Why is Google Adsense Important for Bloggers

To know why Adsense is essential for your content sites is to know first how this works.

The concept is really simple, if you think about it. The publisher or the webmaster inserts a java script into a certain website. Each time the page is accessed, the java script will pull advertisements from the Adsense program. The ads that are targeted should therefore be related to the content that is contained on the web page serving the ad. If a visitor clicks on an advertisement, the webmaster serving the ad earns a portion of the money that the advertiser is paying the search engine for the click.

The search engine is the one handling all the tracking and payments, providing an easy way for webmasters to display content-sensitive and targeted ads without having the hassle to solicit advertisers, collect funds, monitor the clicks and statistics which could be a time-consuming task in itself. It seems that there is never a shortage of advertisers in the program from which the search engine pulls the Adsense ads. Also webmasters are less concerned by the lack of information search engines are providing and are more focused in making cash from these search engines.

The first reason why Adsense is essential for content sites is because it already has come a long way in understanding the needs of publishers and webmasters. Together with its continuous progression is the appearance of more advanced system that allows full ad customization. Webmasters are given the chance to choose from many different types of text ad formats to better complement their website and fit their webpage layout.

The different formatting enables the site owners the possibility of more click through from visitors who may or may not be aware of what they are clicking on. It can also appeal to the people visiting thus make them take that next step of looking up what it is all about. This way the people behind the Adsense will get their content read and making profit in the process.

The second reason is the ability of the Adsense publishers to track not only how their sites are progressing but also the earnings based on the webmaster-defined channels. The recent improvements in the search engines gives webmasters the capability to monitor how their ads are performing using customizable reports that has the capacity to detail page impressions, clicks and click-through rates. Webmasters and publishers can now track specific ad formats, colors and pages within a website. Trends are also easily spotted.

With the real-time reporting at hand, the effectiveness of the changes made will be assessed quickly. There would be time to sort out the contents that people are making the most clicks on. The ever-changing demands would be met while generating cash for the webmasters and publishers. The more flexible tools are also allowing webmasters to group web pages by URL, domain, ad type or category, which will provide them some accurate insight on which pages, ads and domains are performing best.

The last and final reason is that the advertisers have realized the benefits associated having their ads served on targeted websites. Thus increasing the possibility that a prospective web surfer will have an interest in their product and services. All because of the content and its constant maintenance. As opposed to those who are no using Adsense in their sites, they are given the option of having other people do their content for them, giving them the benefit of having successful and money-generating web sites.

Adsense is all about targeted content, the more targeted your content is, the more target the search engines’ ads will be. There are some web masters and publishers who are focused more on their site contents and how best to maintain them rather than the cash that the ads will generate for them. This is the part where the effectiveness is working its best.

There was a time when people were not yet aware of the money to be achieved from advertisements. The cash generated only came into existence when the webmasters and publishers realized how they can make Adsense be that generator. In those days, the content were the most important factors that is taken quite seriously. It still is. With the allure of money, of course.

If Yahoo Ruled the World, Imagine That?

Everyone who's anyone knows, or should know, that Yahoo is undergoing some problems, makeovers and changes through the past 6 months. Their stock has fallen short lately, though increased tremendously since a year ago, while their employees seem to be crying mutiny against the alleged ill-run internet conglomerate. Keep in mind, the Yahoo search engine is second to only Google has the most popular search engine for internet users....not bad.

Now, let's not kid ourselves into thinking that the Yahoo empire is flushing down the tubes of this fickle internet toilet...(ha ha :) but, they are definitely turning a crossroad in their rise/maintenance of power.

The biggest news is that Terry Semel has stepped down from running Yahoo, and Jerry Yang has taken over as CEO of the company he co-founded. It all began during their annual meeting of the stock holders board, in which most of them came in to and left pretty unhappy and upset. Many of the managers and department executives at Yahoo have either resigned or pretty much been fired.

