Comments on: Should you Monetize your Site with Adsense or Affiliate Programs? http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/ Making Money through Ethical Internet Marketing. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:50:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael T Anderson http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-16671 Michael T Anderson Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:45:36 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-16671 I've done better on my sites with Adsense too. It all depends on placement and I've found that different ad placements work better for different niches. I’ve done better on my sites with Adsense too. It all depends on placement and I’ve found that different ad placements work better for different niches.

]]> By: Jonathan@Friends&Money http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-9944 Jonathan@Friends&Money Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:14:16 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-9944 Josh, I couldn't agree with you more, Adsense is a useful tool but it is just one of many affiliate marketing tools. I do continue to use adsense on some of my blogs but I also have two or three blogs that use highly specialised afiiliate programs which generate a much better return sometimes 5 or six times more than I could expect with adsense Josh, I couldn’t agree with you more, Adsense is a useful tool but it is just one of many affiliate marketing tools. I do continue to use adsense on some of my blogs but I also have two or three blogs that use highly specialised afiiliate programs which generate a much better return sometimes 5 or six times more than I could expect with adsense

]]> By: Josh Spaulding http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-9117 Josh Spaulding Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:19:01 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-9117 @ Registry - That's an odd name "Registry." Have you read my comment policy? "But aren’t there some instances where having Adsense on a site becomes more a distraction and a leak factor" Yep, that's why I said "You simply have to test it out and see for yourself which is the more profitable monetization model for each of your sites. " ;) @ Registry – That’s an odd name “Registry.” Have you read my comment policy?

“But aren’t there some instances where having Adsense on a site becomes more a distraction and a leak factor”

Yep, that’s why I said “You simply have to test it out and see for yourself which is the more profitable monetization model for each of your sites. ”

;)

]]> By: Registry Fix Review http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-9116 Registry Fix Review Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:13:09 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-9116 Article quote: <i>"Many markets are full of people who aren’t necessarily buyers (for instance.) They’re looking for quick, relevant information, which makes Adsense ideal. They find a site, but it doesn’t have quite what they’re looking for, so they click a Google ad, which has a listing that is more relevant. The advertiser gets the visitor, the publisher get a few cents (sometimes a few dollars) and Google gets their cut… everyone wins. In this situation if that Google ad were replaced with an affiliate banner or otherwise, no one would have won… the visitor isn’t looking to buy."</i> Good point, Josh. But aren't there some instances where having Adsense on a site becomes more a distraction and a leak factor (allowing visitors to "leak off" your pages by clicking on ads), especially if your site is targeted to affiliate product sales. For instance, I have several review sites that I wouldn't for one minute think of adding Adsense to, even though they do attract a good number of visitors who don't end up purchasing anything. I want my visitors focusing on the problem at hand (finding a solution to whatever problem they came to the site to investigate information about), and not becoming distracted by ads. On the other hand, a blog is a totally different animal altogether. I can see how ads of some kind (whether Adsense or targeted affiliate banner ads such as you have here) would add to the monetization of the site! :-) Article quote: “Many markets are full of people who aren’t necessarily buyers (for instance.) They’re looking for quick, relevant information, which makes Adsense ideal. They find a site, but it doesn’t have quite what they’re looking for, so they click a Google ad, which has a listing that is more relevant. The advertiser gets the visitor, the publisher get a few cents (sometimes a few dollars) and Google gets their cut… everyone wins.

In this situation if that Google ad were replaced with an affiliate banner or otherwise, no one would have won… the visitor isn’t looking to buy.”

Good point, Josh. But aren’t there some instances where having Adsense on a site becomes more a distraction and a leak factor (allowing visitors to “leak off” your pages by clicking on ads), especially if your site is targeted to affiliate product sales.

For instance, I have several review sites that I wouldn’t for one minute think of adding Adsense to, even though they do attract a good number of visitors who don’t end up purchasing anything. I want my visitors focusing on the problem at hand (finding a solution to whatever problem they came to the site to investigate information about), and not becoming distracted by ads.

