As an addition to my previous post Monetization Tip: Should I Use Google AdSense?, I thought I would offer a strategy to take advantage of this simple but little-known math.
One of my favorite (and most devious) methods for getting some targeted traffic is placing some site-specific ads using Google AdWords. First, I come up with a free promotion – a “too-good-to-be-true” type of offer.
Then, I Google search my short-tail keywords and find the top sites in my niche that are using AdSense.
I copy their URL…
And voila! I’m stealing very targeted traffic from a niche site for a fairly low cost.
If you structure your offer properly and take these visitors to a strong LP, you’ll definitely see not only a huge increase in traffic but also a huge increase in conversions.
Yes, this method is a little shady, but Google offers you this option, so why not take advantage of it?
People argue about Google AdSense (or any targeted PPC content ads) as a steady stream of income. The hucksters claim to be making millions, some claim to be making hundreds, and some say that it will just cost you traffic.
What’s the real story on AdSense?
The truth is, it all depends on what kind of site you run!
This next part is math-heavy. I’m a nerd, I like math. If you aren’t, feel free to skip this part. I won’t be offended.
You’re an affiliate marketer. You sell a $40 product for a $25 commission with a 1% overall conversion rate. Your AdSense ads also have a 1% conversion rate and average $0.50/click.
Now, 1% of your total leads are instantly lost to AdSense traffic, earning you an average of $0.005/lead. The other 99% continue on your site, and 1% buy your product, earning you an average of $0.2475/lead.
So, with AdSense, you earn $.005 + $.2475 = $0.248/lead.
You decide you don’t like AdSense any more, so you drop it. Now you still have your 1% conversion rate on your affiliate product, which earns you an average of $0.25/lead.
Now, of course, this is a laughably simplistic model. The point is, if you are selling a high ticket item on your site, why would you want to give up valuable leads to something as minimally profitable as AdSense? This example doesn’t even take into account the opt-ins and back-end sales you could potentially make!
I recommend AdSense for the pure content site owner. If you don’t sell a product, there’s no reason not to monetize with PPC advertising. However, if you’re an affiliate marketer or you sell your own product, leave AdSense behind. It will hurt more than it will help.
Photo Credit: vator.tv
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