The Main Reason Why Adsense Doesn’t Make You Money
I am totally excited to have huge batch of new readers on the blog. I don’t know what happened, but all of a sudden within the last few weeks tons of new people have shown up. This has given me a huge opportunity to check out a lot of new blogs and inspiring bloggers who are trying to make money online.
Here is my observation. The common failure in Google Adsense and why people don’t make money with the program is the fact that many people don’t understand how to properly use the program. I am going to break this down into two types of blogs.
Blog Type A: The blogs that cater to repeat visitors. (social blogs). Like the one you’re reading.
Blog Type B: The blogs that cater to search engine visitors. (click me blogs) Example: My blogs titled, Blog The Internet, Cessna 172 Aircraft For Sale and Blog Wheels.
If you are running a Blog Type A then you might find that you’re going to have some initial trouble making money with Google Adsense. If your blog is the kind of blog that caters to repeat visors, then soon readers will become immune to Google Adsense ads. Granted, new readers and especially with new readers who don’t know about Adsense, will click on the ads in their first round of visiting the blog. However, soon there after, these readers will quickly discover that Google Adsense really isn’t part of your blog and they’ll realize that they are advertisements and click no more.
If you are running a Blog Type B then you will find that it is easier to make money online with Google Adsense for the fact that your blog caters to search engine traffic and not regular reader traffic. In this kind of blog, you are acting as “Connecting” or “Switch Point” for visitors to get from Point A to Point B.
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Point A = the search engine.
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Point B = the product or service they are interested in learning more about. (aka, the Adwords advertisers site).
If you run a Blog Type A blog, you might have better luck making money online using affiliate based programs such as, Commission Junction, ClickBank, or even Amazon Associates.
If you run a Blog Type A blog and have PPC campaigns on it such as, Google Adsense, your readers have grown immune to your PPC tactics. In order to make money, you have to work towards getting new readers to visit. However, even new readers will learn to ignore the ads completely. And then you have to repeat the process again of finding more and more new readers to your blog.
However, when you write a blog post about an amazing product that you and your wife purchased at Wal-mart, such as a digital camera, then you create a desire or a need for that product and encourage your regular readers to learn more about the product and possibly even purchase it.
Consequently, after writing blog post about purchasing our Kodak EasyShare Z1275, I have sold 4 within the last two weeks through Amazon.com and have scored close to $40 dollars in commission and have also made over $15 dollars in Adsense PPC just on this one page.
Blog Type B blogs in my opinion bring forward the quickest return for the simple fact that its not difficult to get ranked and have your articles appear in the major search engines. Blog Type A blogs are more difficult to build, but if you are successful at building it you will find many doors open to you with various advertisers and sponsors who come to you for advertisement requests. Blog Type A blogs are also great for doing product reviews with links to affiliate based products, but you do need quite a bit of traffic to see money because only about 1% to 5% will make a purchase. The thing I like most about Blog Type B blogs is the fact that it is compatible with Blog Type A tactics. Where if you run a Blog Type A it is not transferable with Blog Type B tactics. Again, Blog The Internet is a prime example of a Blog Type B blog that exercises both Blog Type A and Blog Type B tactics. One page, has made me over $50 dollars in the last two weeks using both PPC as well as affiliate product marketing.
Money can be made on the Internet and money can be made with a blog. However, you have to come to realize what kind of blog you are growing and understand which tactics will work best with your blog.
For your convenience, I have created this chart that outlines everything I have said in this article:
P.S. Growing and increasing my FeedBurner subscription numbers is very important to me right now. I never really ask for much; however, if you really enjoy reading what I write, please subscribe to my email notification service through FeedBurner. —>>> Click Here.
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It’s like you are reading my mind Garry.
I only recently launched my blog ( some 40 days ago ), and my daily unique view count is around the 200 visitor mark. The adsense revenue is absolutely minimal and I have been contemplating moving to other forms of revenue sources like affiliate sales.
My blog definitely falls into the Blog Type A category, with a lot of my readers being returning visitors, who like myself are completely immune to adsense.
I am looking at it from my personal point of view, I have become so immune to most common forms of advertising that I very seldom click on any ads at all. So I completely understand my readership.
John Motson
8 Nov 07 at 3:45 am
Garry this is a really great breakdown of the blog types. Everyone should read this, Stumbled
I’ve been setting up several “type B blogs”, time will tell if it pays off.
Matt Jones
8 Nov 07 at 4:18 am
Thank you Garry, I no longer feel bad about my site now. I’m definitely Blog A. I’m stumbling this, I think everyone should know about this.
homemom3
8 Nov 07 at 5:32 am
Hey Garry, long time no talk! What it comes down to is traffic. If you have traffic, you can monetize it. If you don’t, then it doesn’t rally matter what you do with ads.
Thor Schrock
8 Nov 07 at 7:00 am
Nicely broken down in fine detail, Garry! It’s what I understood from some of your other posts and I must say after trying some things out I cannot agree more.
I have been doing pretty OK with Blog Type B’s and am looking to see how to combine the 2 in more totality for an ultimate fun money making blog. 
