AdSense Makes no sense

psolis · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 01:25 AM

Hi all;

OK the logic that Google uses to select who can join AdSense is a mystery, at least to me - I just don't get it.

I tried submitting several sites, but got rejected with no explanation. From my research, all I can see is that Google wants to be the only ad on the page and does not like "sponsors" showing up on that same page.

Is this way off the mark??

I learned that they do not like personal sites, self-serving 'business' sites, sites without any content, etc. But I thought one of my sites www.luxurywaterfronthome.com would be accepted. It is full of links, simple navigation and content.
And yes ads & sponsors.

Any suggestions on what needs to be cleaned out in order to fit Googles profile?

shersleather · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 01:56 PM

Hi,
I also was turned down with no explanation. I had ads on the upper part of my pages http://www.shersleatheremporium.com. I removed them and submitted again. I still was turned down. I also submitted another one of my websites http://www.4shers.com and it was turned down, too! That's not AdSense...that's NonSense!

Sher

psolis · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 05:54 PM

Sher
Thanks for your reply

I have seen sites that contain banners and Google's AdSense ads, so they can co-exist.

Also my experience with AdSense is a matter of days, so I must be missing the obvious. I have contents, links & plenty of Home & garden info for the average consumer.

Could it be that my site is too brand new and am just starting to get listed in search engines & starting to generate significan traffic/ receprical links? Does Google want to see some foundation first?

flood6 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 11:20 AM

From what I have heard from other forums and webmaster sites, it seems that Google wants between 30 and 40 pages minimum of pure original content. Free how-to’s, tutorials, commentary, news, articles, that kind of stuff. And this content has to be the base of the site (or should appear to be). But I have checked out a few AdSense advertisers and they seem awfully light on the content, almost like they get setup as advertisers, then change their site around back to selling their recycled eBooks or whatever. Just my $0.02. Hopefully someone who was accepted as AdSense advertisers will be able to share some inside info.

JMac · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 06:20 PM

Hello all -

(Hi Sher!)

One site I manage, called Mostly Mommies, was accepted to google's AdSense program. It's been just over two months now - every day more click throughs than the day before and a little more into our coffers.
(You can read the Mostly Mommies case study /success story at www.e-bc.ca/caseStudies.asp - we didn't write it so it is honestly unbiased!)

Newest AdSense policies say that affiliate links are allowed. They were not when I originally submitted another site that our company manages (not me specifically - I'm just SEO and marketing) and so we had to develop an alternative - see my other post about Google Adsense and affiliate marketing on the same site. Now that they have changed that rule - we may rethink but actually we love the new aspect of the site. To see their newest policies about who they will accept and not:
https://www.google.com/adsense/policies

My personal opinion is that Google Adsense has been far more profitable than the affiliate marketing I tried on Mostly Mommies originally. It seems that yet again, it may depend on your audience - people may have been clicking through to Crayola.com but no one was buying. With AdSense, we're being paid for those clicks instead of actual sales. I also really like that I've been able to tailor the ads to our site colors - I didn't have to select from so many banners and such - looking to see what people MIGHT click on. Google serves ads that are perfect for Mostly Mommies. (And now Dark Mountains as well - we serve Google ads on our article/review pages and affiliate marketing on the gear sales pages.)

Whatever "inside info" I have, I am happy to share - I just drifted away from the original question - I think Google's policies with regard to other advertisers are changing on a weekly basis. Check back often and I don't think they have a problem with resubmitting sites they already rejected if you've changed them.

Good luck all!

JMac

jon · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 06:26 PM

It seems like initial approval is the big key. Once you are approved, you are allowed to post the code on any sites you own as far as I understand the terms.

PeterLathan · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 07:13 PM

Adsense accepted the British Theatre Guide within a couple of hours of my application. I have other affiliate ads (Amazon and TicketMaster) on the same pages and even a theatre box office selling specific West End and regional shows (although that doesn't have an Adsense ad on it, mainly because a lot of the Adsense ads are actually for West End tickets.

The site has over 1,700 pages of unique content - articles, reviews, news, links and so on.

Adsense ads are pretty well targeted. My coverage of the Edinburgh Fringe brought up Edinburgh-related ads and pages about theatre in schools brought up ads for suitable scripts.

Adsense has been much more effective than either Amazon or TicketMaster: I've made more from Adsense in a month and a half than from Amazon in two years! TicketMaster has been OK and I'm hoping it will do better with the new box office with its targeted links rather than just relying on ads.

Adsense certainly makes sense to me!

Peter
http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/

lorenbaker · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 07:44 PM

I think that Google is predominately looking for sites that are high in content and offer news, articles, and info directed at precise target markets... or else the AdSense would not work from a buyers perspective.

