Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Just curious as to how many others feel the same way about this.
In fact, if I see a directory that uses adsense, I won't bother trying to get a site into it, either, for the same reasons.
I'm not sure what you mean by content theft in the example of being listed in a directory running adsense. Could you explain?
Let's say you were submitting a content-rich site that focused on a valuable keyword, or a keyword that no one had really focused on before but was, nonetheless profitable. By submitting the site to a directory running adsense, you may be laying the groundwork for someone to build a competitor site based on your topic. The operator of the site may say to himself, "Hey, that's a great topic. I never thought of that one before. And it pays well, too" (sounds of the webmaster scurrying off to build his own site on the newly discovered topic).
I think content theft is probably a smaller risk when it comes to most directories. But the better directories don't seem to use adsense, either. And I'm not sure if it would be wise to use a directory that carried adsense.
When it comes to getting link partners, do you make a distinction between an adsense site that is "related" to your site's content, versus an adsense site whose topic matter is practically the same?
"Hey, that's a great topic. I never thought of that one before. And it pays well, too"
I assume you're not a native English speaker. This is called "competition", not "theft".
The operator of the site may say to himself, "Hey, that's a great topic. I never thought of that one before. And it pays well, too" (sounds of the webmaster scurrying off to build his own site on the newly discovered topic).
I see what you mean. So it might not necessarily be "content theft" (although that could result from a shady operator who might just basically copy your website), but more like "thanks for the idea" as you described.
In my niche area I see that adsense has made many more webmasters aware of the income potential that they might not otherwise known about. My site has been around for several years and has well established quality inbound links, so tipping off the idea is not as much a concern now when link building for that site.
But on a new site I developed that isn't yet well-established, I do use caution when working to develop inbound links, and I tend to be careful about the site I'm contacting.
Extensive use of Adsense (multiple ad blocks on one page, large ad blocks in the middle of text, etc.), make me turn around and forget it. A less intrusive, user-friendly inclusion of adsense on a quality site is not a problem for me, though.
Not something I would worry about in my area. In fact, I'd see a site with AdSense on it as a plus--shows the webmaster is paying attention. I'm sure this isn't true in higher-income sectors of the web, but I'm astonished by the number of sites in my area that run banner ads or affiliate links only, and don't seem to have discovered AdSense.
Since I run Adsense myself, I don't mind finding Adsense there as long as it is obviously not the main reason the site exists. But throw in a "please click the ads" or flashing arrows pointing at the ads and I'm outta there fast.
Beyond that the site has to have something to offer to the audience my site attracts. I want to link directly to merchant or real enthusiast sites. I don't ask for a backlink.
Pure affiliate sites and pure Adsense sites need not apply.
I don't find Adsense on many merchant sites in my niche, but there are a few.
Adsense on an enthusiast site makes perfect sense to me, since that's pretty much where I started out. :)
As for checking who else links to sites I'm considering linking to, I don't often do much of that.
I almost always spend time checking out who the sites I link to link to. And I'm pretty picky about that. If a requesting site links to sites I don't like, I won't link to the requesting site.
Hunderdown, because of the potential for content theft just seeing adsense on a "potential" link partner's site gives me a cold chill running down my spine. But, like you, I am also amazed at how many content sectors are still untouched by adsense. There's obviously lots of room for webmasters to go after new content areas, or bring a new revenue stream (adsense) into a relatively untapped content area.
I don't mind finding Adsense there as long as it is obviously not the main reason the site exists
me too. A very important distinction.
<added>Actually, if it's a good site and doesn't have adsense, I sometimes offer to help out with getting advertising revenue. It certainly helps with the links</added>
What is the best way to go about asking and trading links? Do you just start sending emails to sites and say "would you like to trade links?" Then do you just ad it to a links page or does it go farther than that?
What is the connection between adsense and a submitted link? If there was no adsense and you submitted your site, the difference is....?
I don't understand what the problem is here. Is it paranoia?
Nope, but if you've ever had website ideas stolen and website content stolen, why would you take the chance?
The incidence of web-theft is at all-time high.
I would have no problem trusting many directories such as gimpsy, goguides, wow, etc. But these fly-by-night things that seem to pop up every five seconds, and often seem to carry adsense, I will gladly pass on.
Doesn't make sense.
ANY directory owner that made a habit of ripping-off/duplicating content from a submitters site would surely find his reputation on the net ruined in short order.
That would pretty much kill off the directory, hardly worth the effort.
Aside from that, would submitters rather pay a listing fee, or get a free listing in an Adsense supported site?
as it is obviously not the main reason the site exists.
Bingo! I am currently building a new directory at the moment, I have all my suspects tagged, and am going through evaluating them for inclusion.
My prime criterium for inclusion is whether the suspect site will provide valuable and useful information or services to the user, ie., will the person I send there get that for which they are looking. If so, the site is included, probably.
I then look at how easily that information or service is accessable to the user, weighed against the value of that information or service. This is where the Adsense Factor, amongst others, comes to play. If the first thing I see on a page is a huge Adsense block, then the I look closer than I normally would. If it is obvious that the page was built purely for Adsense (three adblocks placed such that the user almost had nowhere else to click) , then the site is rejected. However, if the content is of sufficiently high value, then the site may still be included, but the Adsense Factor would downgrade the rating of that site thus affecting its placement in the directory.
So, if you are submitting Adsense Sites to directories, don't be surprised if you are not included because of the Adsense Factor.
Onya
Woz
I'm not going to distrust a site because it has AdSense. But I will distrust a site where content seems to be at best an afterthought - and I've seen more than a few. The creators of such sites seem also to invest heavily in automated "link exchange" invitation software, which may account at least in part for ownerrim's reactions.
Because I know *I* dislike pages with excessive advertising, although I initially published adsense on all my content, I am steadily removing it from all nonperforming pages as I roll out an update to my HTML design. The reason is that I'm very aware that far more important to me than someone clicking my ads, is them giving me a link, and I don't want to discourage them.
Note that I'm not concerned with whether other adsense publishers give me a link. I'm concerned with whether my regular visitors give me a link because they think other folks ought to read what I have to say at my site.
