Why Adsense Sucks

There are a few mistakes I have made as a blogger trying to make money online, and the biggest one I've made on the monetization front has been using Adsense. There are multiple reasons not to use it, and I think they apply to both new bloggers and veteran ones.

Once you shake that hand, you are screwed!

1. By the time you make the $100 withdrawal threshold, you will have found better ways to monetize you blog. Yes, Adsense is easy to use, but you wont get a penny unless you get all 100 dollars they require you to get before sending you a cheque. I personally like using Project Wonderful because you are connected directly to the advertisers, and you instantly scoop up any sort of money they're willing to throw at you. Because you get paid first, and because the advertiser can place whatever bid on your ad spot they feel it is worth, you will be able to monetize your blog at any stage.

2. The ads make you look tacky. Darren Rowse explained why he stopped using Adsense as being because 'other advertisers did not want to be associated with the Google Adsense program'. By the time you've made that 100 dollars, you will be trying to court private advertisers. If they see Adsense on your blog, they may wonder how committed you are to your blog, or whether you're just in to make a quick buck.

3. Your pay relies on clicks, not traffic, not quality, not Alexa Rank or Page Rank. You don't earn very much unless people are actually clicking on the ads. That means if your blog about something other than consumer products, or something otherwise useful or insightful, you aren't going to do well.

4. Because you're stuck with them until you get that damn 100 dollars! Google knows they win either way - either you leave and they don't have to pay you, or you choose not to leave and they earn more money off of you. Doesn't sound very fair, does it? I would much rather deal directly with advertisers than with Google each and every time.

If you're a new blogger - steer clear of Adsense! You will regret it.

So then, Peter, why on earth do you still have Adsense on your blog? Because I haven't gotten my 100 dollar cheque yet. Once I do, that's the last you'll see of it - probably.