AdSense Bad For Your Business

[Andilinks]

...also are not many telligent.

You are so smart Tubby. Like Janeth you know that modesty is very smart.

[Tubby]

ROFL
I am pig headed, Arrogant, and any niceness I might portray is solely because I am result orientated. .
(nice gets better feedback)

I fear most of the posters on this thread are genuinely nice, intelligent, and worthwhile people. I just like to be seen mixing in good company..

[jawn_tech]

I wouldn't say that adsense isn't 'the answer'. As we've discussed, it depends on what one is trying to accomplish.

From what I've taken of this thread so far is, would I take down all adsense ads from my informational sites? No.

Woud I steer clear of putting all my eggs in one basket -- aka relying completely on Adsense? High probabality. Never close a door on other opportunities.

Would I remove adsense from a site of an already existing business with a customer base? You bet.

Why? The same reason I wouldn't post links to my competitors. Who is a competitor? Anyone competing for my site's visitors, regardless of where the outbound link goes to. I'll pass on the penny, in exchange for retaining the visitor, as they are a potential customer.

[kgun]

Originally Posted by janeth

Would you agree that this shows how little Google cares about the sites you use the code on?

Yes, in a way, but you risk loosing your AdSense account. There is always a tradeoff between risk and expected earnings.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by Andilinks

A new "real business" typically requires a large capital investment and prudently a year's operating expenses in the bank. Since most new businesses fail in the first two years a significant risk is involved. If you don't already have a good track record running a business or very high GPA as a newly minted MBA you won't be able to borrow much to do this. Hey! Borrow it from relatives, that's the ticket. :)

While this certainly is an option, I don't think it is what Cheryl is asking.

This may end up being one of those things I really wish I had not done later.

I made a post here

I'm going to take a site from 0 to being able to support a family without using any money.

It's a very competitve industry and one that has a bad reputation.

But I've been thinking or rather being pushed into doing this for the last month.

I didn't want to do the business but now I have no choice, so it should make some friends happy as well as prove a point.

I hope.

[Tubby]

Janet said
'This may end up being one of those things I really wish I had not done later. '

Might be, but my experience says.
This may end up being one of those things that will result in more long time personal value than a university degree.

[wifiglobal]

Janeth!! This is something I've though all along, and have never put any ads other than some affilate stuff on links pages on our site.

Bravo, and thank you for sharing and spreading the light :)

Sean

[jtracking]

Originally Posted by ProfessorMoriarty

I guess I see your point for a publisher that puts adsense ads on his/her own web site business (sole source of revenue), but what about those who do this on the side...like myself? I understand that in the long run it is better to set up a business and sell goods and services, but some people already have a full time job. Those people really don't have time to take an order, box it up, and take it to the post office to ship out. That is an 30min of work right there. Guess it really depends on how much your time is really worth.

With your 10 points:

1. You have to build a lot of sites to really make it work. - I have two that make between $100-$200 per day combined.
2. You have to host those sites in different places, costing more money. - $36.95 per year for hosting. Not really that much.
3. The sites have to be good for nothing. - My sites actually offer products from companies (affiliate marketing). Sort of like a christmasgifts.com. So I do offer a valuable service.
4. They have to get a lot of traffic. - Any site that is going to be successful needs a lot of traffic. Average conversion rates are about 5% online, so you will need a lot of traffic in any business model.
5. Your account can be cancelled at any moment. - I agree here. This is something I worry about.
6. All your money is coming from one place. - It's coming from a reputable company though. I trust Google more than I would trust some of the visitors buying products from sites.
7. You make .05 cents a click when you could make $1,500 a click. - I make between $0.50 and $1.00 per click. My click through rates are much higher than the average conversion rates. I don't have to do any work for those clicks. With a $1,500 service, I am guessing quite a few hours of work are involved.
8. Some of the companies you will become a publisher for will make corrections at the end of the month and never seem to pay on time. - Never had a problem with Google or Yahoo. Always what I expect as far as payment and always at the end of the month.
9. When Google or any of the major search engines make a big change in the way they rank sites it could put you out of business. - That happens with all businesses and sites online. Google, Yahoo, and MSN do not penalize you for just having adsense on your site. I mean look at all the forums, everyone industry complains when Google makes an update and suddenly they are nowhere to be found. You have more to loose if you are business and depend on your site to make a living than just having a side adsense site.
10. You have to blend the ads into the site and try and trick the visitor into clicking those ads to make money. - Sometimes yes, but will all advertising, you need to blend it in with the scheme of the site. Otherwise it really will look out of place.

I am not trying to go against your thoughts on this model, but it's not always that way. I am one example.

I just CAN'T WAIT until I make $100.00 a day on my adsense site, then i can finally retire...

*trying* but thanks for the posts people.

[ejacka]

Google are crooks anyway, they inflated my Adsense budget from $1.00 to $1,860 a day behind my back. I lost £100 & they refused to discuss it with me (I never got further than the call centre), just an email from their lawyers saying "you won't be getting your money back". I would never give them another cent.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by ejacka

Google are crooks anyway, they inflated my Adsense budget from $1.00 to $1,860 a day behind my back. I lost £100 & they refused to discuss it with me (I never got further than the call centre), just an email from their lawyers saying "you won't be getting your money back". I would never give them another cent.