YC
8 Nov 07 at 7:47 am
It took me a while after I started blogging to understand this difference. Now, I know the limits of using Adsense in my ‘Type A Social’ blog and looking for other ways I can monetize it.
A must read for those dipping their feet in the realm of blogging. I am trying to find time for search engine traffic oriented blogs!
Stumbled!
K-IntheHouse
8 Nov 07 at 7:56 am
Gary,
For me the $64,000.00 question is how do we get a blog template like your “Blog the Internet” template. You have to have the right template for Blog B and that is definitely the right kind. Any suggestions?
DayJobNuker
8 Nov 07 at 8:14 am
I love the chart Gary
Side by side comparison is awesome for the blogger looking at monetizing their blogs. I have several B blogs and should do more of them, but getting the traffic may be tough initially; although finding long-tail, low competition terms can get you traffic almost immediately even with a new blog.
Mike Pedersen Golf
8 Nov 07 at 9:11 am
Oh s*#t! I spelled your name wrong dang it! Sorry GARRY. I have dealt with people spelling my last name wrong my entire life, so I know how that is
Mike Pedersen Golf
8 Nov 07 at 9:13 am
Interesting analysis!
Joost
8 Nov 07 at 9:38 am
Incidentally, how do you guys get the little avatar picture next to your posts?
John Motson
8 Nov 07 at 9:45 am
Guys I just love all the comments! It does seem like I have hit home on illustrating the differences between Blog Type A and Blog Type B. Knowing what kind of blog you have will help you monetize it better.
@ DayJobNuker, When I made the theme, I made it in mind for distribution. I need to clean up a few tid bits and I will be releasing it out to the general public.
@ John Motson, To get your avatar to display, simply join MyBlogLog. http://www.mybloglog.com. After you join MyBlogLog don’t forget to join my community within!
Garry Conn
8 Nov 07 at 9:54 am
Your CESSNA blog and the moneylister are AWESOME, how do you fetch this informations and publish them on your blogs ?
Don’t worry I’m not going to fight in your niches, I’m interested on other niches in german language.
ciao
alex
Alex
8 Nov 07 at 10:06 am
I am currently running a make money online blog – I saw problogger’s video on why Adsense won’t work on money making blogs – because your target audience or visitors are more aware of now clicking your ads – because they know that it’s illegal to send illegal clicks..
I got another money making blog which has a very low CTR – 2%. Another friend of mine asked me – why is your CTR so low? I guess that it must be because of the fact that it’s a money making blog…
I also believe that Adsense cheapens up your blog
What do you think?
Michael Woo
8 Nov 07 at 10:12 am
Excellent breakdown Garry.
I have been running on Type B and Type C for a long time.
Type C = Take a Type A, run it like normal, but add leaf pages that fit the Type B mold. In this scenario the leaf pages usually out perform the main blog with income. Best of both worlds.
David Cooley
8 Nov 07 at 10:27 am
[...] and have also made over $15 dollars in Adsense PPC just on this one page.” – Garry Conn in The Main Reason Why Adsense Doesn’t Make You Money. If you liked this article: Subscribe by RSS Subscribe by email [...]
Is Your Blog Type A or B? » Pat B. Doyle
8 Nov 07 at 10:40 am
@David Cooley
This is what I have noticed with my blog. I would like to consider my blog a “Type A” Which has repeat readers, but over time I have found I get many uniques on certain blog posts I have written that apparently people search for. So I think these pages should be monetized differently. Does that make me a “Type C” Blog?
Owen
8 Nov 07 at 10:56 am
-Owen, I think that defines your blog as a good Type A. If the Posts pages, Categories, and Archives are being searched and found, that is a job well done. The leaf pages I am talking about are “other” pages. Here is a classic example for me. This is my blog (I have a partner that does the writing) CelebrityRamble. It is 9 months old and makes a decent little income.
David Cooley
8 Nov 07 at 11:10 am
@ Download Firefox,
No problem! Here is some more info on Cessna 172 Sales dot Com. Click Here. What is your name? It would be nice to call you by your name or screen name instead of download firefox. Over 80% of my daily readers access my blog with FireFox, so it is unlikely that you’ll get many people here from my blog to download it on your site. Tell me your name or screen name so we can speak person to person.
Garry Conn
8 Nov 07 at 12:13 pm
-Garry, LOL, Mr Firefox signed his comment, Alex….
David Cooley
8 Nov 07 at 12:30 pm
Thank you David… I’ll change it.
Talk about scanning the comments with the fine tooth comb! lol!!!
See man… you have more skills than just being a programmer… you are also a comment form translator!
Nice to meet you Alex!
Garry Conn
8 Nov 07 at 12:32 pm
Nice article, Garry. It really puts thing in perspective. I’m working on both kinds of sites, and though I have fun with my social blogs, I need to work harder on my Type B blogs.
Very Cool
Christine Senter
8 Nov 07 at 3:36 pm
Good article Garry –
What about blog type C and D:
Type C – SPLOG – gets traffic using pings and reprinting articles. Not very useful.
