Blastyourass

OK, this is Moe Bedard talking here and BlastYourAss is taking a break. This is a serious discussion and exchange of information thread. If you want to take shots at me or be an internet gangster, please start another thread and I will gladly fight you over the internet. But not here, please.

Making money with Google Adsense is the best way to have steady income if you do it right. I do not understand why many affiliate marketers do not build content sites over the long term for stable income in the future. But to each his own and I respect that even though I may call you an affiliate whore or whatever, I don't mean it. You just need to think clearly about the long term and not just the short term.

I am writing this to wake some of the newbies up to the fact that there is no fast money online. Most everything you see or hear is just hype. I too fell for the hype when I was new internet marketer. But not for long.

I started a website a few years ago where I do just that. In fact, I spoke about it here on WickedFire and tried to recruit others as partners or contributors. I worked with SeEO Mike, but it didn't work. I can be a hard ass with my business and Mike dont take shit. We went our separate ways. Many of the WF ole schoolers rippped me a new internet ass and said I was an idiot. Many were ballers at affiliate marketing or so they said. I dunno and stil dunno.

Well, I didn't listen and decided to work on a content website with a forum that helps people with foreclosure. I predicted the trend of loan modifications and the foreclosure crisis. This prediction with my hard work led me to be bale to work with Google and be able to work from home full time with a great income.

Two websites bring in most all my income and it is from Google Adsense. I can rely on the BIG G every month to send me a check and that check is going to be good. I don't have to worry about my next offer, affiliate managers, landing pages or anything.

A lot of people do not like Google, but I am very, very happy with the Big G. I am thankful and blessed to be able to have this opportunity.

I live on 5 acres in Southern California with 4,00o square feet, a pool, office and 3 car garage. I have a beautiful wife who I married last year and went to Maui. I have 5 kids who I support and my oldest son now worked for me full time also. Plus I have 2 other crew members who work on site here in my home office. I do not worry about my bills, my nest offer or anything right now. It is the life I always dreamed of.

This is no bullshit and is 100% verifiable. This is also being done in one of the worst economies ever. I am sharing this to wake some internet marketers up.

If you are a newbie or veteran, please feel free to ask me questions about what I do or Google. Please also share your Google Adsense stories if you are successful. Even if it is not Google Adsense and you have a content site, then please share it.

jdomaha

I get about $100 every month or so from Google. It's not a lot, but it's gas money. Haven't set up Google adsense sites, but I can see how it could make money without much effort. I like setting sites up and forgetting them.

conv3rsion

Has it maybe occurred to you that there is a lot more money for the people buying ad space on those same adsense sites then the for the people creating them? Or has it maybe occurred to you that you are likely relying on google for both the majority of your traffic and your monetization efforts?

I have adsense sites that bring in a few hundred a month that I haven't touched in years. Its peanuts.

Final point, if you were smart, you would figure out who was paying for the majority of your adsense money, go to them directly (yielding higher ROI for both parties), and cut Google out.

bizkiller

How long did it take you to get those steady income?

and... are you good at SEO?

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AllBizNiz

Out of curiosity, have you ever tried PPC or have you always just stuck with organic?

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DorianWar

What do you do if Google decides to shut down your adsense account?

I know a couple people that were in a similar situation as you... with a few 'big money' adsense sites... then they got that dreaded email about being banned.

but I agree with you about what you're saying here. Slow-n-steady hard work on great content sites is a good strategy... building authority sites. Finding a well paying niche is also important (like your mortgage/foreclosure sites).

Can I ask what percent of your traffic is from organic search?

eVandals

dullspace

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Infinite Keith

I appreciate the offer to help.

I have a domain I thought about developing. It's a silly domain name, but I feel like it could appeal to a select group of people interested in, I don't know how to put it, but internet culture.

I thought about doing a podcast. It would focus on things I enjoy. Indie music, video games, maybe some affiliate stuff. I thought about having these cheesy skits and stuff like that.

I would want a forums. Break the categories down to the things the podcast covers. Music, games, funny internet memes? I dunno, I'm still playing with ideas.

