Forum Moderators: martinibuster
So current tally is:
Total People: 1
Total Apps: 3
Accepted: 1
rejected: 2
Please add your own, and continue the tally.
SN
Applied once, got rejected, wrote back, got accepted.
Ditto
Kind of a skewed sample set you got here.
Thanks.
SN
Was bewildered a few hours later to find I'd been accepted for something called Adsense.
Wouldn't it be good to know about warnings and kicking off at the same time?
1 Warning email
No conclusion yet
SN
Soem clarification in their criteria would be usefull.
SN
europeforvisitors, would you mind elaborating how you got accepted next tiem round? what should I change about the site, or write to get accepted?
I just wrote back and said it would help if they'd explain exactly what the problem was. I said it was possible that they were regarding my affiliate links as "text ads," but that seemed unlikely since both of their AdSense "case studies" had affiliate links. I went on to say that it was hard to imagine why they'd reject a Forbes "Best of the Web" editorial site with more than X million PVs a month (most of which I was willing to commit to AdSense), nearly 3,500 pages of targetable content, and pages that did well in Google. I then politely invited them to let me know if and when they changed their policies.
They responded very quickly to my follow-up e-mail, apologizing for the "mistake." I didn't even have to fill out the e-form again--all the data was still on file.
In looking back, I think it's possible that--in the rush of reviewing new account applications--somebody at Google just saw the annotated affiliate links in my right margin and assumed they were paid text ads. I also had a house ad for one of my affiliate programs at the bottom of my home page at the time with the word "advertisement" alongside to distinguish it from an editorial blurb. That may have given the impression that I was already using a program like Sprinks.
If you're trying to change Google's minds about rejecting your site, you need to offer good reasons why they should reverse their decision. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what AdSense can do for you, but ask what you can do for AdSense." Can you deliver significant numbers of readers in a category that attracts AdWords "content ads" (i.e., AdSense ads)? AdSense is all about advertising revenue, and sites that can deliver that revenue will have a better chance of being accepted if AdSense raises the bar for participation (as it's likely to do when the SEO/affiliate-site crowd start flooding the Web with opportunistic "content sites" that were built solely as AdSense vehicles).
Maybe I'll work more on the design and make it look fancy, although I liked the plainer look for an information site :(
SN
Hmm seems to be around 80% acceptance.
Are you really thinking the data reliable? All rejected guys would register here?
Do not confuse yourself and others?
Maybe it would be helpful on the basis of case by case (just like EFV). But how many websites have X millions traffic there?!
I too think that AdSense may well raise the bar. It will be interesting to see whether they do it by numbers of Impressions, or given the disparity of CTR, by raising the minimum $$$$ payment
if AdSense raises the bar for participation (as it's likely to do when the SEO/affiliate-site crowd start flooding the Web with opportunistic "content sites" that were built solely as AdSense vehicles).
opportunistic? what kind of nonsense it is? if a web site has up-to-the-topic content that is interesting to readers, then why should google care? what is this? some kind of jealousy?
Everyone could find the "niche" position. This is just the real life!
opportunistic? what kind of nonsense it is? if a web site has up-to-the-topic content that is interesting to readers, then why should google care? what is this? some kind of jealousy?
Jealousy of what?
As for sites with "up-to-the-topic content that is interesting to readers," those aren't the problem. In fact, they're precisely the kinds of sites that AdSense advertisers are looking for.
I do think Google doesn't want AdSense to become a source of SERP clutter and "aggressive SEO" problems for Google á la affiliate sites.
Just as important, many advertisers already have reservations about Google "content ads," and advertiser skepticism will get only worse if AdSense ads show up on sites with disposable domains and boilerplate content.
Finally, much of AdSense's potential lies with large corporate advertisers that range from airlines to mail-order houses to business-to-business divisions of Fortune 500 companies. Such companies aren't going to want their ads running on anonymous, SEO-driven sites. (That's one of the reason why I think AdSense will need to offer more advertiser options as time goes by. Big companies are very protective of their corporate images, and they're also likely to worry about fraud. If AdSense wants to attract and retain the big advertisers, it'll have to respond to their desires and needs instead of dictating terms.)
SN
Just as important, many advertisers already have reservations about Google "content ads," and advertiser skepticism will get only worse if AdSense ads show up on sites with disposable domains and boilerplate content.
I think the ROI (no matter instant or long term) would finally impact advertisers' decision whether join Adsense field or stick at SERP. If really some "cooked/opportunistic" sites could bring advertisers the decent traffic and/or new clients/revenue resources. That would be fine.
