Ad Networks Series. Network 1: Google Adsense

Beginning today, Blogging With Success is going to start Ad Network Series. We will review an ad network every Saturday and discuss its Pros and Cons for Bloggers.

Today, We are starting with Google AdSense.AdSense is Google's Targeted advertising Program. If you have a Google Account, then you can easily apply for it. Once your blog is approved, you can place ads on it.

Keep in mind, however, that to place Google AdSense ads on your blog, you must have a blog host that lets you place JavaScript in your template. Blogger (aka Blogspot, Google's Blog platform supports this feature for free. While other blog platforms like WordPress do not let you add it to free blog.

If you are new to blogging or do not want to spend money, stick with Blogger or choose other WordPress based platforms like Blog.co.in that let you add AdSense in exchange for 'revenue split' i.e. they display ads in rotation. Blog.co.in displays own ads for 40% of your visitors and your ads are displayed for 60% of your visits.

After you are ready with your blog, go to AdSense.com and register. Once done, you will be sent to your dashboard. You will see 4 tabs below AdSense logo. Second one is AdSense Setup.

Click this tab, and then Get Ads.

You have got 5 products:
1. AdSense for Content: It displays relevant ads on your blog automatically.
2. AdSense for Search: It adds a search box which displays results from your side with related Ads.
3. AdSense for Feeds: Allows you to add AdSense inside your feeds.
4. Video Units: Allows to add Video Units to your site.
5. AdSense For Mobile: Display Ads on Mobile Sites.

To place ads on your blog, just click the product you wish to add and a Wizard will start. First choose the type of ad you want on your blog. You can choose:

1. Text and Image Ads: This is default option. This displays text/image ads on blog.
2. Text Ads Only
3. Image Ads Only
4. Link Units: They display a list of topics relevant to your blog. If a user clicks a link, he is taken to page with ads.

After you have chosen the type of ad, click Continue.

Next, you have choose ad format and colours. If you have selected Image Ads only, setting the colour will make no differences. For text ads, keep in mind that they are best when Blended, i.e. when they have same color as Background and match your page layout. If you template is colorful one and you have no clue which color to choose, read this post about ColorZilla, a free Color Picker extension for FireFox, from SBA.

Down the window, you can see Channels. Channels allow you to track performance of Ad Units. Just add a new Channel and it will automatically be associated with ad unit.

Then, click Continue again. Now, name the Ad Unit whatever you want to. Click Submit Button and next window will have the code of your AdSense Unit.

Just Paste this code into an HTML/Javascript Widget and you are ready to go.

If you are using Blogger Platform, then you can avoid these steps and directly add it from Layout by selecting AdSense Gadget. However, there is downside to it, you will not be able to track your ads using Channels.

Why you Should Use AdSense?

1. Google Owns It. You can be assured that you will get your payments and it will arrive on time.

2. Contextual: Since ads are Contextual, do not have to take headache of Approving ads. Google automatically targets ads according to your Content.

Why you Should Avoid AdSense?

1. $100 Payout Limit. Google will pay you when you reach $100 and it can take months if not years for a new Blogger to reach this amount!

2. No PayPal: If you want to get the payment through your PayPal account like many other networks support, that won't be possible! You will only be paid through Western Union or Check!

AdSense Resources for Bloggers: Here are some free E-Books related to AdSense:

1. Getting Started with Blogging and AdSense
2. AdSense Mentor: This site has 5 free AdSense related E-Books.
3. Google AdSense Secrets Revealed

This was the first post from Ad Networks Series. Next week, its turn of a new Cost Per Action Network. And next to next week, the Cheapest Ad Network for bloggers and next to next to next, a Network where you can create Custom Ad sizes to fit your Blog Layout and next to next to......... ( We have got long plans! )

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photo by Google!