Type D – personal blog – not designed to make money or get search engine traffic. Really hard to monetize
Also, I aim for a combination of A and B. Congrats on the new traffic.
George
8 Nov 07 at 4:19 pm
Wow, great information. I will begin applying it to my website
Thanks!
Mike.
Make Money Online
8 Nov 07 at 4:29 pm
Hey George,
Nice to hear from you again… you seem to be a stranger lately. It’s good to have you back.
I have to disagree with your comment. I think that you might have skimmed over a few valid points. You should revisit THIS comment as well as THIS comment.
Also, where did Type D get into the picture? What is that?
Garry Conn
8 Nov 07 at 4:43 pm
Extremely valuable info Garry! I am right at the point of deciding where to take my blog, and this helps me plan.
I’m gonna grab your feed now!
AL
PS–I found you through DayJob Nuker
Allyn Paul
8 Nov 07 at 4:53 pm
This a great summary of what you’ve touched on in a lot fo your other posts Garry, very useful indeed, thanks for a brilliant post – stumbled!
Zath
8 Nov 07 at 5:05 pm
Great post! I read the SU review of Ad Tracker… so I found your blog… I will definately subscribe… thanks
Markus
8 Nov 07 at 5:34 pm
Garry,
Yes I skimmed the comments… Type d was sort of a joke…
I’ve been busy with some personal stuff, you know how it can get trying to balance family, fun and business.
George
8 Nov 07 at 7:11 pm
Hi Garry,
my name is Alexander (AKA Mr Firefox, LOL) I’m german and I live in Italy, sorry for the nick in previous comment. In that comment, a part of gettting more infos on your info gattering & publishing method, I thought that with a link to the domain I just set up the night before I would get indexed faster on Google (and start immediatly to earn tons of money… LOL).
Nice to hear that most of your readers already have the right browser.
I just made a mistake with my nick on the previous comment and I don’t want to make any more: how is your position about posting a cloaked affiliate link in your comments ?
Don’t worry, I don’t want to start spamming here. It’s only that I want to know which is the right netiquette that I have to follow in your home.
ciao
alex
Alexander
9 Nov 07 at 1:45 am
Surely my blog is type B.
Symbian
9 Nov 07 at 6:00 am
Hi Garry,
your post made me stop and think, basically my blog is an A blog, but actually I’m trying to monetize it with Adsense, probably, as you wrote, it’s better that I support it with some affiliates, to reach at least a hybrid situation.
Thanks for the a-ha moment.
ciao
Mr. Firefox, coughhh… sorry, alexander
Alexander
9 Nov 07 at 6:50 am
@ David
for the sake of clarity (as long as english isn’t my naitive language), are the “leaf pages” you’re talking about the “Internet search” and the “Posters” pages of your “CelebrityRamble” ?
thanks in advance
ciao
alex
Alexander
9 Nov 07 at 8:30 am
I am definitily Type A rhesus monkey blood…LOL …
‘Never get rich at blogging someone else’s dodgy dosser’
T.B. Layer.
Pablothehat
10 Nov 07 at 3:47 am
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10 Nov 07 at 7:27 pm
I’m a type A blog as well, albeit rather new. So far adsense has been disappointing, but I don’t feel that I’ve grown enough to actually go into affiliate marketing yet. Perhaps when I’ve grown larger I’ll give it a shot.
bLuefRogX
11 Nov 07 at 3:56 am
Hi Garry, can’t speak for the other new readers you’ve got recently, but I can tell you I found your site through K-IntheHouse… I keep seeing you in the comments at Ks site, so I checked your site out and it’s great. +1 to your feedburner count.
Your theory sounds spot on. I’d never thought of it that way before, but it makes perfect sense.
It’s also worth pointing out that some content types do well for Adsense, while others don’t. For example, it’s known that technical sites do very poorly with Adsense, because the target audience has Adsense blindness. Also, the ads are less useful to the readers, etc.
If you put this together with your theory, I think we have a great idea of what will work and what won’t. A type B site on knitting will probably rake in the Adsense dollars. A type A site on web development will get almost nothing (that’s me)! It would be interesting to compare a type B blog on web development with a type A blog on knitting. I wonder which would win?
Anyway, great post!
Stephen Cronin
11 Nov 07 at 8:57 pm
Great post Gary. You’re pretty much spot on about why people don’t make money with Adsense.
Of course, SMART pricing isn’t helping either!
Don
Don@AffiliateWatcher
15 Nov 07 at 4:24 am
The two types of blogs are so obvious… Guess I’ve never thought about it that way because I’m so new to blogging. As some of the other commentators have pointed out, people who are technically savvy seem to have “ad blindness”. I know I for one never see ads. Although, I think using Firefox with Adblock has a little to do with that…
Jensen
20 Nov 07 at 4:09 pm
Is there a happy medium between blog A and blog B? if half your traffic comes from RSS and bookmarks and the other half from searches, is that kind of like the Nirvana of the two? or do you need to decide which type of site you are and then commit yourself to that type of blogging?
Dave
7 Dec 07 at 2:49 am
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