Forum Moderators: martinibuster
I had the same problem here, because I wanted to play around with the ads. I placed them on some minor slightly off-topic inner pages, which get a little stream from obscure SERPS. As far as revenue is concerned, they made me $100 last year :-) But it was mainly a proof of concept.
The main concern is that the vast majority of ads you will be serving will likely be competitors ads. You will be filtering like crazy and will likely filter yourself right out of any ads displaying at all.
I would actually recommend that you consider using the space to either "advertise" your own top selling products or put up some affiliate ads for complementory products.
Freq---
If you do mean corporate, I think it would be a mistake. I agree with the previous post that it makes your company sound desperate for money.
If it's commercial, then it's certainly realistic to add an additional revenue stream, if it doesn't conflict with and canibalize your main revenue stream. Unless, of course, AdSense ends up making you MORE money than your main revenue stream! :)
I'm running Adsense on 100+ corporate sites and you try and prise them off there!
However:
I think it depends on the exact type of site. Do you mean "corporate" in the sense of the corporate page of Big Widgets, Inc. or do you mean "commercial" in the sense of selling widgets online?
This may be an extremely important point insofar as your usage is concerned and how your customers currently perceive the business. I'll explain my scenario and maybe that may assist.
1. #1 Niche trade directory site - ok that's fair game for all, without Adsense its income would be zero without creating a dedicated marketing department.
2. #1 Niche trade company site. I'm European, saying corporate always sounds too much like Enron or IBM! Anyway, the company supplies per se and the site is reconised by the trade worldwide as a primary source for their FCL purchasing and niche information.
Without Adsense income it would have no effect, it's a multi-million Dollar profitable international business.
3. All the other sites are still within the same niche with even more information in detail and further breakdowns country by country.
All the Adsense advertisers on my sites are actually FCL purchasers or clients of FCL purchasers, they are generally the suppliers direct to the public.
What advantage does this have for both parties?
1. My web site investment costs are justified by my Adsense income and I'm the one who upkeeps all the sites therefore I personally feel "rewarded" for all the foresight and effort in creating my little niche trade world.
2. The advertisers get to be seen on the most prolific niche trade sites at the most reasonable cost without having to negotiate directly with me and all the messing about that would inevitably occur.
I cannot give you the definitve answer to your question without seeing and knowing your site/industry better. Certainly do not be put off by it simply because someone says "It's not the thing to do!"
The important question may possibly be is how will your company's customers view it?
Will they be using it to advertise like mine? There's nothing to stop them and they may welcome it.
I just do not know your business however there are very few which could not adapt Adsense profitably, and regardless of what some may pontificate or believe, it's definitely going to spread to more "corporate" sites.
I can tell you this that since I first started 2+ years ago, nearly every "competitor" of mine is now displaying Adsense!
What's the point of a website if you are not making any money from it ;) Leave the charity to businesses that can afford it.
