.com/programs/best.htm

Last Words

The best types of residual income are usually those that you have exclusive rights to or otherwise control. They may be harder and more time-consuming to develop or acquire, but rewards are usually greater, and income more stable.

I'm not against earning good, honest, "one-shot" linear income, but given a choice, which would YOU rather do: get paid only once for work you've done through linear income, or get paid repeatedly - perhaps for years or even rest of your life - for work you've performed only once, through residual income?

Check out Marty's directory of only *proven* money-making affiliate programs at: http://AffiliateProfitInfo.com/guide/ His highly-rated book, Internet Marketing Goldmine, reveals powerful Internet success strategies and is available at: http://ProfitInfo.com/