Link to web sites that provide useful information or services for your visitors. If you have many useful links on your site, they may make it their start page. Spice-up your web site's wording using plenty of adjectives. It gives your visitors a clearer vision of what your explaining or describing to them. Don't make your banner ads look like ads.
Most people ignore banner ads.
Design them to look like content and have them click to read the rest. Join affiliate programs that go with the theme of your web site. You'll just be wasting valuable space and time if your visitors aren't interested in them. Market your web site as a free club instead of a web site. This'll increase your repeat visitors and sales because people enjoy belonging to groups.