Sponsored Links on Google

[AtW]

You were just unlucky dazza12 - Google has got so many cheaters that they don't bother investigating fully and if they see signs of cheat (lots of clicks from same IP) then they whack account. You see, they may still get paid for it from advertisers, so by cutting you off they increase their profit margin. This may or may not be the case, but the incentive to act short term is certainly there.

[dazza12]

Google's a bit of a sore subject at the moment.

One of the sites I run is fairly localised, as it's an unofficial forum for my local football team. In it's first month, it's generated about $300 in Adsense revenue.

However, at the point where Google were about to pay, they've suddenly decided that too many clicks were coming from the same IP address and they've now decided to disable my Adsense account. Therefore I've lost all that revenue.

What they haven't taken into account is the fact that my local area has at least 3 large employers, 1 of which employs 8000 people. As a considerable number of my visitors would be coming from one IP address (that organisation's proxy server), that would probably explain it. There's got to be a similar issue at other sites but as far as Google is concerned, that's the end of it.

So, it's back to Tradedoubler for me - anyone know of any other good programs?

[AtW]

You probably mean AdSense here - contextual ads from google on your site for which they give you a cut from some clicks. Its doable if you have reasonable traffic, but actual earnings may vary - some people are known to make 6 digits from their blogs. Come to think of it - with my posting rate I can have millions-posts-blog.com site - I will just need to get 10,000 suckers to pay me £100 for each post, any takers?

[privateeye]

What about having advertising on your site as well - has anyone used it to see what the income generation could be? Could it be used as a way of off-setting the payments for the google adwords.

[AtW]

I believe it's like an auction: the more you pay, the higher up the list you get for certain search words.

No - they did it much smarter: the guy who wins is certainly the guy who pays to Google most, but this does not mean he will pay more per click - Google' much rather allow guy who pays 10 pence per click but generates 1000 clicks than guy who pays 1 quid per click, but generates only 10 clicks.

[VectraMan]

I believe it's like an auction: the more you pay, the higher up the list you get for certain search words. My old company paid about £800 per day for a week to try to get hits. If you're selling something fairly generic like "gifts" then expect to pay big.

[datestamp]

The Google Ad Words can be a bit strange at times. There are a few free forums out there for some background reading, or you could always try http://perrymarshall.com/

[scotspine]

only 1 site mf and i'm not giving it out here, not now! maybe later when our obvious success will stop the loafers and idlers here from having their usual scoff-fest.

but really, it's well worth investigating.

[MarillionFan]

What are you sites scotspine?

[AtW]

All in good time, all in good time

[scotspine]

of course, what we're really waiting for are sponsored links on the ska.

[AtW]

Heavily depends on market, more precisely your margins - some areas are totally overpriced so that there is no chance to make profit whatsoever, however it is recommended to give it a go - risks are low and rewards can be potentially high.

[scotspine]

we have just started to do it. amazing results it must be said. our costs are currently about a fiver [that's about 2 pints mf] a day. it is proving to be well worth it.

[MarillionFan]

The blurb was a bit vague - £0.01 - £50!!

Whats the deal here. If I had an ecommerce site selling gifts for example, what are the likely costs?, traffic etc.

Anyone know of anywhere to read about it apart from google advertising