Lou Pickney's Online Commentary
Google AdSense
Saturday
December 6, 2003
I've finally done it. After years of trying, I've found an internet advertising program that I can actually make money with. That program is
Google AdSense.
In the infant stages of the internet as a major public communication tool, advertising companies sprouted up and disappeared all the time. With it being such a brand new medium, it was difficult to get a gauge on how much was a fair amount to charge, or what even should be charged (hits, impressions, clicks, etc.) Some people, including some con artists, made big money off of it.
By the time I was out of college and had a bit of free time to put into website development (beyond The Lou Pickney Homepage, which has been online since August 1995), the internet bust of 1999 had hit and there was little to be found. Sure, there were companies like DoubleClick and Tribal Fusion, but for the smaller publisher options were limited.
Then, earlier this year, I read about Google's new AdSense program. My interest was piqued right away. What an ingenious idea -- combining Google's search engine power with the ability to tailor advertising specifically aimed at the content on a particular page. Instead of annoying flashing boxes or intelligence-insulting "click here to win" banners (that no one with any degree of smarts would buy into), Google actually provided a meaningful service with its targeted, relavent advertising. Advertisers would be assured of landing a group of people most likely to purchase its products, while publishers allowed Google to use its buying and collections power to bring in the cash from the advertising outlets. Google makes money, the publishers make money and (if their ads are properly targeted), the advertisers make money, too. What a wonderful system.
It took some time and effort, and finally I was allowed to join. And, wow, am I ever glad that I was. Today I qualified for payment for the first time. Google rules preclude me from divulging specific financial information about my account, but the bottom line is that when the December 2003 checks are sent out, I'll be one of the people receiving one. When I started in this program, I promised myself that if I ever earned the minimum, I'd devote an entire column to it. Which I now have done, so here I am writing about it.
I recognize the potential pitfalls involved in a system like this, and I have read the counter-viewpoint stories from some disgruntled individuals who unfortunately did not have positive experiences with the program. But for me, this blows away all other programs I've been involved with by a wide, wide margin. If you run a website, and they'll let you into the program (which might be the trickest part of all) -- the Google AdSense program comes with my highest recommendation. Give it a try and I think you'll quickly see why I (and so many other web publishers) like it so much...
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