For example, if you have a business site with no content what so ever except for your business (reader to customer) copy, what good would Google do you anyway?

For instance, look at a site like this http://www.webadvantage.net/tip_arch...ip_id=269&&a=1

Its a service site, but also offers a very diverse group of articles and features. Excellent for contextual advertising. If someone is reading an article on Web Hosting on this site, and are shown a relevant ad, they're more than likely to be interested.

But if the user is not engaged in information, would they be willing to click? Or even BUY??

Oh yeah, my BlogSearchEngine was turned down too :(

Not much real content and some racey stuff...

Oh well.

Loren

internetbasedmom · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 08:09 PM

Pablo, your site is mainly dynamically-generated content. Google has stated that its AdSense program doesn't work well on dynamically-generated site...that could be part of the reason for your rejection.

Alice

Denise · #10 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 08:33 PM

I agree that Google has an issue with sites that they feel have too much advertising, although they will allow sites with affiliate links if they're done tastefully or are mostly text links. However, I think that an even bigger issue for approval is how much traffic a site receives, and whether it is already in Google's database.

One of our customers put up a new site at http://fertility-facts.com that is content rich with lots of informative pages and very few affiliate links - it took Google two days to decline the site the first time around. The site was new and not indexed at that time.

Our main site at http://affiliatesifter.com has a number of affiliate links on the home page, including a banner at the top of the page, but that site was approved within an hour. I believe that the main difference was the amount of traffic that Google already sends to the site.

I'd say to do everything you can to optimize your site for search engines, make sure you're listed in Google's database, and then try applying again.

Prince_Eric · #11 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 10:25 PM

I believe you have to put yourself in the reviewer's shoes, to figure what they are looking at, bear in mind the following few points:

1) They review alot of sites each hour, so make sure your front page gives a good impression, clean and tidy and clear to the point. The rest of the pages, I don't think they have that much time but that doesn't mean you can have rubbish everywhere beyond the homepage.

2) Ensure your first page has minimal ads, they really do not like other ads against theirs. If you're lucky, you get in, but then, why push your luck?

3) Ensure your homepage don't link everywhere, it gives the impression this must be another links farm. Remember, they don't have time to look through everywhere just to ensure your site isn't one of those link farms, they just click on the reject button. If you want to put affiliate links or whatever, ensure it's in a links category or somewhere else, homepage is not the place to be in if you're into AdSense.

4) Legitimate, ensure your site doesn't look like it's going to con every idiots that come to your site. Don't make reviewers come to your site look like idiot. Popup ads are terrible, they give bad impression. Do not try to force people to sign up your site just to read your stuff, it might loook like those doubleclick spamming stuff, it's totally a no-no.

5) Get your friend to view your site, your homepage especially and give his impression of it. When you pass your friend's test, then you get the AdSense people in to judge it, you will have a higher chance of passing the test.

As an end note, here's a shameless plug for those who like free online games at http://www.dailyfreegames.com/

b2phat · #12 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 10:25 PM

When I first paid attention to the Google Adsense, I was in the middle of a complete redesign of our "fun" site (www.NewbieHangout.com) which is made up of several 100 pages and many of those have referral links on them.

I couldn't wait though ;o) So I headed on over and signed up for AdSense. I received a qucik reply that I'd been denied due to broken links.

So, I went about correcting my site ... and finished the update (most of it) and reapplied. I was accepted within an hour of signing up for it.

I've been pleasantly surprised with the results, too. It seems every day the advertisements get more targeted and the click through rate is better than it was initially.

For anyone trying to hook up with AdSense, I'd suggest optimizing your page ..... www.scrubtheweb.com has a page analyzer that works really well if you go by their guidelines.....

LorraineH · #13 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 04:12 AM

I have two sites that use google adsense. As others have said both sites include a lot of informational content pages on the sites' specific subject horses and equestrianism in the UK - www.equine-world.co.uk and pets - www.petwebsite.com.

Both sites contain other advertising in the form of banners or buttons. As you can see I use the skyscraper placement for google adsense within a box entitled "featured sites".

On other pages where I have not directly implemented the adsense code I use www.adbutler.com to manage my adverts. I have noted that Adbutler themselves must have been approved for google adsense - they keep 7% of my ad impressions for themselves in return for their free service - and I have noted that they are serving google adsense ads as part of this. This means adsense are also appearing on pages where I have not intentionally added my own adsense code. I also use a banner network www.fastclick.com and have noted that in the past they have had google as an advertising serving adsense adverts. This means of course that google actually has no control over sites where adsense is displayed by approving adbutler and fastclick as "publishers" because certainly anyone can sign up for an adbutler account. For the actual site owner it does mean that they gain no revenue from these ads if served by adbutler, but when fastclick had google as an advertiser the actual site owner was receiving a click through payment although this was obviously lower than if you were implementing adsense directly with your own code.

