Google Adsense

[Pete Turner]

What is the current thinking on Google Adsense amongst you experienced Affiliate Marketers. Initially I thought it was a fantastic idea for my website but thinking about it more aren't the ads going to send people to merchant's web sites and only get the (I assume relatively small) advertising fee rather than the more substantial commission from a 'real' affiliate link - if a sale occurs of course.

[niallr]

Hi Peter,

Basically you're right. You get paid maybe $2 per click for Google ads (if you're lucky) whereas an actual affiliate sale on the same site might be worth $20.

Apparently the Yahoo Publisher network pays out at a much higer rate and offers a far better profit-per-click. Unfortunately I can't test this yet myself as I'm in Ireland Yahoo only accept US publishers. Ironically they emailed me to ask me to participate and then told me I couldn't lol.

Here's a couple of ideas:

1. Keep adsense off any product review pages you have. You're only sending traffic to other websites from your review pages by including adsense there - which doesn't make sense.

2. Only put adsense on 'article' pages. Most sites have their main product pages (affiliate links only here) and then dozens or maybe hundreds of article pages. Adsense on article pages means you'll get clicks from interested visitors who never make it through to the product pages to buy through your affiliate link.

I have some sites where they're Adsenses to the max. Other sites I only put adsense on pages I can't monetize with an affiliate program. It's a trial and error process really.

Personally I'm looking forward to YPN and MSN Adsense - more competition means higher payouts!

Just my 2 cents on this.

Niall