Lots of skepticism and opinion has been running wild throughout the internet news nerds/followers and especially those who hold stock in Yahoo. Some say, they aren't being managed efficiently, in fact, that's the biggest accusation against Yahoo for why their numbers don't look so good.

Another big story regarding Yahoo is the fact that Rupert Murdoch (of News Corps, owns MySpace) might sell Myspace to Yahoo, while keeping hold of at least 25% of their share. For Murdoch, and News Corps, this looks like an attempt to partner with a more established, consistent and reputable company like Yahoo...Let's call it, "family-friendly, warm and fuzzy feeling" type of company like Yahoo. Passing on their aquisition of sites like MySpace and bonding with Yahoo might bring in some better press regarding the way Murdoch runs business.

Hey, don't forget this one, Yahoo has also purchase Rivals.com, a popular sports network.

Only more time will tell, and I just wanted to fill you guys in on the latest Yahoo gossip, leaving speculation more research to you. Let me know what you think...

• Will Yahoo ever stand strong next to Google?
• Does Yahoo want to stand strong next to Google, or are they complacent sitting firmly on the second best bench?
• Will MySpace change after Yahoo takes over...(I HOPE SO. Side-note: MySpace represents everything I hate about monopolized web space and traffic...The layout sucks, the advertisements are overwhelming, security sucks and the spam is ridiculous.)

Related Technology News Posts

Dear MySpace, Enhance Our Experience...Not Your Advertising DOLLAR!
Boo Hoo, Yahoo, Not Fair!
Sentenced to Life Behind Google. Google Owns Your DEAL WITH IT.
Google's $1.65 Billion Purchase of YouTube-High Risk investment?
A Likely Alliance: Yahoo advertising IE7 by Microsoft on it's Search Results Page

External Link Resources

Yahoo's Board Making Changes
Yahoo Buys Rivals.com
Five Steps to Turn Yahoo Around

Myspace Takes Action Against Copyrighted Content

Myspace recently announced their implementation of a "Take Down Stay Down" function to control the posting of copyrighted content.

I've been following the Google and Youtube.com merger, through the ups, the downs the copyrights and the big business marketing initiatives. The most controversial and interesting aspects of the Google merger is that they have been facing huge copyright issues with their online videos, posing the question of whether or not this partnership was "smart."

It's true, that most industry experts predicted the copyright problems, and some even suggested it would cost Google Big money...Which it has, though hardly skimming the surface of it's growing empire.

What does this have to do with MySpace implementing copyright precautions? It's just all part of the ever growing internet copyright problems, and a foreshadow of what is to come. k?

To read some of my follow-up from the pending issues (in order, just for you!):

Google's $165 Billion Purchase of YouTube.com-High Risk Investment?

Google and Youtube Update: Copyright Infringement Issues

Google's Empty Promises for YouTube.com

Google Youtube Merger Still Below Sea Level

Viacom Sues Google For 1 Billion!

And, last but not least, my personal letter to MySpace (somewhat unrelated to copyright issues)

Dear MySpace, Enhance Our Experience Not Your Advertising Dollar

On to the story at hand,

MySpace recently took action on their specific site against copyrighted video submitted to their site.

Basic MySpace Copyright Precautions Overview:

When content is submitted copyright owners have access to ban content due to infringement upon their content's privacy. Once the content is banned from the site, any further upload of the banner content is disabled.

Pretty sweet huh?

I'm not sure what the process of banning content is, but if the content is banned too frivolously it could become a violation of freedom of speech and online freedom. I love predicting problems that may occur when big online business make copyright, security and content control changes.

So my questions are...

How easily can copyright owners ban content?

How is a copyright owner established as...well...a copyright owner, giving them this access?

If they ban content, is it taken down right away, or monitored by MySpace admin?

We will see what is to come with this new technology, whether or not Google and Youtube implement it, and if the privacy issues do come into play

Google Shareholder's Proxy Statement

I don't really have time to read Google's share holder information, and the fact that I'm not a share holder and can't comfortably afford even one share in Google, makes the idea of me reading the Google proxy statement even more ridiculous.