LorraineH · #14 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 04:26 AM

I have two sites that use google adsense. As Flood6 has pointed out both sites include a lot of informational content pages on the sites' specific subject horses and equestrianism in the UK - www.equine-world.co.uk and pets - www.petwebsite.com.

The sites above that I've looked at mentioned above which have been rejected to me look and feel "too commercial" - I found it hard to find any information, articles, news, etc on the site's actual subject. I have to admit I didn't look too hard and there may be "content" somewhere but it's not obvious.

Both of my sites have Information sections which is pure content - they also have articles sections and product news sections and www.equine-world.co.uk also has news about horses and equestrianism in the UK so there are pages and pages of content. Both sites have a web directory with links to advertisers, affiliate partners, but this is by no means the main part of the site, nor does it make up the majority of the main page.

Both my sites contain other advertising in the form of banners or buttons. As you can see I use the skyscraper placement for google adsense within a box entitled "featured sites".

On other pages where I have not directly implemented the adsense code I use www.adbutler.com to manage my adverts. I have noted that Adbutler themselves must have been approved for google adsense - they keep 7% of my ad impressions for themselves in return for their free service - and I have noted that they are serving google adsense ads as part of this. This means adsense are also appearing on pages where I have not intentionally added my own adsense code. I also use a banner network www.fastclick.com and have noted that in the past they have had google as an advertising serving adsense adverts. This means of course that google actually has no control over sites where adsense is displayed by approving adbutler and fastclick as "publishers" because certainly anyone can sign up for an adbutler account. For the actual site owner it does mean that they gain no revenue from these ads if served by adbutler, but when fastclick had google as an advertiser the actual site owner was receiving a click through payment although this was obviously lower than if you were implementing adsense directly with your own code.

TrafficProducer · #15 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 06:57 AM

Google 5 Years Old no wonder, they make so much cash. Last time I asked them about their service they asked of a Minimum of £3,000.00 a month.

Pay them enough cash an the may list you, otherwise not.

My opinion only these details could be incorrect.

B Noble · #16 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 09:38 AM

Interesting thread but one thing I haven't seen anyone bring up is the competition factor about AdSense. It has been awhile since I reviewed AdSense's policies and process, so if I'm wrong please do correct me.

When AdSense first came out we applied and was accepted right away. But what we discovered is that Google was actually displaying ads of our competitors on our site which we didn't like. We budget well over $7,500/mo. in advertising so why would we want to send our targeted traffic away to a competitor who might spend $100-500/mo. with Google?

I know you can block certain domains from appearing within the AdSense ads, BUT we have literally 1000s of competitiors. It never made sense to us. What we'd like to see is AdSense allow us to display ads from sites that compliment our service and does not directly compete with us.

For example, if our site was a wedding cake service, we'd want to display ads that were relative to wedding planning, bridal gowns, tuxedo services, flower shops, DJs, wedding decorations, invitation printing, etc. We wouldn't want other wedding cake services ads to be displayed on our site. Again, it has been some time since we reviewed AdSense's process, so maybe things have changed? Does anyone know?

psolis · #17 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 10:21 AM

JMac: Thanks for the insight. I will look at their policy again and make modifications.

Alice: You are correct in that most of my content is databade driven, but they are SSI and would load the content as an HTML. Then again spiders may not see it that way. Hmmm. big one here.

b2phat: 100+ pages of info!? That may be the issue with my www.luxurywaterfronthome.com site. All content is in several DB's. The actual # of web pages is minimal. Each page is filled dynamically with relevent content. So is google looking at actual structure in the web site or actual content delivered?

Prince_Eric:
>>Ensure your homepage don't link everywhere<<
My site is maily a directory of Luxury home vendors & products. Our home page is minimal on directory & maximum on articles. Any possibility that you can look at my site www.luxurywaterfronthome.com & see if there are any glaring NoNo's

Denise:
>>I believe that the main difference was the amount of traffic that Google already sends to the site. <<
I agree with you. My site is so new that, up until yesterday, I was not indexed in Google (I'm in the process of working additional SE's). So they look at how popular the site ALREADY is to see if enough traffic exists in order to warrant inclusion into AdSense. That makes sense!

One GREAT thing about applying to AdSense - I am now listed in the general searches!

Pablo

psolis · #18 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 12:28 PM

Beca Noble: Google AdSense has filters that let you block out your competition. Look at thread http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=2769

btg · #19 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 01:21 PM

Hi,
To everyone;
After having read all the replies about Adsense, its so obvious what Google are looking for when appro