Affiliate sites and Adsense

[roadhazard]

Adsense approved my site, but I just emailed them to ask if this is correct according to the TOS, because the TOS states that competing ads cannot be on the same page. Anybody know about this, please? Thanks for any input. Also I have been putting a statement above the Adsense search box to the effect that: "if you do not see what you want on our pages, try the Google search box below". I also asked if this is OK or not. I want to be in total compliance and to know now not later if my affilate site cannot have Adsense.

[Zygoot]

>because the TOS states that competing ads cannot be on the same page. Anybody know about this, please?

You can use affiliate links as long as the ads don't mimic the look of Google Ads.

>"if you do not see what you want on our pages, try the Google search box below".

That's not allowed. The TOS forbids you to draw attention to the ads.

[roadhazard]

In this forum I see that it appears to be FINE to have an affiliate site with Adsense running. So, OK there. I will let you know about their answer to my other question about text leading visitors to use the Adsense seearch box. I made sure there are no liquor or smoking related links. Hopefully my site will continue forward with Adsense. The visitors almost completely ignore the other affiliate links because Adsense has very attractive ads. I only am making about $2-3 a day, but hey, the site is only one year old. I look forward to remaining with Adsense and making better money each year.

[roadhazard]

Thank you, Zygoot, I am removing that text from above the search box. Thanks for helping.

[ulokadut]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[dutch_dude]

I only am making about $2-3 a day

That's very little for a site one year old. How much traffic do you have?

[bumpaw]

How about having Overture on one page and then AdSense on another?

[roadhazard]

Hi, yes the site hardly gets any Google searches so far, maybe 1-3 a day, and some days none. But this is much better than the 1st 12 months in the sandbox with ZERO G. searches. Also I have NO Yahoo traffic at all. Only MSN. I realize it will take time with Google, maybe another year or so. That's OK, anything is better than the sandbox. Now, when I see a G. search in the log, I am stunned. The tags are optimized. The site is only a PR2. I have to try to add a couple of quality links, but who wants to link to a PR2? Hardly anyone. But I stay positive about all this. In Google, AGE of the site is important. My CTR is excellent. Well, remember that my site is gifts oriented, so Mother's Day was good, and now have to wait for Christmas buyers. I am broadening the scope to cover hobbies and sports. Maybe in awhile this will help. Also some HOW TO and HELP pages. Writing about stuff I know, like how to help sinus probs, etc. I think about Overture... It is just that I need GOOGLE traffic the most. Of course Yahoo traffic would help. I cleaned up my site, no references anywhere to CLICK HERE. Of course, I never had any near the Adsense, but even those far away on the page, I removed and now they say: See... I never had any hard liquor on the site, but I went ahead and removed the beer and champagne gift baskets. The site is moving slowly, but at least now it is perfectly in line with the TOS. Adsense never wrote to me to complain about anything, but I did write telling them how I cleaned up the site. I hope to avoid any future probs by doing the cleanup now, early. Probably the other forum members have sites with steadier and much larger traffic because your products are not gift season related. Gift sites have traffic slumps, BIG ONES. Before Mother's Day, I had like 750 hits a day. Today, after Father's Day is winding down, only about 75 hits expected. Ah well, you all chose better topics. What can I say...Anyway, I keep the faith...

[dutch_dude]

Ok, that explains a lot. Competition is probably very heavy on generic shopping sites.

If you want to pursue making money with lots of traffic a niche site will be much easier. Then when you have a popular site (or multiple) you can promote your shopping site on your niche site(s) as well. At least give it some pagerank and links with nice anchor text :)

Also some HOW TO and HELP pages. Writing about stuff I know, like how to help sinus probs, etc.

I think that is an excellent idea!

[roadhazard]

Yes, a niche site would be very good. I just cannot bring myself to endure the sandbox again, though. I have tons of niche items on the huge gifts site. I understand what you are saying is good advice, but I am not going to build any more new sites because of the sandbox prob. At least this site finally is creeping SLOWLY out of the sandbox. But I appreciate your kind and good thoughts and certainly others can benefit from your idea.