Are you using Google Adsense on your blog to earn some side income? How long have you been using it? How successful have you been?
Although I’ve never used it on my properties, I’ve definitely thought about it. I have been doing some tests via my RSS Feeds which has resulted in a less-than-satisfactory performance (although I didn’t expect good returns anyway):
***The picture is now blurred out since it’s apparently against Google’s TOS to publish this data. Thanks Matt for the heads up!***
I’m rethinking the usage of Google Adsense from scratch as this blog expands (and will expand) in the near future.
Love your thoughts and where you sit. I’ve already blogged about how I am personally against using it (“Why Adsense Devalues Your Blog“), but, I’m open and willing to change.
joanna says
I'm thinking the tiny amount i'd likely earn isn't worth how ugly it would make my sites. Not to mention that i don't want to subject my readers to some of the rubbish commonly found on google ads (cults, weight loss scams ect)
human3rror says
you don't like cults and weight loss scams?!?!
sad.
😉
joanna says
As someone trying to loose weight, there is only so many times you can have some miracle diet or secret weightloss trick shoved in your face before you start to go a little batty.
Atomic Popcorn says
First, its against Google TOS to show your CTR and eCPM.
Secondly its all about placement. I have changed mine so many times and have finally found where it needs to be on my blog. It seriously is all about placement, went from getting pennies a day on around 3k pageviews to earning upwards of 8 dollars a day with less views.
Any questions let me know
human3rror says
Matt,
I wasn't aware that was against TOS… interesting. Never heard that.
I'm going to have to look into that.
human3rror says
it's blurred out now. thanks for that!
joanna says
Hmmm. Google doesn't want people to know how little they'll probably get paid. Funny that
human3rror says
seriously.
Phillip Gibb says
I somehow doubt that AdSense works very well – I mean who can honestly say that they saw an advert and thought ooo that's exactly what I was looking for I think that I shall buy it.
Surely there is more money in your own personal advertising programs like what is typically shown on the right. Where you pay for awareness more than anything else in a manner that is more appealing and more trusted.
human3rror says
hmm. very good very good. this was yummy.
Graham Brenna says
I agree with Phillip here…
dannyjbixby says
+1 to you
Eric Granata says
I've had exponentially better results using affiliate links.
Name:joel says
I have adsense on my non-religious blog and it does well enough to pay for my hosting and maybe a fast food dinner during September – may (it’s about math: yourtutoronline.com) but I took adsense off my religious blog when I found prop 8 ads started showing up. Be careful.
Tom says
If people can make it work, that's great, but I've rarely heard any genuine cases of people with notable sites making more then pennies using AdSense.
On a personal note, I think AdSense looks bad – as in flat out ugly – and people are so used to seeing the ads on other sites that they automatically learn to tune them out.
John Saddington says
yeah. very true. that’s why i think it devalues properties.
🙂 oh, and your blog post is live. wtg.
Christopher Hopper says
I tried AS for 10 months, moved it all around, (ie. did the Hokey Pokey), and had little to show for it. I mean, very little. To the point where I really couldn't justify the marketing prostitution I was putting my readers through. I decided I'd rather present a clean and simple theme with dedicated content then yet once again try and sell the public something they probably don't want anyway. ch:
Yohan Perera says
Well there are a lot of Adsense best practices one must follow before actually incorporating them in a blog. I personally want to affiliate with Adsense but I am still planning and getting familiar with dos and don'ts.
lon says
I use to primarily use google adsense, but i've since shifted away from it. it covered hosting fees and a bit more but I've found they're amongst the lowest in return per click… plus i kept getting big ads for 'sexy christian singles'… and well the singles part just didn't apply to me.
Chad says
I don't place advertising on my Web site. Hosting is inexpensive and I worry some about what might be advertised. Despite believing that I could deal with the advertising issues, I have still decided to stay away all together.
human3rror says
very cool. thanks for sharing.
Mikes says
i think that was a mouthful
I better think about this. I also earn pennies from Adsense. literally.
but i still have it, for the sake of having it but i placed in the bottom part so as not to distract my readers. hmm yeah talk about useless.