In April I received my single biggest Google Adsense earning check from a few niche websites. Here is a copy of it (click to enlarge):
*I just installed that cool looking Pinterest button on the top left of the check image
I have blocked off certain sensitive information for security purposes. This is a high resolution image and I certainly don’t want to jeopardize my or Google’s interest by any means.
This check does not represent my total monthly income from Google Adsense. Rather, it represents income generated by a handful of niche websites I developed more recently. I have written previously about how you can create multiple Google Adsense accounts if you are interested in replicating the same structure.
This income is passive in the sense that I have not worked on the websites that generated this income after I had established them and conducted some preliminary internet marketing activities for them. The interesting fact is that the income still keeps rising each month, long after I invested my time working on the websites.
I normally don’t talk much about actual income generated by the various ventures I am involved with, but as I have focused heavily on profiting passively from niche sites on this blog, I feel this type of information is relevant to you if you are trying to achieve similar results.
I hope this post successfully demonstrates to you that the Google Adsense program is not only well and alive, but that you can thrive with it even today. Google’s business model, which is heavily based on online advertisement, is only growing by the day.
Here is a peak at Google’s annual revenues from online ads and breakdown by category of ad spend.
You may skip the next couple sections if you are a seasoned internet entrepreneur, but I didn’t want to alienate those who are new to the blog and internet marketing.
If you haven’t heard of the Google Adsense program, it is an advertising program that Google offers to website and blog owner as a way to monetize their web properties by participating in ad revenue sharing with Google.
Here is how Adsense works. Google’s number one source of revenue is through advertising generated from the Google Adwords program. Online merchants and vendors bid on ad space through an auction system called Google Adwords. Each time a web surfer clicks on an ad, Google bills the advertiser an amount agreed by the advertiser (or less) during the bidding process. This is also called Pay Per Click (PPC) because advertisers pay on a per click basis.
Google took the program a step further and offered website and blog owners the opportunity to display the same ads on their web properties. Each time a web surfer clicks on the ad that is displayed on a private website or blog, Google shares the revenues it generates with the owner of the web property. This is how website and blog owners make money with Google Adsense.
Here is an example of what Google Adsense Ads look like. I am sure you have seen these around.
Adsense is the numero uno revenue sharing advertising platform today on the Internet (at least to my knowledge). If you want to learn more about how you can profit from Google Adsense, my free report on how to go from $0 to $1,000 a month in passive and residual income in less than 180 days walks through a detailed case study in a practical, step by step manner.
You can get the report for free by subscribing to my email updates (top left hand side of the blog).
The Google Adsense application process is pretty straightforward. If you have a web property that has some history (6 months or so), you can apply and get approved pretty quickly. Some sites don’t even need the six months – depending on how Google feels the day you apply.
Many believe that the Google Adsense publisher program is too saturated and it’s no longer possible to make money from the program, or not as much as before. My recent experience disproves that “unqualified opinion”. Those opinions typically come from over analyzers who will find every excuse not to do something. In fact, Google’s business is only growing, and as they grow, so do the opportunities tied to them.
I would say however that making a lot of money with Google Adsense very quickly is not as easy as it used to be, but it is still possible to do well over time with the right approach, especially if you understand where the advertisers are putting their money. But yes, it is fair to say that the landscape is much more competitive today.
If folks like ShoeMoney were to start today, I can confidently say that he wouldn’t be able to generate as much money from Google Adsense in as quick of a time frame he did. Why? Because of the increased competition. There was clearly an early mover advantage in this arena and I clearly missed the boat on it!
That said, Jeremy is a smart guy and I am sure that he would have been just fine even if he would have started a few years later. I on the other hand consider myself a spring chicken relative to most Adsense high earners. I did not start monetizing with Google Adsense until 2009 on a site I built in late 2008. But that said, I am making a considerably healthy amount in Adsense income today.
There is still very good Google Adsense earning potential, but just like before, one must be able to drive a significant amount of traffic to their web properties. Without traffic (or visitors to your website), generating significant Google Adsense earnings is difficult, unless you are in a niche where vendors and merchants are paying massive advertising dollars per click. Even then, traffic is critical.
The difference between “back then” and today is that the competition has made it tougher to attract boat loads of traffic. There are more players in the game if you will. That said, in my experience on the Internet, there is really no limit to your earning potential. There are so many more options available today, and equally as many tools that help you execute more effectively and efficiently.
It all really comes down on you – are you taking bold action? Are you quickly executing on your idea? Do you have the passion to persevere over time? If the answer is yes, there is no way you are not going to inevitably succeed.
