I’ve tried Google’s Adsense system and vetted it as far as I think I can; I’ve tried every avenue and marketing channel, locational strategies, everything. At the end of the day I’ve come to the conclusion that it ultimately devalues your blog.
Here’s why:
- It takes up valuable real estate on your blog for content and real value-add for your readers.
- It just looks bad. Honestly. I don’t care if you successfully color-match (and the vast majority don’t even take the time to do that) it just looks terrible.
- Control. You do have the ability control what ads shows up but typically if you start limiting ads the ones that you drop are usually the highest paying. Bummer, they are the ones you don’t want showing up.
- You can make more money by sponsored advertising.
- It consumes a lot of your focus, especially for a new blogger. That’s not what you need to concentrate out the gate (or even for a while).
To sum it up, it just looks unprofessional.
Are you using Google Adsense and/or have you been considering it? What are your thoughts?
Bill Bolte says
I do have Adsense on several of my sites including the blog. Honestly, I don't get many clicks even though the ads are targeted fairly well in comparison to search terms coming into the site. So you'd think I'd get more clicks. I do know what you mean about it devaluing, especially if its way overdone. I'm hoping mine aren't that bad, although I'm beginning to suspect they may be. The blog has been up long enough, it's probably time to re-evaluate them.
human3rror says
cool deal.
celiadyer says
I agree. I do not the Google Adsense esthetics at all, so we we have resisted on our blog. (Not to mention, Google won't give you Adsense until you have an up-and-running blog WITH ADs! So, by the time we paid a programmer for a custom ad rotator, why should we give it up now for Google's very commercial, unsightly Adsense?) We are 100% sponsored ad supported our first 5 months since launch, not easy in this down economy.
human3rror says
π good point.
Michael Benidt says
There is a reason that the first three letters of Seth Godin's last name are… well, you understand.
Here's God… sorry, I mean Godin, about your topic and I think it's the first and last word. Only wish more people felt the way he does:
"The other day, someone pointed out to me that my blog is read by more people than 95% of all the magazines published in the US. She wanted to know why I don't try to monetize it. "Run ads," she said. "Or find a sponsor, or maybe even charge for it!" That's a lot of nickels, after all.
I tried to sum it up like this: Not only can't I imagine charging for my blog, I'm practically in debt to the people who read it. I ought to pay them, not the other way around.
Every time you read something I write here, you're giving me a gift… attention. It's getting more precious all the time, you have more choices every day, and it's harder and harder to find the time. I know. I'm grateful. I'm doing my best to make your attention worth it."
I've just quoted most of his blog post – but I don't think he'd mind. Here's the link – http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/11/t…
Jason Whitehorn says
You made me think about it. If you remember a few weeks back (maybe a month) I was griping because I had put some plugin in the system that ended up generating google ads. I wasn't too happy about it as I wasn't the one reaping revenue. After I finally got rid of them all, I decided "hmmm…maybe I SHOULD try it myself."
The results? Lets take my last 500 page impressions….notta….zip…zilch.
Conclusion: I gotta agree wholeheartedly with your post, John. When I get home tonight, I'll be yanking them off of my blog.
— JW
human3rror says
word up!
Lori Moore says
I just started blogging. I considered AdSense, and at the end of the day, my feelings were exactly what you have said. I felt it devalued, and I knew that you could add paid sponsors so…didn't see a benefit. Glad to see my choice confirmed. : ) Lori
human3rror says
π thanks for stopping by!
Joanna says
I've had people suggest it to me but my thoughts on it have been quite similar to yours. For the small amount of money i'd earn (if any), i don't think it is worth how much worse it would make my blog look. Even more important is issues of credibility. Blogs with similar content to mine that use adsense tends to get an awful lot of ads for groups and products i would not be happy to endorse.
human3rror says
“if any” is the right answer. almost nothing. it's sad.
Fred McKinnon says
John
First – did you ditch IntenseDebate? (applaud)
Second – I use it, but only in the “remnant” inventory positions of our ad server (openx) – if all paid sponsor ads have shown, our Google AdSense code is ONE segment of the in-house remnant rotation. Speaking of – sport me some churchcrunch banners and I’ll throw it in the remnant rotation for a while, too!
Graham Brenna says
Agreed…
Jason Whitehorn says
I will say this, Joanna….I haven't had any "questionable" ads that showed up on my site….so that is not the issue (although I am sure it is possible). The biggest thing for me is that it does no good. Its netted me notta.
Even if you can make the adds as perfectly seemed as possible, it still makes no sense based on the amount of clickthourghs you may or may not get.
Just my two cents…and I'd take it…cause its probablly more than we will get from the ads combined!
π
Mikes says
I poste in the forum asking for feedback to my 1 month old site and one feedback was about Adsense. My goal was for my site to be a devotional type and adsense just destroys that. this is because sometimes adsense shows ads that are just so far-off. I'm gald i took it out. my site now i think looks cleaner.
Jonathan Malm says
Good thoughts. I just recently stopped using Adsense…and you confirmed my choice. Thanks! π