The New Google Adsense Referral System (Increases Revenue For
Webmasters)
Google has recently announced a Referral Program for its
targeted ad delivery system - Google Adsense. Webmasters can now
earn an extra $100 for each new referral they deliver to Google
Adsense, one condition - that referral must earn at least $100
from the Adsense Program.
Webmasters can also receive $1 for each download of the Firefox
browser with the Google Toolbar. Generally, very good news for
webmasters and content creators working the Adsense program. Bad
news for Gates and IE - the Firefox browser has gradually taken
away users from IE. Onestat.com reports usage worldwide of
Firefox has increased by nearly 3 percent since April 2005, with
global usage share now at 11.5 percent for Firefox.
Perhaps, the fall out from the ongoing battle for control of the
Web's search market will be of some benefit to webmasters.
Google has now increased or given webmasters another revenue
stream within the Adsense program. Granted this is only a one
time payment and not a two tier system where webmasters would
continue to earn a small percentage of their referrals'
earnings. This may be a missed opportunity by Google to really
explode the Adsense system.
For now, the Google Referral program is a good start in the
right direction. Many webmasters and marketers are having an
early Christmas with the announcement of this referral program.
Google Adsense is a simple and effective way for ordinary
webmasters to monetize their sites. Webmasters place the Adsense
code on their sites and Google delivers targeted ads based on
the keywords of the sites. The main key to generating a large
monthly income from Adsense lies mainly in the choice of
keywords a webmaster decides to display on his/her webpages.
All keywords are not created equal. Some are worth more to
advertisers and thus Google pays more to webmasters for certain
keywords than others. The trick for webmasters is to deliver
large amounts of traffic to the top-paying keywords. What are
these top paying keywords you ask?
One simple way to find the top paying keywords is to use a site
like overture.com to find out what advertisers are willing to
pay for certain keywords. Just use common sense - higher priced
items will have usually pay the most. Web hosting vs a
toothbrush. Once they have chosen their keywords, webmasters
must create content rich pages or sites related to these
keywords or phrases.
You then have to place your Google Adsense code in the most
beneficial positions on your pages. Check with Google for
Optimization Tips for some of the best paying placements here:
https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/static.py?page=tips.ht
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Google Adsense is not a perfect system, placing these ads on
your sites could draw away potential customers or buyers and
result in lost sales for your site. Besides just placing the
'Ads by Gooooooogle' on a well designed webpage detracts from
the professional quality of your pages. Why Google introduced
this for its ads defies reason. A simple 'Ads by Google' would
suffice.
Many webmasters believe placing Adsense ads on their pages
cheapens their sites. Other believe it is delivering valuable
links and service to their visitors. No matter what your opinion
may be - Google Adsense is definitely a simple and easy way to
monetize your site.
The addition of the Referral program will only add to the
popularity of Adsense with webmasters. Increased revenue is
never a bad thing. However, Google should have opened their
pocketbooks just a little wider and given content creators a
bigger portion of the Internet's ever growing ad revenue.
Google should have given the referral program some residual
kick, with webmasters earning a small fraction of each
referral's future earnings. What a missed opportunity for Google
to really play Santa and give webmasters what they deserve.
Webmasters must now lobby Google, and any other ad delivery
programs and companies for a bigger share in the revenue
generated by their referrals. Fair is fair! Perhaps, the
competition from other ad delivery systems will force Google to
be a little more generous. In the meanwhile, it would probably
be beneficial for many webmasters to use and promote Adsense, at
least until a better offer comes along.