But, I am interested in starting a content site. I guess I really am not sure where to start.

onlinemoniez

Always nice to hear success stories. If that were me I would be diversifying the shit out of my business (not that you're not). The G is a fickle whore, and I personally hate her guts.

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pocketrockets

Every person I know who was banned from Adsense was doing something shady -- either running adult content their site, clicking their own ads with multiple IP's, doing black hat stuff, etc.

Moe's forum is helping people all in a similar situation. It's completely transparent and I doubt Google would ever object or terminate him. Adsense isn't the perfect way to monetize every site but in his case I'm sure it's the easiest. With 1,000+ pages of forum content I'm sure it would be a huge headache to sell direct ads not to mention actually be paid on time!

Moe's success is a great example of being a first mover to a major problem.

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BullsEye

Moe, what kinds of trend research do you do in terms of building a site and then deciding to SEO it for the long term? I assume this is like any other niche in the industry, the higher the competition the more $$ there is to be made.

I assume you don't have the same headaches that the smash and grab AM's here have, like always worrying daily that you've put all your eggs in one basket with G, because with adsense, and building a legit long term content site, you're not really doing any things shady and you actually are contributing to the user experience.

I for one am very interested to learn more about this side of the industry as i'm sure, after awhile, any serious marketer gets tired of doing a shitload of work only to have a hot offer capped or turned off, or being banned, or a number of other bullshit scenarios that can bring you house of cards crashing down with the quickness.

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Blastyourass

I hear you and I am happy with Google because I do not have to chase advertisers or pray their check is good. For two years I had attorneys who paid me and it was a nightmare to try and get paid. I am happy in sharing with G for less headaches and handling all the accounting, collecting and as targeting.2

I have worked on these websites since the summer of 2007 when I firt joined the WickedFire. I learned a lot here on what to do and what not to do. I think SEO is very simple and yes, I am pretty darn good now. No blackhat stuff.

Yes, I did PPC and had some success. I just pursue the long tail all day, very day.

Yes, that has crossed my mind and I would be bummed, but not dead in the water. I am a born salesman and have sold just about everything under the sun. All I would have to do is get my sales hat on and do what Google does for me now. It is like having a paid salesman on staff who does it all.

Yes, you want a niche where you will get good money per click. There are still many, many niches out there to get that $$$ per click.

100% of my traffic is organic.

No problem man. It all start with an idea, but is that idea viable and monetizable is the question? I think a website like that would be fun as hell, but not make you much money or that niche is just too saturated.

I think that one needs to be able to predict trends and be the best website in that niche. Personally I feel the internet has changed and is wide open for a new type of internet marketer. People need help out there and they are not buying too much.

conv3rsion

All that said, if you are making money man keep it up. A lot of people just talk and if its working for you and you are willing to help others, that's great.

Blastyourass

I am loyal to their TOS and study the Big G. They have 85% search market share and growing. They are not going anywhere. They are a company that if I make them happy, they make me happy. All they want is good content sites that do nothing shady.

Mike619

im getting decent money from google every month now, gonna increase more if i work harder.

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Blastyourass

You got it. Just do not do as those who have been banned.

True. With Google Adsense, you set it and forget it. Also when you do well, you get your own Google Account Executive that works with you via email.

Thanks man. You're right. I ma no better or smarter than anyone. I just saw a need and trend and then moved in to fill the hole on the web. Everything is a gamble, but if you do this right, the odds are in favor of the smart and patient webmaster

Blastyourass

That's it. Good to hear. Work hard on the long tail keywords and write the long tail articles. If you do that daily, each one of those articles will pay off and be compounded. Every article you write should be SEO focused and original.

Blastyourass

Great question. Yes, yes, it is all about trend forecasting. You have to somewhat predict the future or dominate a niche. Personally, I think it is easier to predict future trends then dominate an already saturated niche. There are many NEW niches being formed right now.

Exactly. Google is the one who takes care of everything and has everyone knows, they do not mess around with fraudsters. Hence, I do not have to worry about crap and all I have to do is run my forum and add content to my websites.

