Word is spreading around today about Google’s new affiliate program. The affiliate program is currently in beta and it’s based on referring people for new AdWords and AdSense accounts.
In order to earn commissions on AdWords referrals, the referrals must spend $20 with AdWords. AdSense publishers qualify as commissionable to affiliates when they have earned $75 in AdSense revenue.
The commission check threshold is $100, and Google will issue commission checks once a month.
As far as I can tell, the Google affiliate program is being run with internal technology.
Old timers might recall that back in 2000, there was a Google affiliate program on Be Free.
Back then, they were initially paying $0.03 per search from an affiliate site.
But it looks like they were hit by click fraud back at the dawn of the new millenium, because the commission dropped to $0.01 after a short time.
By February 1, 2001, Google had discontinued their affiliate program. Welcome back to the party, fellas!