I think your talking about AdWords

[ejacka]

Yeah I get them mixed up, too late to edit now. Anyway your cute (if that is yer picture), lovely name too.

[Tubby]

'too late to edit now'

Well, not to late - Ctabuc deleted your other Identicle post. because I think he felt calling anyone a 'crook' was not cricket.

so your post might yet, get 'edited'

[Andilinks]

Oh no, crooks should be called crooks--but not without some credible evidence. A believable and fully articulated narrative will do.

Being timid with useful warnings is disgraceful and dangerous.

I don't think Google is a crook, at worst unintentionally thoughtless on occasion.

[Tubby]

"but not without some credible evidence."

Yes, I vaugly recall that being something was a contributing factor to the earlier deleted post.

[dartman]

Originally Posted by nipplecharms1

Color me confused but....
If you are selling something, why would want any advertising from a competitor?

Haven't been on the forum for some time and this topic is somewhat interesting and entertaining. I have to agree with you Nip, why open any doors to competitors - but then again we feel the same way about any links in general.
Either way, our site is about selling product however we did add a small amount of adsense at the bottom of a few pages. After 2 months we received a G check for a tad over $100. We blocked all 'direct competitor' ads and the adsense ads that actually show have been sellers with products related to our line so it's worked out ok so far. Adsense appears to have some merit if used wisely. It's just unfortunate that G does nothing to eliminate the adsense link farms.

[dartman]

Good post Janeth - nice colorful responses too.

[dartman]

Anyone have experience with 'clickback'?

[Kevver]

Adsense (Google) severed all communications with NuttyPrices.com when there was an un-named question as to the validity of clicks on my adsense ads, 2 years after having a successful account.

I suggested the possibility of competitors multi-clicking my ads to result this outcome. The response from Google stated that they could not comment on the reason but were keeping my funds and closing my adsense account.

You would think that a huge company like Google would do a little more research into things for its clients, and at least give a viable reason for closing one's account.

I am now a reformed Google-holic and want nothing to do with Google.

I have a friend who is the evening TV news editor for a major affiliate here in Seattle. When my car was stolen, I called him and 2 hours later, there was a reporter knocking on my door. I was on the 11 O'clock news!

I want so bad, to present a story to him, that mars Google and puts them in their place.

If you have ideas, let me know.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by Kevver

Adsense (Google) severed all communications with NuttyPrices.com when there was an un-named question as to the validity of clicks on my adsense ads, 2 years after having a successful account.

I suggested the possibility of competitors multi-clicking my ads to result this outcome. The response from Google stated that they could not comment on the reason but were keeping my funds and closing my adsense account.

You would think that a huge company like Google would do a little more research into things for its clients, and at least give a viable reason for closing one's account.

I am now a reformed Google-holic and want nothing to do with Google.

I have a friend who is the evening TV news editor for a major affiliate here in Seattle. When my car was stolen, I called him and 2 hours later, there was a reporter knocking on my door. I was on the 11 O'clock news!

I want so bad, to present a story to him, that mars Google and puts them in their place.

If you have ideas, let me know.

Google tried to protect people who were spending money with them and now you want to go in search of a reason to attack them.

How sad is that?

[Kevver]

You obviously didn't read and understand my post. As I stated, I've been a customer for 2 years. I've conformed to every rule that God, er, I mean Google, has put forth.

Your email states that "Google tried to protect people who were spending money with them."

That was me! Did they protect me, after 2 years of advertising their ads from my website? No!
Did they protect me from a woodpecker on my ads that caused my account to be disabled? No!

In one fail swoop, they just sent an email saying that my account was closed and to not even respond because they would not consider it again.

How lame is that?

[Andilinks]

I have at various times been very angry with Google and have felt like lashing out.

I have come to realize that this is a fool's errand and that putting my energy toward making peace with them and resuming a working relationship is a much wiser course and one much more likely for success.

Yes, this is contrary to an independent spirit and a desire for revenge but truly it will make you happier in the end. You needn't be fawning or submissive, if they have wronged you be persistant in telling them so. But by trying to hurt them you will only injure yourself.

[Kevver]

I should clarify that I don't intend to 'hurt' them.

I intend to take them down a notch to two.
They think they are God of search engines and they claim to be so wholesome, yet they are crooked.

However, I just found out that MSN and Yahoo are planning an attack on Google. That's a relief. MSN and Yahoo have a little more money and resources than I do.

Go Bill!

[codem]

great post janeth, i really liked your point of view, and most of your points are valid.

[Laurentvw]

Originally Posted by codem

great post janeth, i really liked your point of view, and most of your points are valid.

Well.. your mileage may vary, I don't agree at all with what she said.

[full house]

I think it would depend if you fill your site of ads of Google. Just wondering, why would close a business ( i may say ) if you're are earning too much!We 're looking forward to have the same earnings as you have and you'll just it! Thats impossible.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by full house

I think it would depend if you fill your site of ads of Google. Just wondering, why would close a business ( i may say ) if you're are earning too much!We 're looking forward to have the same earnings as you have and you'll just it! Thats impossible.

I think this post is a couple years old.

I closed the business because of the number of sites it took and the headaches involved. Looking back I would have done things differently.

[janeth]

Originally Posted by Laurentvw

Well.. your mileage may vary, I don't agree at all with what she said.

Since you feel the need to copy my sites name and try and target it for traffic please explain what you disagree with.