Should AdSense have a Two Tier System?

strict adsense gudelines

[teaandbiscuits]

Should adsense run a two tier system of ads for sites that carry more adult type content,I don't mean XXX content,I mean something like football forums where the language isn't always clean.

Just like TV where you have post watershed (Usually after 9pm) TV programmes,where advertisers are quite happy to run their ads alongside them.

So many sites get disabled because of minor infringements to the very strict adsense policy.


This way google makes more money because it opts in more sites,and website owners aren't as limited in their scope of what they can and can't discuss or show.

[ember]

Should adsense run a two tier system of ads

No. If Adsense does not fit your site, then find another monetizing system or develop a different website.

And it doesn't really matter what any of us think. We don't run Google.

[netmeg]

Ask the advertisers if they want their ads running in a system like that (which, by the way, would probably require more oversight that won't scale) Some will say yes; most would say no. There's no huge incentive for Google to do such a thing, particularly when it would not be popular with the top tier advertisers who spend the most money. And for every publisher that gets booted out, ten or twenty (or some number) new ones come along to take his place.

[teaandbiscuits]

The idea that everyone should just build a website to fit googles impression of what a website should be like makes for a very bland interweb.

And with adsense being the only really viable affiliate in town,then there is little option but to tow the line.

Imagine if TV was like that,No Sopranos,all TV would be wallpaper programmes where everyone has nice TV and always say the right things.

I am sure if there was an option for advertisers to hit football forums then they would take it,football fans are generally young match going fans with plenty of disposable income,and I am sure this is the case for a lot of sites that currently don't sit/fit well with adsense.

[ember]

there is little option but to tow the line.

Yep. It's Google game. You don't have to play, but if you do, you play by Google's rules. There isn't much point in wishing it were otherwise.

[avalon37]

I don't think Google wants any part of this. Their future is electric cars and big innovation bets - not cashing in questionable content and user searching for said content.

[teaandbiscuits]

Yep. It's Google game. You don't have to play, but if you do, you play by Google's rules. There isn't much point in wishing it were otherwise.

I know it's their game,but it isn't their internet.

I also think it would benefit them,it would open up a whole new revenue stream,and it would also make the web a better and more diverse environment,as site owners would make the sites they want,rather than the watered down sites that are being made now.

Let me use the TV analogy again,imagine if TV companies only made TV shows that fitted googles strict guidelines,imagine The Sopranos without swearing,without shootings,without sex,a gangster lite show,well,it wouldn't be award winning TV that's for sure.

So why can't the net be like that,why can't site owners strive to make the site equivalent of The Sopranos,why isn't google supporting such diversity,they could do,TV companies manage it,why can't google?

[netmeg]

So why can't the net be like that,why can't site owners strive to make the site equivalent of The Sopranos,why isn't google supporting such diversity,they could do,TV companies manage it,why can't google?

Because Google is a business which needs to make money and keep shareholders happy, and not worry about diversity in advertising, and oversight on such a system as you propose is more trouble than it's worth. They're already sitting on a pile of cash, they make more money off ads on Google pages (not to mention the shopping ads which are a goldmine) and they don't believe in *anything* that doesn't scale. That's why they don't much care if they kick out publishers (or even individual advertisers) because individually they don't even know we exist.

There are other options for display ads, but they may not pay as well or as reliably. But there's no reason whatsoever for Google to change a business model that's working for them just because you can't run AdSense on a certain type of website.

THAT is the internet.

[ember]

I also think it would benefit them,it would open up a whole new revenue stream,and it would also make the web a better and more diverse environment,

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

[graeme_p]

And with adsense being the only really viable affiliate in town,then there is little option but to tow the line.

Really? Lots of sites seem to survive without using Adsense.There are plenty of people who say they make more money sellings ads some other way, or from affiliate programs, or by selling stuff themselves, or whatever.

If a really profitable niche was left open, someone would have filled it. I think in this case the niche is too small for a large network to fill it.

[Leosghost]

G do serve adult ads(ense) on "parked" domains ( depending upon the domain names )..I have some parked domain names ( developing domains does take time to do well ), amongst them are some which get some very hardcore adsense..CTR etc etc is very good ;)

But as G no longer show parked domains in SERPs, the parked domains have to get "type in" traffic, or have their traffic "sent"..<= not beyond the wit of webmasters to send traffic somewhere, one would hope ..

Or, as graeme_p says, sell ad space directly, if the domains are developed and "live"..

The adult "niche" ( a very broad term, with many "verticals" within it ) is immensely profitable..

But for PR reasons,( especially in G's home in the USA ) G does not want to be seen directly to be running adsense in "adult" areas ..despite their large adwords inventory from companies in the various "adult" "niches..

[piatkow]

But for PR reasons,( especially in G's home in the USA ) G does not want to be seen directly to be running adsense in "adult" areas ..despite their large adwords inventory from companies in the various "adult" "niches..

Why bother with two tier when double standards are cheaper.

[martinibuster]

To a large extent Google does shape the web. However that's only aided and abetted by you, me and us. Ultimately it's not Google, it's us and Google creating that web.

You've heard of thinking outside the box, right? Well, monetizing a site with advertising is the box. It may be useful exploring what's outside the box. You might have to invent the next box. There are alternatives to advertising.

Should AdSense have a two-tier system? If they did it would be less profitable for you because it will cut the pool of advertisers. At that point you might as well sign up directly as an affiliate for fat belly creams and enhancement pills. Or better yet, create your own brand and market it yourself. You'll make more money from that than for a crippled "two tier" version of AdSense.