Chapter 3: Do’s and Don’ts in GOOGLE ADSENSE

Now that we’ve covered what Google AdSense is and how you get your ads set-up, it is time to delve into the subject a little deeper and cover some strategies that you should definitely use as well as some tactics that you should steer clear of.

Do’s
1. It is imperative that you follow Google’s terms of service. We have briefly touched upon the fact that Google has an exceptional quality control system. This is to your benefit because ensures the relevancy of the ads that are placed on your site. This is a two-way street; however. In addition to a strict quality control system for the ads that are placed on your site, Google also has the ability to monitor those ads. If they find that you have violated their terms of service in any way then they can and will suspend your account. Naturally, this is something that you do not want to have happen, so it is really best to make sure you read those terms of service and abide by them.

2. Do take advantage of the opportunity to experiment with the ads and find out what works best for your site. Keep in mind that it may take a few tries before you discover the combination that will produce the best results for you. Everyone’s site is different, as they should be, and consequently what works for someone else may not be right for your site. The only way you will know for sure is to play around with it and give it some time to find out. Don’t worry if you do not experience outstanding results the first week. This is the learning phase. As long as you are continuing to tweak things you will discover what will work for your site.

3. Do take advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as you can about AdSense. Google offers a number of informative tutorials and you can find out a lot simply by playing around with it. Don’t stop there. Take advantage of every opportunity that you have to learn more about this program. The more you are able to educate yourself about AdSense, the more success you will be able to enjoy. Also, remember to simply have fun! AdSense is completely free and let’s face it, there just are not many ways left in the world where you have an opportunity to earn money without investing some of your own. If you are persistent and dedicated to learning more, it won’t be long before you will be able to see your profits add up.

4. Check the links on your site from time to time to make sure that they are not broken. This is not only annoying to visitors but it can also drive down your rankings as well. If you have difficulty remembering to do this you might set up an automatic reminder in a program like Outlook so that you can be reminded to do it on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Don’ts
1. One of the biggest no no’s that we need to cover in this section is in regards to clicking on your own ads or encouraging people you know to click on your ads. Google has a very impressive fraud detection system and the only thing that trying to drive up your profits by clicking on your own ads will do for you is have your account suspended. It is much better to play by the book and let your revenue accumulate naturally. If you spend the time setting up your ads correctly, ensuring that you have quality content and in general being willing to learn as you go then you should have no need to try to artificially boost your profits. Just so that we are clear about this particular topic, these are all methods that are considered to be fraudulent by Google and could cause you to have your account suspended:

• Clicking on your own ad
• Using automated clicking programs
• Using robots in order to produce clicks
• Using fraudulent methods to trick visitors into clicking on the ads

2. While this would seem like it should be a no-brainer, you would be surprised at the number of people who try it. Do not place ads on pages that are empty. Remember that you must have content on your pages.

3. Never place ads in places where they simply will never be seen. Always keep visibility in mind when you are determining where you will place ads on your site.

4. Under no circumstances should you have information on your site that is illegal. This includes the use of text or content that is plagiarized. Along the same lines, avoid using any content that would be considered obscene. Remember that you do not want to irritate visitors to the point that they choose to leave your site. You want them to stick around and click on ads.

5. Do not use your site in conjunction with any ad network that utilizes a method that could put your AdSense account into jeopardy. For example, you should make sure that you are not using any other types of ads on your site that include pop-ups. It simply is not worth it to jeopardize your account by using these types of ads from any other source. Keep in mind that even though they may be from another source, you could still run the risk of having your AdSense account cancelled. If you obey the rules with AdSense then you will typically find that you have no need to utilize such questionable ads from any other sources.

6. Do not make any changes to your AdSense code once it has been generated. To be more specific, you should not alter any portion of the code. Not for any
reason. This is an absolute violation of the AdSense terms of service and if you violate this term then you could quickly face the reality of having your account terminated.