A new referral program by Google dubbed the "Google Referral Program" (currently in beta) allows people with websites to refer people to the Google Adwords and Google Adsense programs and earn referral fees. According to the program's website (http://www.google.com/referral/index.html), "The Google referral program (beta) is for businesses whose customers and visitors include small to medium-sized businesses, and who want to help those companies become more successful by running Google AdWords, or serving ads with Google AdSense. The program works by giving approved sites unique links to Google, then compensating the referring site for passing on a new AdWords advertiser or AdSense publisher."

This is good news for website owners, as Google is now paying a bounty (referral fee) to people who refer others to sign up for the Google Adwords or Google Adsense programs. The referral fee is currently $20 for each advertiser or publisher that is referred to either program.

Those who wish to refer people to the either the Google Adwords or the Google Adsense program must qualify. They must have a website and be manually approved for the program, which means that a Google employee or contractor will most likely review your website and determine if it qualifies to be a part of the program. If your website has already been approved for the Google Adsense program, then you have a better chance of being approved for the Google Referral program. However, it's most likely that Google will be looking for particular types of websites that can recommend their Adwords or Adsense program to medium-sized and small businesses, so some sites still may not qualify due to their content. All applicants must fill out an application form to qualify for the review.

Discuss Google's new program in the Small Business Ideas forum.