Finally, much of AdSense's potential lies with large corporate advertisers that range from airlines to mail-order houses to business-to-business divisions of Fortune 500 companies. Such companies aren't going to want their ads running on anonymous, SEO-driven sites.
I am still a little doubt how/whether Adsense could keep the current advertisers and further get more, especially those "big guys". Those "powerhouses" would prefer big portal sites/search engine, special events (PGA tours), and the traditional media. Probably they even do not know about Adsense program.
Frankly said, I would be very happy if Adsense could keep the payout rate at the current level!
valortrade, I'm only tallying up numbers, I'm not making any claims about them.
I just hope that everyone would not treat these numbers too serously!
I have no intention to add my number here and I do not pay any attention to the tallying but I do have interest in the experience/comments/opinions behind the numbers, just like EFV's words. This could help me avoid any potential wrong-doing and would be helpful to other "Adsensers" or new applicants.
By the way, Killroy, I have not heard your reply to my curiosity - why you submitted separate applications to your sites. Because some of them were rejected? Thanks!
I'm a technical person and work with others for business/writing skills, and of course they are basically running independent businesses.
<added>
The very first site I applied with has been long established, with 10s of 1000s of pages in Google, solid visitor numbers and great rankings in many areas. It's authorative for an entire country (ok, a very small country, but still) and seemed like a good candidate. When It was rejected, I supplied another page I have which simply provides technical services to the former page, and has little independent content, except to describe the service it provides for the other page (like a plug-in of sorts).
That they rejected the former (as well as EFVs site!) and accepted the small site, it showed me that their review process currently is far from ideal, and the fact that they agree to let you show ads on any site shows that it's not that great an issue for them. Perhaps they are more worried about having a site that looks like a tangible business which they can get a hold of in case of problems.
Anyways, I was within the TOS to show the Ads on the former site, and the solid CTR of 2% and relevant ads prove both adsense efficient and my decision sound.
I hope that the work I'm putting in to "align" my sites with the perception of adsense material that google percipitates at the moment will lead to me beeing accepted for my main site and enable me to seperate the income streams for the different sites, each of which other people are involved in who would like to see their fair share of revenue.
</added>
SN
[edited by: killroy at 8:40 pm (utc) on Aug. 2, 2003]
I am still a little doubt how/whether Adsense could keep the current advertisers and further get more, especially those "big guys". Those "powerhouses" would prefer big portal sites/search engine, special events (PGA tours), and the traditional media. Probably they even do not know about Adsense program.
Some of those "powerhouses," are already using AdSense. (Just the other day, I saw a British Airways ad on my site.)
Also, big corporations use many types of advertising and sales promotion. A company like 3M, for example, might co-sponsor the Olympics and run ads for Scotch Tape on television. But, at the division or department level, it will also use trade advertising, retailer co-op programs, direct mail, telemarketing, dealer incentive programs, etc. to market specific products or services. In some cases, it may repackage and sell the same products to different markets via different channels and media. AdSense could be extremely useful to a company like 3M. Let's say that 3M has a new Scotch Pipe-Sealant Tape for plumbers. It could run an AdSense ad directed at plumbers with a "free sample" offer. Not only would that help to get the word out about the new product, but it would also encourage plumbers who try the tape to request it from their plumbing-supply dealers (thereby encouraging more dealers to order from 3M).
Of course, not all big corporations are aware of AdSense or even AdWords. And even if they're aware of targeted Web text ads at the corporate level, the ad managers at the division or department level probably aren't clued in yet. And even when those ad managers do understand the value of targeted Web text ads, it will take a while for AdWords/AdSense funds to be included in ther budgets along with funds for brochures, direct mail, trade and consumer advertising, and so on.
Of course, there's no guarantee that AdWords/AdSense will be the main beneficiary of corporate interest in targeted text ads on the Web. Given time, a competitor like Overture could offer the same concept with further advantages such as stricter editorial standards and greater advertiser control. Google's greatest vulnerability may be its reliance on "scaleability through algorithms." It remains to be seen whether Google can offer highly page-targeted ads plus the accountability and control that larger advertisers and their agencies demand.
Thanks for sharing the details.
Some of those "powerhouses," are already using AdSense. (Just the other day, I saw a British Airways ad on my site.)
Travel-related business is a little special. I could book flight ticket with UAL directly or through travel agent. But normally I could not purchase items from 3M directly. Toyota never trys to sell Camry to me directly but through dealers. Similar situation with most "powerhouses".
Online advertising would be specially helpful to those looking for end users/clients directly through Internet. So, generally said, it would benefit the travel industry and e-commerce. Little direct impact on those big guys, except if they wish to "donate" some money for image/brand promotion.
Just my personal thought.
