Adsense doesn't like my niche

What if you've got a niche that only spawns PSAs from Adsense?

[jefuchs]

I have a little webstore that is basically a CafePress shop, but I host the the images on my own site for more control. This (I thought) would allow me to make an extra buck off of Adsense.

Well, All I got was PSAs so I emailed Google about it. I was expecting to get a response explaining that it takes time for the ads to appear, but instead I got a note saying that my material was too sensitive for their advertisers.

Before you get a mental picture of some offensive site, go to Google and enter the words "where's my leg" and click "I'm feeling lucky". It won't take you to my site, but you'll see my products at Cafe Press.

I'm an amputee with a sense of humor, and I sell shirts, mugs, and stuff to like-minded amps. But Google says this is sensitive material, and won't serve ads to my site. Basically, this is a one-page site that is part of my larger humor site. The only page that won't get ads is the amputee page.

From what I can tell, Adsense won't appear on web pages for people with disabilities. I'm sure some sites are getting past them, but I have searched the web, and found no disability sites that have Adsense ads.

I exchanged several emails with the Google support guys, and they foolishly defended the policy. At one point, he said "I'm not an amputee, but if I were, I'd be offended to see ads for prosthetics" (I'm paraphrasing).

Well, I AM an amputee, and I don't see what's so offensive about it.

Anyway, I could probably set up a nice, full-featured site for amputees. Messageboards, Online store, etc. But with no ad revenue potential, I'd have to foot the bill myself (ooh. Pardon the pun).

I don't really have a question for you, I guess, but if you've found a niche that was nixed by Google, did you overcome it?

[whoisgregg]

Dealing with any topics of any sensitivity is probably a guaranteed way for an advertiser to get too nervous to run ads on the site. Advertisers are jittery so Google has to be jittery -- at least until they allow advertisers to exert control over which sites on the content network show their ads.

I can think of a lot of funny jokes that I wouldn't want my ads next to. ;)

<added>
Although you and "like-minded" amputees enjoy the site and the humor, how many people would be offended and raise a fuss with Google and the individual advertisers? I bet there'd be a surprising number of people who decided it was their duty to "protect" amputees from your site and I bet they wouldn't care that you were one.

[amznVibe]

Some ideas/hints.
If you know the specific keyword that are stop words, don't use them, there are 1000 ways to say something in english, or not say it at all, find another way.

More content pages specifically talking about the HUMOR of it.
Have a CONTEST page for one of the store items each month.
If there are MOVIES or DVD's that emphasize with your cause, make pages reviewing/praising/critisizing them.

It's about content. If you write real content, not only do the SERPS like it, adsense likes it
- and you will like the results in traffic and income.

BTW, I could be wrong but my experience is that forums and chats are losers for adsense.

ps. I showed your stuff to a disabled friend of mine they thought it was a riot too ;)

[Rodney]

I don't really have a question for you, I guess, but if you've found a niche that was nixed by Google, did you overcome it?

Not all sites and topics are a good fit for Google Adsense.

If your particular topic isn't a fit (Google is the final judge on this), then I would just not put AdSense on those pages.

Choose another one of your sites (or build one on a topic you are interested in/passionate about), and see if it will be a better fit.

[webmastertexas]

Even if Adsense allowed your ads, how many ads could you possibly get that involves the word "amputee"?

[LopLop]

Even if Adsense allowed your ads, how many ads could you possibly get that involves the word "amputee"?

Amputee Sale
New & used Amputee.
Check out the deals now!
eBay.com

Amputee For Sale
Low Priced Amputee
Big Selection! (aff)
ebay.co.uk

Amputee on eBay
Amputee for sale
now on eBay. New Bidders Welcome!
for-sale-now.com/eBay

[jefuchs]

LMAO. I put myself up for sale on eBay, and didn't get a single bid!

[Macro]

webmastertexas, and unless it has "amputee" in the ad it's not suitable for the page? What about services for the disabled - from finding suitable holiday packages to advising on social security benefits to providing maps of reserved car parking bays? What about products specific to them - like books, tools, car modifications.....? C'mon.

jefuch, one of the ways some people have gotten around it is by rephrasing the text as suggested, or using images to replace the stop words. It may take a few weeks after the mod to see the ads change.

[Procyon]

Macro - empty a little space in your inbox if possible. Haven't been able to reply to you. :)

[Macro]

Someone start a petition for Brett to give more popular members larger in-boxes! :)

space cleared now for 1 or 2 new stickies.

[trillianjedi]

[off-topic]

Someone start a petition for Brett to give more popular members larger in-boxes!

Macro - you can dump them all to your regular mail client:-

StickyMail --> Options (drop down list) --> Email messages --> Process

Then you can delete the lot and still retain copies of all those filthy pictures people send you ;-)

TJ

[/off-topic]

[Macro]

>> still retain copies of all those filthy pictures people send you

I obviously don't correspond with the same type of people you do. I get stickies from people like Procyon, and these tend to be squeaky clean.

Wanna swap friends?

Thanks for the stickymail tip. That was something I was unaware of.

[walrus]

You should follow macros advice, and I think you should use the keyword prosthetics somewhere in your copy.
A look at a google search for prosthetics shows they have great ads for this topic.

[google.ca...]