18 replies to this topic

[Scottie]

I am running Adsense on several sites and lately we've been getting a lot of phone calls from people who want to advertise on our site, i.e., the Google Ads.

I'm considering placing a link below the Adsense display that leads to a page explaing Adsense briefly and recommending the keywords they might want to bid on in order to appear on the page of their choice. (It is a regional directory- they need to bid on the keyword term + state in order to ensure that the ad only shows on the regional page.)

Obviously, this will send more business to Google. Do you think the specific instructions might be a bad idea? I could always link directly to the AdWords site instead but I think most of these people need a little explanation of why they are being directed there and how to make sure their ad appears where they want it.

Thoughts? :learn:

[Jill]

Why not just give them an ad that looks kind of like the adsense ads? It could even go right above them maybe? You could probably get more than what you'd get from adsense if they went directly to them. Why not cut out the middleman?

J

[Haystack]

That's a good problem to have.

Here's a snippet from Google's Adsense Policies related to this:

Competitive Ads
We do not permit AdWords ads to be published on web pages that also contain what could be considered competing ads. This would include all content-targeted ads as well as text-based ads. Text-based ads, for this situation, can be loosely defined as ads that mimic AdWords ads or appear to be associated with AdWords ads on your site. We do allow affiliate or limited-text links.

IMO, if you can sell the ad space at a higher CPM than you're making through Adsense you'd be a fool not to accept it. However, make sure you're taking the administrative time involved in selling, setting up, and billing for the ads you sell directly.

[fred]

I just love those company policies that restrict you from doing business the way you want it.

If you have adwords on your page you can't advertise something else.
How stupid is that.

Anyway go with the most profitable one.

[Scottie]

I'm more than happy for them to buy Adsense ads- I'm not looking to compete with similar ads.

I'm just wondering if giving them advice on how to bid for keyphrases in order to show up on the correct page would be frowned upon by Google... I'm thinking it would be OK but looking for other opinions here.

[Haystack]

What about referring them to this site?:
http://about-adsense.com/

I've been receiving their e-course autoresponders but haven't gotten around to reading them yet.

[compar]

I'm more than happy for them to buy Adsense ads- I'm not looking to compete with similar ads.

I'm just wondering if giving them advice on how to bid for keyphrases in order to show up on the correct page would be frowned upon by Google... I'm thinking it would be OK but looking for other opinions here.

First of all -- and I know you know this -- they can't just buy an AdSense ad per se. They have to buy an AdWord ad and then give AdWord permission to also display the ad as a content or AdSense ad. Boy that's a long sentence.

But my point is there is no way that you can give them advice that will guarantee to have their ad show up on your web site. And as I read your post that is what you seem to be suggesting???

Now on the issue of running other ads or affiliate links from the same page. That seems to be completely bogus. I run other ads and affiliate links from virtually every page on which I have AdSense ads. So this may be the policy but they sure don't enforce it.

So if the person who contacted you specifically wants to be on your page then I don't see you have any choice but to place their ad directly and take their money.

[Scottie]

What about referring them to this site?:
http://about-adsense.com/

I don't think I will, but that does answer my question!

I don't think it would hurt for me to have a page suggesting how they can appear on the directory page of their choice- I don't think it violates anything with Google. It just encourages them to set up an AdWords account.

Compar- I'm not interested in guaranteeing them anything. I'm just trying to help them out- several people are bidding on the generic terms and showing up on all pages even though they only service, say, Colorado. It's their money, I guess, but I hate to see them doing that.

Good point to remind them that they will show up in the Google SERP's as well- it seems so obvious to me I forget to mention it.

[webstream]

I just signed up the other day on Google's AdSense and the additional revenue stream on my portal has been terrific!

Does anyone have a good idea as to what is a good click-through rate?

Why not just give them an ad that looks kind of like the adsense ads?

Jill, I like that idea!

Webstream

[Haystack]

Hi Webstream,
you'll probably have a hard time finding much info about CTRs for Adsense campaigns since Google frowns upon discussing this (#8):

https://www.google.com/adsense/terms

But I'll definitely confirm that I've also experienced terrific results.

[webstream]

Ed,

Sorry, I wasn't thinking of discussing AdSense CTR. I should have started a new thread.

I was asking as far as CTR for someone buying keywords from any search engine.
I have a client buying keywords from Overture and I was wondering what would be an average CTR for today.

Webstream

[Haystack]

Hi Webstream, it sounds like we had a little communication breakdown there. Maybe something got mixed up on the way across the St. Croix?

For PPC CTRs, 2% seems like a commonly thrown around number for average CTRs of Adwords advertisements. However, that can go much higher if the ads are well written. They also tend to be a bit higher when there are less ads or when the PPC ads for one reason or another appear more relevant than the natural search results to the searcher.

In my experience, Overture's ads seem to generate a slightly higher CTR. I'd attribute this to the fact that Overture's ads are generally served in more valuable real estate (especially on Yahoo).

[webstream]

Hi Webstream, it sounds like we had a little communication breakdown there. Maybe something got mixed up on the way across the St. Croix?

I originally came here to ask a question about CTR and saw the AdSense thread and chimed in.

A client of mine asked me about the Overture CTR and how much they might improve their rate. I told him I dunno, but I will look around if I get a chance.

Thanks,

Webstream

[compar]

you'll probably have a hard time finding much info about CTRs for Adsense campaigns since Google frowns upon discussing this (#8):

https://www.google.com/adsense/terms

Haystack,

I followed the link but did not take the time to read through all that fine type. But how can Google prevent you and I discussing and comparing our CTR on either AdWords or AdSense?

Here are my number:

1. AdSense CTR "all time" -- 2.5%
2. AdWords CTR "all time" -- 3.4%

I haven't used Overture during that last year so I have no numbers to report.

[Haystack]

Hi Bob,

just read #7 & #8.