I am glad you see the light. You asked some great questions and have a good head. My tip is to start thining about future trends and ideas. Find one where you will get decent money pere click. Start 2-4 websites in 1-2 niches and just do it!!

Firelead

Great post- but the only thing I would say is don't just put all your stock in Google because the second they don't like something about your sites - you're toast.

Diversify yo' bonds!

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onlinemoniez

Once I get my google moniez right, I'm opening up a strip joint.

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Blastyourass

I love it and I agree. Actually, I have diversified in some offline biz and other sites selling my own products. But, I think if you do it right like www.asktheBuilder.com etc. you can be a long time publisher with Google. If this gig ended, I know 300 lawyers and mortgage boneheads who I can call and start selling my ass fo ads.

Infinite Keith

I know a lot of what I said there is a bit vague. The ideas I have for the site are more specific then what I mentioned. A site like I'm thinking may not be monetized in the same sense as you would monetize a niche blog with adsense, but you could sell the crap out of things like shirts and stickers. It would be pretty easy to put up some zip submits marketed to the nerdy adult sect. I'm thinking along the lines of building a community who like what you do and want to have the cool t-shirt to prove it.

I guess if you are talking niche sites, video games and music are saturated markets, but I was thinking of trying to hit some of those sub categories. Do you know how many fucking times I get myspace friends invite from independent bands looking for followers? That would be the target audience I would want to reach. Those bands desperate for any kind of air play. I don't think it would be all that difficult to get them and their fans to support a site.

Again, just ideas.

jbubs1975

I went to a few of your sites and forums and didn't see any adsense ads at all? And the only ads I did see were your own, for your own products and sites. If adsense is really that great why not have it on all your sites?

Andrew Scherer

I think there's pros and cons to everything and Adsense is no exception.

Cons:
-Slow
-Smart pricing, Google takes a big cut of the $
-A low earner compared to other ways to monetize

Pros:
Easy to monetize
Stable

Adsense is about 30% of my monthly rev

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JohnCJackson

"Content" sites usually have affiliate offers that outperform ( or at least complement) adsense, at least if they are worth doing.

The people BUYING the ads are often affiliates. And they keep buying, because they are making money. Now if you own the content site you don't necessarily have to be a "buyer" of ads because you serve your own on your own real estate. Figure out what the adsense is paying, then check out the advertisers. Sign up for the relevant affiliate program and test that against and in conjunction with adsense.

I have a friend with a blog on a popular topic, gets a shitload of traffic during certain times of the year. he was running adsense and getting like 6 cents a click. Meanwhile the advertisers were making $15 or more for every 20-30 clicks. I tried to explain it to him but... So I just made my own sites around his subject with those offers. He's making pennies on thousands of visitors and I'm making 15-30 bucks or whatever on a few clicks here and there.

Adsense fits well on SOME things, like some blogs that are very targeted but don't really sell anything or have an obvious product. Or a product where there are no decent affiliates options ( which is rare these days).

Being an affiliate marketer does not mean someone is only running short term sites with hot offers through PPC. Just as creating content sites does not mean MFA/throwing up adsense on a page of content. Affiliates have been around selling real products a long time.

Webwonder

cool story bro

Uncle Tony

In my experience you need huge sites with 100+ articles to do well with adsense. The problem with 4-5 page sites is they eventually start losing their SE rankings and require a constant flow of fresh links/attention. It's hard to actively manage and promote more than 10 sites. I make some change from adsense by spending about 20 minutes daily doing KW research for really longtail or viral/meme stuff + SEnuking them

500 sites making $2/day = 1k/day (some guy on BHW claims to have done this) with adsense but managing and getting fresh backlinks to 500 sites is a bitch. (assuming SEs are the main source of traffic.)

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praxus

I've made over 50K with adsense; but now it's just a trickle of my earnings. The biggest problem is that Google can just cancel your account anytime. I'm on my third account now, and would never put much time into it since the ban hammer can come anytime - and I've never done anything shady, they will ban you if your sites are obviously created to make monies from adsense.