If you are interested in making money with the Google Adsense program, I highly recommend the Google Adsense Blog as an excellent resource to study the program, understand what it takes to make money, learn about the common frustrations most publishers experience as well as the various solutions to the frustrations.
I have picked up all kinds of pearls from the Google Adsense Blog along the way, and have met some very successful publishers who are making good money with the Adsense program through it. I strongly recommend this platform if you are interested in this method of making money online.
Although the blog won’t practically teach you how to make money with Adsense, it is a good place to get your feet wet and frequently revisit for troubleshooting and optimization tips.
The best way to learn making money with Adsense however is to find someone who has done it successfully and try to learn from them.
One of the biggest frustrations publishers experience is getting banned from the Google Adsense program. Google is not the best at corresponding with individuals, particularly when you are stuck in a rut and are going through challenges with their programs. This is personally one of my biggest frustrations with Google.
That said, many of Adsense publishers who get banned from the program are not able to rejoin the program, therefore forever eliminating the chance of profiting from the program. One way to mitigate that risk is by establishing multiple Google Adsense earning accounts. Note that this mitigates, not eliminates the risk of not being able to participate and profit from the program.
Despite what you have heard, establishing multiple Google Adsense earning accounts is possible as long as you comply with Google’s terms and conditions. So start off well and diversify your risk exposure from the get-go if possible.
I don’t create multiple Adsense accounts particularly for risk mitigation alone, rather to establish each web property, or a set of web properties as one legal entity (for example an LLC), so that I can eventually sell the entity as a whole and all the monetary accounts attached to the entity such as the Adsense account, bank account and all other affiliate accounts.
If you have even the slightest interest in the Google Adsense earning potential, I encourage you to read my free report (see above). This report discusses the practical steps involved in establishing a website and implementing Adsense on it to create a passive and residual income stream with Google Adsense.
I am also in the process of finalizing another free report that discusses how to optimize and grow your Google Adsense earnings. Imagine creating just one extra income stream on the side? What can just one additional passive income stream do for you? Imagine being able to leverage that knowledge and creating multiple streams of income over time?
Although it is not my sole bread and butter, and I don’t recommend you make an advertising based business model your bread and butter as well, it is a fun way to get started and experiment with making money online. You can always decide to take the ads down and go in another direction, but just know that this is one option you can consider in the broad realm of possibilities.
In fact, I am heavily contemplating taking ads down on some websites that I own because each ad click is paying me pennies compared to what an affiliate sale would pay me in commission, or perhaps the money I will make by selling my own product. These are websites that are starting to generate some serious traffic, and I am contemplating ways to better leverage that traffic.
Of course you are. I am far from technical and English is my fourth language. If I can so can you. In fact you can likely do it better than I can.
Trust me when I say ANYONE can do this. Everyone has some sort of passion, interest, hobby, expertise or technical skill. If you can type, you can make money with the Google Adsense program. I know I am over simplifying things, and yes there are several steps involved from the time you decide you want to pursue such initiative to the time when you actually start making money, but the process is well defined, very much doable and you have the tools today that allow you to do it.
Just realize that anything you pursue that is worthwhile requires investment of time and effort. For example, if you want to become a Doctor, you have to invest at least 8 years in your education followed by at least 4 years of residency on the lower end (not to mention hundreds of thousands of dollars). If you want to become a lawyer, you have to spend at least 7 years studying. The examples are endless, but the point is that everything involves some sort of process, but relative to these examples, the process to passively profit from Adsense is easier, quicker and a lot cheaper (a few hundred bucks will get you started). Look at several other individuals who are earning a nice income from Adsense here.
When you have a side business, not only can you bring in more income every month, but you can also take advantage of the favorable tax deductions offered by the IRS for individuals who own a side business. This reason alone is good enough for an employed individual to pursue this opportunity on the side.
I can’t conclude this post without bringing up the 9,000 lb. beast starring many of us right in our faces. I am referring to Google’s recent banning of multiple Adsense accounts, some owned by well known, reputable names online. Anything can happen at anytime, and I certainly don’t take my blessings for granted. Neither should you.