Who am I kidding? I will spend precious daytime, work hours reading that damn document, as if it means something to me, then I will probably talk about it as if it means something to me. This is because there was something on slashdot.com about interesting information in it regarding Freedom of Speech and censorship, dunno but I'm going to check it out.

Here ya go, if you're interested:

Google Definitive Proxy Statement, April 6

Personal Story: No One Uses Social Bookmarking!

You'll have to start at this story if you haven't read it yet. It was too long to put in one post!

Americans Say Web Is Useless

Personal Story: "Social Bookmarking Sites Are Useless"

Here's a story for you. I had a client, venture capitalist who thought he was really in on the internet and it's new technologies. Under his suggestion, wanted me to start bookmarking some of his articles through social bookmarking sites. So, I created some accounts and began to bookmark his articles, and other relevant articles to his industry.

One day passed, and he said that there was really no point. They weren't getting traffic because of it, and he thought about it and said, "Who really uses bookmark sites anyway? I need some PROOF"

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW!



I tried explaining to him the importance of natural placement, and why Google uses social bookmarking sites as a way to find naturally placed important articles, that users are already deeming important and relevant. I tried to explain that the days of "tricking" Google are slowly fading and will soon be gone. Anyway, it's another web 2.0 theory, things are difficult to explain.

So, in my own fit of geekdom pride I decided I WOULD prove it. I took 3 of his newest articles, un-indexed by Google, and bookmarked them through a few social bookmarking sites. Then, right in front of the non-believer, Googled the titles of the articles. Sure enough, his articles were indexed by at least 2 of the bookmarking sites on the FIRST page of Google, and not at all yet indexed through his website. Proof enough?

Google Base: Free Product or Article Marketing

Google Base is another tool developed by Google, that offers anyone signed up, which it is free, to post articles, products, advertisements, press releases and more for free and right away! It is a great way to market your website or advertise products that you sell with absolutely nothing to lose and no investment.

Also, once listed on Google Base, it is put inside their directory to be viewed by all Google search engine users. It is still a newer development by Google, like a lot of their webmaster tools right now, but I can PERSONALLY vouch for it as I have seen some great results by publishing a few articles on Google Base.

Once you publish an article, product, etc on Google Base, you will be able to see specific results from Clicks, views and impressions. Pretty great, huh! I would consider it a better investment of time, than submitting to other free directories like E-Zines. Only, because I think we can truly count on Google to build the Google Base up until it's HUGE! Anyway, great source for marketing and/or selling, check it out! http://www.google.com/base/

Google Groups Beta: Get Your Real Estate Now!

Google offers many assets to web masters, bloggers and internet users. They have an entire platform with different types of tools that can be used to track website traffic, sell ad space, post on directories, etc. Their toolbar is also an amazing asset for all web professionals as it offers immediate website ranking information, spell check, and lots of other customizable options for users.

Google Groups is a Google tool I came across just last night while playing with their vast array for performance utilities. I noticed that the Google Group Beta version has just recently come out, and that it is VERY easy to begin a Google Group. It is also free, and can be used for many different things.

I predict that the Google Group names will go fast, and just like purchasing a hot URL name, if you have interest in anything particular, from Google, to Blogging to MP3 players, you should sign up for a group and stake you real estate before someone else does!

Here are some things that the Google Groups Offer:

1. Administrative abilities--You can give other users and those who join the ability to be an administrator

2. Mass E-Mail and mailing list options

3. Tracking system

4. File Upload and Download (!!) Very cool

These are some of the uses that Google Groups could have:

1. Manage a project with multiple contributors

2. Market a website, idea, group that already exists

3. School projects

4. Group Books, contributing authors, etc.

It's kind of like a small Content Management system, with the administrative abilities and contributing abilities. But, Google will List your Group in their directory so you get automatic exposure. Also it is really easy to begin a new group and start e-mailing those who may be interested.

