Reviewing Google Adsense

External Since: Jun 29, 2003 Posts: 720

Google adsense is an advertising opportunity which enables web
publishers to display Google Google AdWords™ adverts as either 468 x
60 Banners, 120 x 600 Skyscrapers, 728 x 90 Leaderboards or 300 x 250
Inline rectangles as selected by the publisher, displayed using
javascript. The program is operated on a CPC basis, the publisher
earning various amounts when an advert is clicked by a reader, Google
making payment when $100 or more has been earned.

Google maintains that Adsense adverts are relevant to the content of
the page on which they are displayed, and argues that this will
encourage a higher degree of reader interest than traditional random
adverts.

We found the content-relative advertising to be a little wooly. Google
seemed to place a great deal of weight on the filename of the page the
advert was displayed on. We also found that very often Google either
had no relevant advert or couldn't comprehend the content of the page
and as such displayed non-paying 'charity' adverts.

Publishers are forbidden to reveal the click through ratio of their
displayed Google Adsense adverts (CTR), but we found the CTR to be
very disappointing compared to standard graphic banner adverts served
by a mainstream advertising agency, averaging less than 10% of the
interest generated by traditional banner adverts.

In conclusion, while we didn't trial the Google Adsense program
through to payment - the returns were so low that would have taken us
months - we found Google Adsense to be a potentially viable
alternative to other affiliate programs offered to publishers of low
traffic web sites who are denied access to online advertising programs
due to their lack of traffic. We should advise though that publishers
of hobby sites check that their content is compatible with Google
adverts, otherwise you could find yourself displaying free 'charity'
adverts on Google's behalf.

Matt Probert

--
Why 'phone a friend' when you can take the Probert Encyclopaedia
with you on your mobile phone!
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/BookDetails.asp?BookID=4121&Origine=93

External Since: Jun 30, 2003 Posts: 64

"Matt Probert" <www DeleteThis @probertencyclopaedia.com> wrote in message
news:3fab9f1c.22002468@news.ntlworld.com...
> We should advise though that publishers
> of hobby sites check that their content is compatible with Google
> adverts, otherwise you could find yourself displaying free 'charity'
> adverts on Google's behalf.
>

I think you need to check your facts again ...