Enter into this venture with the full expectation that you (or I) could be next. It is difficult to say what specific actions cause certain types of results and repercussions, but it is certain that anything is possible. I know that I have jeopardized my own well-being by displaying an image of my Google Adsense earnings in this post, however I felt this was the right thing to do given the nature of my blog and the topics that I talk about. In addition, the Adsense Terms and Conditions clearly indicate that one can display their gross Adsense earnings. Here is the blurb from the Adsense terms:
7. Confidentiality. You agree not to disclose Google Confidential Information without Google’s prior written consent. “Google Confidential Information” includes without limitation: (a) all Google software, technology, programming, specifications, materials, guidelines and documentation relating to the Program; (b) click-through rates or other statistics relating to Property performance in the Program provided to You by Google; and (c) any other information designated in writing by Google as “Confidential” or an equivalent designation. However, You may accurately disclose the amount of Google’s gross payments to You pursuant to the Program. Google Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known through no breach by You or Google, or information that has been (i) independently developed without access to Google Confidential Information, as evidenced in writing; (ii) rightfully received by You from a third party; or (iii) required to be disclosed by law or by a governmental authority.
There is a lot of turmoil going on that is impacting the state of niche websites. Google Panda and Penguin algorithm updates have hurt several websites dramatically, which directly impacts the website’s Adsense earning potential. Again, just know and be prepared for adverse action. I know that I am. The good news is that there are countless other possibilities that you can pursue now and/or later when it comes to an internet business, whether you pursue it part time or full time.
There is a big difference in what I define as niche sites vs what many internet marketers call niche sites. I don’t own hundreds of websites. I own just over 20. There is no way in my opinion one can manage hundreds of websites and provide quality information that is non redundant. Many entered this space because it presented the opportunity for quick money. Simply find “money keywords”, develop a page or three of content, build some links and let the pennies roll in.
This was never the approach I took. Although I believe in thoroughly researching your niche and profitable keywords within it, I am not a big advocate of launching a fleet of micro niche websites for the sake of piling up the Adsense earnings, but I have nothing against those that do either. In fact, to try it out, I too launched several micro niche websites more recently, some of which did ok, but most failed. Just know that when I talk about niche websites, I am referring to topical websites that have some meat (15 lengthy pages of content minimum) as opposed to micro niche sites that are either one pagers or have a handful.
I really feel that the micro niche site Gold Rush is over. Many during this time made a killing both off their sites, as well as those that sold all the tools (the shovels). Those who were / are into website flipping exited at the right time. And while there are still micro niche web properties that are doing ok, the trend is clear.
Where do I feel the evolution is headed? Search engines are forcing web property owners in the direction of integrity and value add. You will start to see webpreneurs own less web properties, however each of higher quality, more content and more time investment. You will also see more blogs and websites focused around the author’s true expertise, passion and interests.
While in the past many got away with either faking or quickly reading and regurgitating content and profiting from it, I believe this trend is dwindling and will eventually be erased all together. This is what we all should really want though isn’t it? We all talk about making the internet a better place. Here is our opportunity. It is time to walk the talk.
This topic is actually a good segway into the next section…
I am well diversified in how I make my living. However, early this year, I finally started a project I’ve always wanted to start, an authority niche site / blog combination that I have been and will be pouring my efforts into. Although I plan on executing appropriate SEO for my blog, that’s the most I will be doing to attract organic traffic.
I am trying a combination of both proven and completely new methods to establish a solid, long term, sustainable and growing internet business. I am taking individual strategies that have worked well on a stand alone basis and combining them all together for this particular venture.
I am also adding to the mix certain strategies that I know work in theory, but have yet to experience practically. I am very excited about this project and I will write more about it as it evolves.
Making money with Google Adsense is still well and alive. There is plenty of room in the marketplace for anyone willing to “play”. Google is only growing as a company, as is the Internet. Can you imagine the world once the internet truly hits its stride?
I am talking critical mass globally, just like Television and Radio a few decades back. Truly revolutionary. If you can use a computer, you can definitely capitalize on the Google Adsense earning potential. All you need is your desire, dedication and to take consistent action over time.
If you want to learn more about the tools and resources I personally use to build and market my web properties, you can read about them here.
What’s your experience been like with Adsense? What are some of your questions about the Google Adsense program? Are you currently making money with Adsense? Why or why not? Feel free to share numbers if you’re comfortable.
Please don’t limit yourself to answering only these questions. Please openly express your thoughts. I want your feedback, which will help shape the future of some of the initiatives I choose to dive deeper into in the coming months.
And if you haven’t yet, please come say Hi to me on Facebook. I am a big believer of knowledge sharing and I am looking to get the interaction on my Facebook page going. I will be actively using it for all kinds of discussions, questions, comments, etc. Please connect with me if you haven’t yet and stay in touch.
PS: From what I see in the dashboard right now, the next Adsense check will be even bigger…