Google AdSense Primer

Google AdSense & Contextual Advertising

The Google AdSense program (and similar programs from other companies) is a contextually based ad system. What does this mean?

It means that Google quickly reads the content of any page that contains its AdSense code, every time someone views that page. Based on that content, Google then supplies ads that are relevant -- in context -- to the page information. A page about dog grooming will show ads about dog grooming, or pet grooming, or perhaps about pets. It won't show ads about iPads or travel to Thailand.

The Google AdSense program is very easy to use, and a simple way to add another income stream to your e-business's bottom line. The AdSense series, beginning with this primer, will help you determine whether AdSense is right for you, and, if it is, help you turn it into a consistent money-maker for your site.

Below are two links to the official Google AdSense site. They'll give you some general information about AdSense. Following that is information to help you to get started with AdSense...

Background Information

Google's overview of the AdSense program is here...
How AdSense Works

Is Google Right for Your Site?/Case Studies
https://www.google.com/adsense/success

Should You Participate?

Participating in the Google AdSense program requires no long-term contract. Want to stop participating? Simply remove the code from your site and send Google a brief note. There's absolutely no risk in experimenting.

Since you're free to place the ads anywhere you like on your site, it's easy to leverage the income-producing potential of low-converting pages, without compromising the PREselling efficiency of the pages that monetize well.

In short, there are very few reasons why one would not want to participate in the AdSense program. In most cases, it's a true WIN-WIN-WIN (Google-visitor-you) situation.

Of course, if you're just getting started and traffic is low (say, less than 50 unique visitors per day), then hold off on joining and focus on building more great content! Then "do AdSense."

Even if you aren't entirely sure the AdSense program is right for your e-business, Google has made it easy to test.

However, keep in mind that the money you earn depends on the competitiveness of your industry, the number of visitors to your site, the number of impressions, Click-Through Rates and the dollar value of your keywords. In other words, it depends on how well you've followed the C T P M process.

Before you consider the Google AdSense program as a "monetizing" option for your site, do a self-evaluation...

First, ensure that your site is high quality -- clean, with plenty of great information. Google has to answer to its advertisers, meaning it must maintain a high standard of editorial quality. If your site is one big sales pitch, you'll be turned down.

If your site is loaded with tons of affiliate links (i.e., if you ignored the C T P M) process, there's no point in enrolling in the program... you'll be rejected by the Google spider and their evaluation algorithm without ever being seen by a human!

A text-based affiliate link on a page is probably OK, but if you scatter them all over the place... bye-bye.

Banners galore? Hasta la vista.

So if you have many affiliate links, drop all the poor-performing ones. Keep only the cream of the cream, the few programs that are generating income. Trash the banners. Clean, scrub and polish.

Second, review Google's program policies...

https://www.google.com/adsense/policies

If your site passes your own two preliminary tests (before you apply to Google), congratulations! It's time to move on! If not, it's time to follow the C T P M) process and clean up/improve your site.

There are occasions when AdSense may not make sense for your e-business...

Do you target a sensitive audience? Are you concerned about the sort of image your business will portray by running ads? If so, test very carefully.
Is your absolute #1 priority getting your message to your visitors to PREsell high-value returns? For example, are you selling your services, using SBI! to secure tens of thousands of dollars in new client business? Give AdSense a pass, or test very carefully.
Are the relevant keywords for your site of low value? Are Click-Through Rates low? Depending on the purpose of your site, AdSense may not be worthwhile. However, there are strategies for turning this around. Follow the articles in the Google AdSense series.