I made the most money in 2007 doing arbitrage with MSN PPC. That's very difficult to do nowadays since Google is way tougher with MFA sites, and Bing PPC costs are much closer to Google's.

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Blastyourass

NOW, that is a great fricken idea. I have actually researched this niche and it is wide open in many areas. I think the biggest one is rap and that is all I am gonna say.

Check www.LoanSafe.org and yes, not all of them have adsense. I am too busy with my forum, blog and show.

TRUE. I like the easy to monetize and stable part. It allows me to work and be creative as opposed to being a salesman or bill collector. I don't like affiliate companies because many burn you out of sales.

I would rather work on other sites and building then going through all that. In addition, I have done that and the pain is not worth the money or instability.

Maybe if I had a low paying niche, I would do affiliate stuff or my own direct ad sales. I can sell and can round up sales when needed be. But I don't like being a salesman 24?7. I like being a creator and working on future projects as opposed to chasing affiliate offers or checks. In addition, I wouldn't start a website in a low paying niche with the intention of working with Google.

Affiliates are just online salesman for companies who go through other companies to get those products to sell and then they have to rely on the affiliate company to track and not burn them on sales. The facts are that they burn all affiliates daily and especially now in this economy. If I was going to be an affiliate, I would go direct to companies and pick up my checks direct with no middle men or women with their hands in my pot. Yes, Google is in my pot, but they are doing their job damn well at being my salesman so there is no need to divorce when the marriage is great.


This can be done, but I am more into building big sites with loads of content. I'd rather have 5 sites making $200 a day or 2 making $15k and 3 making $5k, than managing 500.

Why did they cancel your account, from just making a website for adsense? It must of been violating the TOS. I am careful not to violate their TOS.

GreeLee

This thread reeks highly of chum...

warling

this thread reeks highly of shit....

Blastyourass

The chum is what you see when you look in the mirror and the shit you smell is that which is above your lip. If you want to challenge me on anything lets do it on another thread guys, gals or punks. I dont want to deal with internet haters or people who have Michael Jackson as their avatar, that just says it all.

JMan1234

Nice post OP!

I'm actually in the process of spending about $10k, and several months of my time building content sites. Seems to be pretty much what you've done with the exception of different niches, and I am not sticking to one method of monetizing the sites. I'm going with 3 actually: Adsense, Amazon Associates, and CPA offers.

What I like so far about Amazon is that people will purchase items, and I've received commissions on things that have nothing at all to do with the site they came from. It's interesting to see what people buy.

SuperKC

Geez. You people waste your time for pennies and scraps. If you want to open your eyes to '$100' then do so, I won't get up in the morning for less then a grand.

Insomniac

How much are you averaging per post/article/word on your content sites?

Back in April 2005 I created a shitty single niche article site (10c/click FTL) with 22 articles on it. The whole thing took about a day to get up and write everything. The niche sucked, but since then it's averaged $37/article, which works out to around 20-30c/word. It's not even beer money, but hey, it's nice to have legit stuff lying around.

Blastyourass

I am looking into my own book/dvd for homeowners and othre self made products to help my visitors.

Oh shit, an internet baller here. Please start another thread and explain to us your methods of making money on the web.

ChinaSearchAds

I've got a slightly different angle on this. I write a number of articles in your niche, finance, and the Adsense webmasters are usually the ones that pay less and are more likely to bug out at short notice. It may be because I've consistently chosen bad Adsense webmasters and had better luck with affiliate webmasters, but my take is that the Adsense people are making less money.

It's got to the point that I try to avoid Adsense webmasters.

Is it that Google Adsense is too easy and so you get worse quality webmasters on average or is it that it doesn't pay for the same quality of webmaster?

(No one here being an average webmaster, just in case it seems like I'm rude.)

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Blastyourass

That is hard to say and I really do not get that technical. I publish for the long tail and pay attention to SEO. But not too much. Once you get a good, trusted site, it will rank good for almost every single article or post.


Most people do not make money online in both areas. Maybe it is because you hang out more with affiliates or on their forums, hence, your percentages or orders from them will be more.

bitsdawg

I think the question of Adsense vs. affiliate depends upon the niche, and here's why:

If your advertisers are affiliates, like you, than sure you can probably see what they are promoting and make more with an affiliate program.