Sign up for the Google Groups at http://groups.google.com/

Top 7 Search Engine Predictions of 2007

I recently came across an article on the top 7 predictions of 2007 for search engines. It is pretty interesting, and it talks about some of the new technologies within search, and search engines that might develop during 2007.

The article describes them as "Evolutionary Changes" and I think that is a great way to talk about the way the internet is evolving. Google is at the forefront of the technology, developing new search tools and search engine technologies into fruition.

A Quote from Bill Gates about search technology,

''…Search today is still kind of a hunt, where you get all these links, and as we teach software to understand the documents, really read them in the sense a human does, you'll get answers more directly…''

—Bill Gates

Here are some experts from the article, but please visit Seven Search Evolutions of 07'
From NewsWire

These are my favorite Predictions for Search Engine Evolution of 07':

3. The first time that search results will include highlighted best
sentences as a result of semantic analysis rather than bolded
keywords as a result of finding incidences.

5. The first time a search engine will let users evaluate answers
on the spot by displaying uninterrupted and coherent text
snippets, often letting searchers forgo having to click through
to links and saving time.

6. The first time a search engine will have a dialogue utility that
will help point out best answers or suggest a Gallery for a more
engaging human-like search experience.

Google Customizes Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7

Google has released a customized version of Microsoft's IE7. The customizes browser uses Google as the default search engine, not Windows Live Search. Google also released a customized IE7 browser with the Google Toolbar and a user customizable Google Home Page.

Apparently Google, Yahoo and other big name corporations simply used the Internet Explorer Administration Kit to customize the home page for their users. It is a free download by Google, and is probably not what Microsoft expected from their new Internet Explorer 7 browser.

Microsoft Group Program manager Tony Chor addressed the new Google customized IE7 browser on Microsoft's IEBlog,

"Microsoft released the toolkit so developers could customize IE, as well as to provide companies with help to configure and deploy the browser through the enterprise..."

Maybe Microsoft needs to take notes from MAC and start developing tools that can't be integrated into every other technological outlet available. Or, maybe the exposure will be a great tool for them.

Hopefully the IE7 browser won't have any bugs, because we all know how Microsoft likes to release brand new versions of their products instead of fixing the problem...Always leading to more Beta Bugs. We'll see, but one thing I know for sure, if Google's on board with IE7, it can't be all bad!

Read ITWorld's Story: Google releases customized version of IE 7

Google's New Customizable Search Tools

Google has introduced a new facet of web search convenience within their search engine platform: Customizable Search Tools. Introduced to the public on Oct. 23, this internet phenomena will allow web publishers, web developers and web operators to enhance their web search by providing options to choose specific websites that the search engine can analyze. Here's how it works: there is a tracking system that will monitor the websites that you visit, how long you spent on these websites, how many pages you viewed from a particular domain, and what links you clicked on within the website. After this users will tailor their history so that it consists of only the websites they found particularly helpful, so next time they use the search engine, only the sites they chose are going to be analyzed. Search customization is not a brand new idea as sites like Eurekster are using customization options within their search engines. But, with Google jumping the bandwagon, it is definitely going to have more of an effect on user experience and the way we think about website promotion, marketing and optimization.

By allowing site developers to choose websites that they know are reliable and pertinent, this Google search engine model will not bring up sites that offer less relevant information, regardless of the keyword density or popularity. The operator can use their own knowledge and research to choose the best available websites for their target audience and topic. In addition to site choice, it also allows priority filtering so that some of the chosen websites will receive higher credibility within the search results than others. The options are going to be available to all google search users, not just the web operators/developers, so that viewers can hand select websites and filter options that coincide with the information they are searching for via the web.

Google made a great leap into the idea of user customization for search results. It will certainly provide them with a competitive edge (not that Google needed it!) But, what does this mean for the future of web marketing and web promotion? Those who felt the ease and ability to get your website ranked just by coughing up some cash, and hiring specialists, might be in for a wake up call; Google's “customized search” has hit the ground, and time will tell how fast it’s running.

