Lunar Adventures: exploring a little bit of everything
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To Google AdSense or not to AdSense?
Regular visitors might have noticed that earlier today, I added a single Google AdSense ad rectangle onto individual blog post pages, in the right sidebar.
I struggled with the decision for quite a while. I realize I’m not going to get rich off Google AdSense, unless I’m getting millions of impressions (which I’m not). Jason Calacanis and his $1 million yearly AdSense revenue isn’t going to see much competition from me (yet!).
The main reason I decided to put some ads on my site is to familiarize myself with Google AdSense more intimately. I am working on another site that I plan to “publicize” more than this one, and would like to have more ads on. The trial run on this site allows me to look more closely at some of the positives and negatives.
The biggest negative, if you ask me, is how outlandishly ugly the ads are. I couldn’t bear to put them on the front page; rather, I hid them more internally. In addition, they’re likely to be more accurately targeted on single post pages, as the topics are single and specific on those pages.
I do wish Google would allow you to set the width of the text ads so that they would better fit into a layout. Also, I wish they would allow you to choose the font face. I cannot stand the Arial font. I really can’t. It pains me that Google ads are everywhere, staring me in the face with the Arial font face. I’d love to see even a Verdana version of them.
I have quickly learned a few lessons about Google ads, though: 1) Design the site with the ads in mind. The various ad shapes available all have specific widths: plan the site around those widths so that you can smoothly integrate the ads. I think it’s hard to design them in completely seamlessly and attractively, but you can minimize the hurt. 2) Don’t expect to be an AdSense millionaire overnight. In fact, don’t expect it at all — it’s still supplementary revenue, and that’s if you have a successful site. Small sites? Don’t get too excited about AdSense. It’s not the cureall. 3) I know what people are talking about when they say they obsessively check their Google statistics. I’m already doing it, hoping that on that particular refresh I’ll have another penny or two. I think I could actually make more by instead of obsessing hitting refresh, go outside and actually look for pennies in the street.
I hope I’m not coming across as too negative on AdSense; I really think it’s a great service. Publishers, advertisers, and Google investors all come out ahead. I just think people get lost in the hype of reading about the amazing success of sites like ProBlogger.net and the Weblogs, Inc. network.
I’ll probably continue experimenting with the AdSense placement and styling over the next several days, so don’t be too shocked if something breaks or becomes suddenly extremely ugly.
And as always, I’d love to hear your feedback on the issue. Are you using AdSense on your blog? How do you feel about the results so far? Leave a comment or email me if you prefer privacy.
Sun August 7th, 2005 4:27 am
9 comments
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The Andrew writing these blog posts doesn’t seem like the same Andrew who occasionally messages me. All the punctuation makes me wonder if you have been replaced by an alien replica.
By the way, I think using filterset.g with Firefox’s Adblock extension blocks Google Ads. At least, I’ve never seen Google Ads since I implemented filterset.g (or any other ads, for that matter). Just thought I would let you know. Even Google can be thwarted, apparently! AdBlock can be very zealous.
Well, you inspired me to give it a shot. I’m sure I’ll get even fewer hits through Google than you do, but what the heck? Maybe I’ll earn enough someday to pay for a can of Coke.
As a reader, I don’t mind Google’s ads. They’re often either relevant or amusingly inaccurate, so they’ve either got actual or comedic value. In my gmail account, I get the equivalent beside all of my e-mails, but barely notice them. It’s a small price to pay for the coolness that is gmail.
Man, my clarity is poor this morning. By “give it a shot” I meant that I’ll try AdSense on my own site. I’ve submitted the application and will try to integrate the ads with my site once everything goes through.
Kaitlin: I know perfectly well how to punctuate! I just choose not to while instant messanging. It just slows me down. Speed is of the essense. I’m not a huge fan of ad blockers — I feel that if someone wants to read my content, they should put up with the small efforts to monetize. And if the ads are out of control? Then don’t read the content. It’s not like the user doesn’t have the choice of not visiting the site. I doubt that’s a popular stance…
Rob: Why not sign up for Google? It can’t hurt! I like where you put it on your site, it looks good there. I don’t mind Google ads either — I click them pretty regularly across the net. They’re often relevant. And like you said, fairly amusing when they’re not. I am particuarly amused when you can see what the Google ad was thinking was the content, when it was very wrong. If that makes sense.
I removed the two ads from my blog a few days ago. It occurred to me: why do I have these things hanging around when they don’t earn me any money and slow the loading of the blog? Then I went and posted a polemic against advertising in blogs! But I’ll agree that, if you have to have ads, the Adsense ones are the least obtrusive and distracting. Not that they’ll ever earn the vast majority of us any money…
Viewing your source, it looks like there’s a lot of adjustments you could make to colors, fonts, etc. That is, of course, unless that code is all generated server-side.
Jared: Thanks for the comment! The colors I can adjust… but that’s it. And you’re kind of limited; you can’t choose just any color. All the Google code is generated from their servers (you stick in a little Javascript) and not touchable. Oh, for just one little font tag… I hate Arial. Argh.
Is this (your site) in Verdana?
Content is still king, only after content is there, clicks will come in, lastly $$$ will come in. That’s my experience at least.