But...some niches are not that well represented by affiliate programs, but rich with actual businesses advertising for themselves.

In my main niche - which is also financial - I could never hope to profit in an affiliate program by paying per click (my estimate from adsense clicks) what the actual companies can afford to pay.

But I do run SEO'd sites for an affiliate program. I have to say that I am never really convinced the affiliate program is paying better per impression that adsense. It sort of goes up and down.

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bowlcutah

How long does it take in your mind to get a good, trusted site?

Blastyourass

Great insight bits. Thanks for the input and analysis. I have a couple afilliate offers on my sites where I do well. But Adsense is solid and I can count on each click paying me something as opposed to hoping they complete a sale.

bowlcuta, I think it takes 1 year to start gain real footing and 2 years to become solid. Don't over think it, just think about good content and SEO.

Alright, it is Corona, Lime and Tequila time for this Friday evening, Cheers everyone!!!

blogspotter

Hi Moe.. Here e\is my story.

Content sites with good real contents are always better.
I have some content site.. Good ones and several shitty sites. Mini as you would call.

What I have seen is that it takes much more effort to maintain content sites.
While I was busy busting my ass to make 100K.. I see 180-20 year old kids doing millions.. They do it outside Google... facebookso far and media buys and PPV..

Which is when I thought I am leaving too much money on the table.
I have content sites with thousands of daily PVs.
And I see that several of the CPM advertisers are Acai and Colon cleanse pushers.
Now on niche sites, I have blocked the Niche advertisers but on general content sites, the ACAI advertisers seem to beat google hands down..

So I put ACAI banners on ,my site... I got no conversion.
Yet the CPM advertisers still targetted my site despite my increasing CPM..
That is when I copied a lander and pasted my own ACAI banner...

The ACAI banner gave me 4 times the current revenue..

Now of course, rebill will die soon, and FTC will crack down.. but the rebill buys would have made millions by then and they can agford to buy out content sites.

Longterm the affilate site might not work, but in the sort term if they are paying more than the future value of the long term content sites, what's the harm.. You get the drift right?

I never stop building content site though...

ck256

says the 6 post wonder . . where are the mods to kick all these new fuckers out . . .

webetricky

Nice thread. I have a couple questions...

You mentioned its good to find niches that pay a high cpc for ads. How do you know what google is going to pay you per click? Do you just look for high competition?

Also, any tips on finding good trends that will be worthwhile? Chasing hot topics seems like a major rat race to me. I see how it can be profitable though.

erect

adwords tool >> show all columns

CPC is surprisingly accurate compared to the volume estimates that google provides.

Just take the CPC and assume that google takes 60-70% of the estimated average cpc.

And yes, there is good, stable money through adsense still. I put a few accounts to good use.

Andrew Scherer

Go back to your "can you really make money blogging?" shithole

Jesus where do these dipshits come from

P.S. set your permalinks you grand-a-day dumbass

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justo_tx

Did you read his About page? Pretty funny, SuperKC, values his privacy, which makes sense for a balla that doesn't get out of bed for anything less than a grand, but he doesn't value it enough to pay for private registration on his domain. SuperKC, aka Robert Hornback, also claims to have taken several companies public so it's a little surprising to see him slumming it on WF. So tell us Robert, which companies did you take public?

Can I change my February ban vote to that fucktard?

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Grindstone

@ OP, nice thread and that's a proud site buildout, makes my 20 page "content sites" look like a spammy LP.

Couple things:

1. Adsense inside forum posts, they get clicked?
2. Adsense top left or top right, better ctr?
3. Damn d00d, if you're SE0ing that shit, make use of that page title real estate.

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Grindstone

haha, but then he'd miss out on all those exact match /p=72 searches.

With post quality like this, it doesn't even matter.

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ChinaSearchAds

That's really interesting. Perhaps over time affiliate sites will start to crowd out Adsense as the offers become better crafted for affiliate sites, however I should be less biased against Adsensers.

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