Web marketing has evolved in many ways, and over many years; by adjusting with the growing popularity of internet businesses, advertising on the web, and the abundance of users who frequent community websites such as Myspace.com and Facebook.com. Information on how to promote websites is widely available and used by anyone who owns real estate on the internet. This has led to the demoralization of search engines; site owners with enough money can promote using Google Adwords, and even if the information on their website is not as viable as other web sources, they might be higher up in the search results. Sites like Digg.com and Blinkit.com are also used to promote search results and click ratings. Google uses a specific formula to analyze website traffic, the amount of clicks and visits a site gets, the amount of links pointing to the site, the amount of relevant and highly regarded links on the site, keyword density and much more.
Google's pagerank formula looks something like this:

PR(A) = (1-d) + d(PR(t1)/C(t1) + ... + PR(tn)/C(tn))

An explanation of google's page rank formula

Web marketers analyze these formulas so that they can gain every inch of availability and recognition on the search engines. But, reverse engineering of the Google formula, has led to less reliable search engine results.

Marketing for search engines (SEO) is not the only way to promote a website. But, it is by the far the most effective. Even when individuals utilize E-zines, bookmark sites, or other content specific link initiatives, the purpose is mostly to attract the search engines with more outside links. They do provide some traffic due to readership and viewers, but this boost is merely a drop of rain on the ocean to the traffic that popular search engines like Google and Yahoo provide.

It is more difficult to sell your website to a person than simply to adhere to a pagerank formula . Those choosing the custom options will evaluate your site, and decide if it’s worth their search results. In the future, keyword density might not even matter! Information, relevance, raw entertainment, cold hard facts: these things will enhance your popularity among the “customized” searches. Call it what you want, disregard it as simply a new flavor of the Google smorgasbord. But, I see the evolution of web marketing, survival of the fittest, Darwin’s natural selection process evident in the world of the web.

Here are some tips to promote your site, without the help of SEO (search engine optimization.) Whether or not search customization materializes into the accepted method of searching while on the web, these tips are still very helpful.

1. Think of REAL marketing strategies. Forget what you’ve learned about web marketing, and focus on true blue people marketing techniques. Who is your target audience? Why should they find your site worth visiting? What SPECIFIC information are they looking for? Analyze the answers to these questions and adjust your website accordingly.

2. Easy and intuitive navigation. Many website developers/marketers sacrifice their user’s experience, so that “keywords” are in the right place, content is full of links, static, empty and consists of dysfunctional link navigation.



If a user cannot figure out HOW to find the info they’re looking for, and instead feel bombarded by useless content and links, they will not bother to come back to your site. Draft up some user tests, and have friends, colleagues or members of your target audience go on your website and answer the questions on usability. For ex.:

Question: Try to find information on “so-and-so.” How easy was it to attain this information? Did you get enough information regarding “so-and-so?”

You may need something more specific to your company, but here is a link to some information on conducting a usability test:

Article on one day usability test

3. Aesthetic appeal. This does not mean you need to higher a flash designer and artist to reinvent the Mona Lisa of all websites. In fact, the more simple and “clean” your site looks the better. Do some research on proper web color combinations, and make sure the text is easy to read, among other design techniques.

Here is a great resource for web color combinations:

Proper Web Color Combinations

4. Web 2.0. What is that you ask? It is becoming a new standard among web professionals, and is less a specific regime of task oriented procedures, and more a philosophy. It will attract users because it is a modern look at what good web design and usability really is, and provides insight as to promotion as well. The idea behind Web 2.0 still involves SEO, but focuses more on natural ways of achieving optimization.

Here is a link to a more specific definition:

Web 2.0-Oreilly definition

Here is a link to a more executive route to achieving Web 2.0 standards

Web 2.0 methods

Hopefully these tips are helpful, and again, only time will tell how SEO will evolve to please customizable searches.