On the other hand, a blog is a totally different animal altogether. I can see how ads of some kind (whether Adsense or targeted affiliate banner ads such as you have here) would add to the monetization of the site! :-)

]]> By: Entrepreneur Blog http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-8914 Entrepreneur Blog Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:21:55 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-8914 As you said, I think it all depends on your niche. There are a lot of niches that Adsense will only pay a few pennies per click while other sites (especially health and finance) can make a killing off just a few clicks. As you said, I think it all depends on your niche. There are a lot of niches that Adsense will only pay a few pennies per click while other sites (especially health and finance) can make a killing off just a few clicks.

]]> By: Josh Spaulding http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-8889 Josh Spaulding Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:39:55 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-8889 @ Neil - I haven't noticed a decrease in CPC's but I have noticed a slight decrease in overall earnings. However, that's probably because I've been spending more time with my email marketing efforts than my mini-site efforts. It all comes down to what converts. If a banner isn't getting any clicks remove it. @ Neil – I haven’t noticed a decrease in CPC’s but I have noticed a slight decrease in overall earnings. However, that’s probably because I’ve been spending more time with my email marketing efforts than my mini-site efforts.

It all comes down to what converts. If a banner isn’t getting any clicks remove it.

]]> By: Neil http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-8888 Neil Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:42:11 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-8888 Hi Josh I've noticed a drop in click values on Adsense recently. Have you noticed the same and do you think it's because of the economic climate? In response to this I cut down on the number of adverts showing on my pages (from 2 towers to 1) to see if this would get rid of the really low paying ads. Initial results are encouraging but it is too early to say whether it has worked. What's your view on optimising the number of ads displayed on your sites? thanks Neil Hi Josh

I’ve noticed a drop in click values on Adsense recently. Have you noticed the same and do you think it’s because of the economic climate?

In response to this I cut down on the number of adverts showing on my pages (from 2 towers to 1) to see if this would get rid of the really low paying ads. Initial results are encouraging but it is too early to say whether it has worked.

What’s your view on optimising the number of ads displayed on your sites?

thanks

Neil

]]> By: Paul Elliott http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-8740 Paul Elliott Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:39:51 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-8740 Thank you for the benefits of your testing and observations about the results, Josh. As with any marketing, testing, testing, testing is paramount . . . if you use the results. Thank you for the benefits of your testing and observations about the results, Josh.

As with any marketing, testing, testing, testing is paramount . . . if you use the results.

]]> By: Charles marriage http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-8683 Charles marriage Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:26:04 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-8683 I only use Adsense, and only then because I was getting a lot of traffic that didn't help my main business (holiday lets). It was all basically an accident, and I don't really know how to make affiliate advertising work ! I only use Adsense, and only then because I was getting a lot of traffic that didn’t help my main business (holiday lets). It was all basically an accident, and I don’t really know how to make affiliate advertising work !

]]> By: Josh Spaulding http://www.ethicalim.com/affiliate-marketing/should-you-monetize-your-site-with-adsense-or-affiliate-programs/#comment-8556 Josh Spaulding Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:20:07 +0000 http://www.ethicalim.com/?p=287#comment-8556 @ Gary Hicks - Great advice... I agree with every word. To add, the creative you use for your affiliate offer can make or break you. @ Nesco - It's called <a href="http://www.ethicalim.com/ppc-advertising/is-your-blog-lowering-your-adsense-income/" rel="nofollow">smart pricing</a>. It has nothing to do with your traffic volume, it's all about the quality of traffic. With that being said, the CTR is said to be a factor in Google's determination of whether or not they "smart price" your account. If many or all of your sites are getting extremely low CTR's (3% for example) there's a good chance the low CTR is due to untargeted traffic, which leads them to "smart price" your account. @ Gary Hicks – Great advice… I agree with every word. To add, the creative you use for your affiliate offer can make or break you.

@ Nesco – It’s called smart pricing. It has nothing to do with your traffic volume, it’s all about the quality of traffic. With that being said, the CTR is said to be a factor in Google’s determination of whether or not they “smart price” your account. If many or all of your sites are getting extremely low CTR’s (3% for example) there’s a good chance the low CTR is due to untargeted traffic, which leads them to “smart price” your account.

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