It's been a long time since I optimized my first AdSense ad. Many things have changed since then. Some things have stayed the same.
The principles of AdSense optimization have stayed the same. You still have to blend your ads into your site. You still have to produce good quality content. And you still have to bring in traffic to look at that content.
The content itself has changed though. Videos are now an important part of most websites, as are video ads.
Blogs are more popular than they were when I started and much easier to build.
And even commercial websites can be launched without knowing that Java isn't just another word for "coffee."
Many of my income-generating strategies have changed too. AdSense is still the heart of my business. It's still the advertising system around which everything else revolves but it's not the only system I use.
I want my sites to have systems that pay per click, systems that pay commissions and systems that pay per thousand impressions. I also use my sites to sell products that I've created.
That lets me make the most out of all my users and generate as much income as possible from each site.
I wouldn't be able to do any of this though without AdSense, and there's an important lesson there, I think.
AdSense is crucial to the success of any online publishing venture. But it should also be just the start of your success as an online publisher.
Once you've got AdSense up, running and optimized, you should be looking for additional ways to monetize your website.
Once you've got those systems in place, you should be thinking about what other websites you could launch.
And once you've got those sites running, you should be thinking about what sort of products you can create and what sort of joint ventures you could form with other publishers.
And of course, you should be going to conferences to grab some really special opportunities.
Start with AdSense and who knows where you could end up...
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
September 24, 2008 09:52 AM
Joel,
I've been doing this for 2 years now, and you are right. I remember how excited I was when I got my first AdSense click. At least the ones that I didn't find out later that were friends trying to "help" me.
hehe. I don't even give out website URLs to my friends anymore.
My first "real" click had me up sleepless for 2-3 hours, wondering what I could do next.
Awesome stuff, Sir.
September 24, 2008 09:53 AM
Great stuff Joel. Would you implement Adsense on a personal or flagship blog, like yours? My thing is, I feel like it won't work, sense most of my users are marketers/bloggers and are blind to adsense by now.
What are your thoughts on that?
I know I want adsense to be a part of my online income, but I've thought about it in regards to niche sites and not really my main one.
September 24, 2008 10:10 AM
Joel,
Do you feel that adding affiliate products to your adsense sites brings down your adsense CTR? I have stayed away from adding affiliate links for fear that it would lower my adsense earning.
Thanks
September 24, 2008 10:21 AM
So far no luck with ads online..Not enough traffic..How many daily visitors do you need to have to get those clicks?
September 24, 2008 02:44 PM
Thanks Joel for your book it really helped me to discover the potential of geoogle. when you have a chance please see my site, I don't really get to do much everyday, it need some improvements. I NEED YOU INPUTS
ADY
September 24, 2008 02:44 PM
There is always extra rich nuggets in your posts. This time you wrote:
"I want my sites to have systems that pay per click, systems that pay commissions and systems that pay per thousand impressions. I also use my sites to sell products that I've created."
I have a long way to go but thanks for the raodmap!
September 25, 2008 02:02 AM
Thanks Joel, I've got your Adsense Secrets book, and working on the secret of getting more traffic to my Adsense sites that are optimised via your recommendations in that book :)
September 27, 2008 04:09 PM
You are a genius in Adsense, and Click Here to Order is bound to arrive one of these days, but the whole conference things turns me off a bit. One thing is travel expenses, but I do prefer being online in chats like your live show and joining some of the better forums (like Dan's Tipz.com) rather than spending my time travelling to the US.
Anyway, when such things will come over to Europe I might consider conferencing. May be a European thing... :-)
September 28, 2008 08:47 AM
I just read your book about adsen that i bought at amazon,i'm beginning to see the results!
October 1, 2008 10:30 AM
Hey Joel,
I always like reading what you have to say because I always take away something from it.
I like the fact that you're constantly analyzing what works and what doesn't, what has changed and what needs to be changed.
You don't sit on your backside, you're constantly going over your systems and tweaking.
Thanks,
Peggy
October 1, 2008 12:27 PM
There is one simple extension for FF though that kills everyone's page impressions and clicks. This is the biggest hurdle I'm facing in the Adsense games. So I have started using small, affiliate programs that are not blocked. I just started doing this, I hope it works.
October 2, 2008 02:59 AM
I am just starting my website, have been hacked 3 times allready. Got my own dedicated server and upgraded security and things are starting to look brighter for me. Adsence is starting to tick in a few dollars and adding more affiliates, thanks Joel for your tips etc to make money online.
October 7, 2008 11:51 AM
Joel, can you comment on using Google/YouTube videos for adsense. I was checking my adsense account, and noticed that this is one of the new additions to Google adsense.