Was 2011 A Sweet Year?
Was 2011 a sweet year? For many that saw their profits drop, maybe not. This has been a hard year, brought on by the slow recovery of the recession.
1. Panda. Ah yes, Panda. This little gem caused and is still causing tremendous havoc in the Internet community. Why? Many found their incomes drop by as much as 75 percent. And, many webmasters had to fight their way back to profits. Which meant, figuring out how to fix the problem, or more specifically, figuring out why Google hit their site. Some succeeded, some somewhat succeeded, and some failed. Did it help the quality of the Internet? In my opinion, that answer is based upon whether the searcher found what they needed.
2. Some state governments decided to institute an Internet tax. Again, affiliate marketers in those states found that their income dropped. Why? Some companies refused to pay the Internet tax, and decided to close their affiliate program in that state that instituted the "state Internet tax". For those companies that reside in that state, they had or have no recourse in paying the tax.
For affiliate marketers, who saw their affiliate program shut down, some may have lost a big chunk of revenue. And the state that instituted this change, it affected their bottom line as well. Who won. No one.
For affiliate marketers who could move to another state, they either contemplated the move or did move. Again, the state lost more revenue.
3. Then there is SOPA. SOPA, which is the government's attempt to fight privacy. Granted many companies agree that limiting privacy is important, it the method in which the government wants to institute the changes that they are supporting. Why?
The whole purpose of SOPA is to remove the pirates' ability to profit from their theft. However, there seems to be more questions about the proposed bill than there are answers. The bill intent is to get the worst of the worst offenders. However, definitions as to who is subject to legal actions, as well as, the remedies that are to be imposed must be clarified and narrowed in scope. If it is left with a more broad based interpretation, free speech, due process and possibly privacy could be compromised.
What will 2012 bring? Hopefully, a better year for all concerned.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Getting Around Adsense
Getting Around Adsense GUI
AdSense is improving their default font settings. For each ad unit that's set to show the default font face and font size, the Google system will automatically select and show the best-performing option.
What will be the best performing option? They state it will depend on a variety of factors:
1. Users operating system and browser
2. The ad itself-which includes language, size, number of ads.
Their purpose is to help improve ad performance on your site by automatically applying the optimal font settings to your ads.
If you want to utilize this change you will have to have chosen:
1. AdSense default font family
2. AdSense default font size
However, if this is not your selection, your ads will not be affected. To change the font setting of any existing ad unit, simply edit it under the "My Ads" tab.
If you would like to change the preferences for future ad units you plan on creating, you can go to:
1. Home
2. Account Settings
3. Edit "default ad display preferences"
As you all know, this has been one of many changes last year with AdSense. I've updated my AdSense Basic Tutorial with some of the different changes that is now in the new AdSense GUI. I hope it helps you to get around the GUI a little faster.
AdSense is improving their default font settings. For each ad unit that's set to show the default font face and font size, the Google system will automatically select and show the best-performing option.
What will be the best performing option? They state it will depend on a variety of factors:
1. Users operating system and browser
2. The ad itself-which includes language, size, number of ads.
Their purpose is to help improve ad performance on your site by automatically applying the optimal font settings to your ads.
If you want to utilize this change you will have to have chosen:
1. AdSense default font family
2. AdSense default font size
However, if this is not your selection, your ads will not be affected. To change the font setting of any existing ad unit, simply edit it under the "My Ads" tab.
If you would like to change the preferences for future ad units you plan on creating, you can go to:
1. Home
2. Account Settings
3. Edit "default ad display preferences"
As you all know, this has been one of many changes last year with AdSense. I've updated my AdSense Basic Tutorial with some of the different changes that is now in the new AdSense GUI. I hope it helps you to get around the GUI a little faster.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Christmas Message
Christmas Message
Christmas is just around the corner. For many, the material element of Christmas is not going to be a part of their festivities.
But is that a bad thing? I'm sure people can forgo the material things, in lure of family, love and hope. I know I can. But hope...this is word that has deep meaning for me. For me it means, never giving up and always moving forward no matter how hard things may get. I know it's not easy. In fact, it okay to have a moment of tears, but you need to get back up and keep moving forward.
Here are my hopes
Hope, for the world. I hope for a better tomorrow and peace in the world.
Hope, in the United States. I hope for better members of Congress, that forget about their politics and think about the people of the United States. I know, I haven't seen it, nor has anyone else in the United States, but remember let's look forward and not back.
As you know, the good times take care of themselves, it is the bad times in which we need each other more than ever.
So, let the Hope of Christmas, keep our hearts strong and our determination resilient for a better tomorrow. And for those that are hurting, let those who are strong, help to hold them up and keep them moving forward. For we are all longing for the same thing, hope, peace, peace of mind and a better tomorrow.
God Bless. And have a wonder Christmas with family and friends.
Christmas is just around the corner. For many, the material element of Christmas is not going to be a part of their festivities.
But is that a bad thing? I'm sure people can forgo the material things, in lure of family, love and hope. I know I can. But hope...this is word that has deep meaning for me. For me it means, never giving up and always moving forward no matter how hard things may get. I know it's not easy. In fact, it okay to have a moment of tears, but you need to get back up and keep moving forward.
Here are my hopes
Hope, for the world. I hope for a better tomorrow and peace in the world.
Hope, in the United States. I hope for better members of Congress, that forget about their politics and think about the people of the United States. I know, I haven't seen it, nor has anyone else in the United States, but remember let's look forward and not back.
As you know, the good times take care of themselves, it is the bad times in which we need each other more than ever.
So, let the Hope of Christmas, keep our hearts strong and our determination resilient for a better tomorrow. And for those that are hurting, let those who are strong, help to hold them up and keep them moving forward. For we are all longing for the same thing, hope, peace, peace of mind and a better tomorrow.
God Bless. And have a wonder Christmas with family and friends.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Have You Ever Joined A Safelist?
Have You Ever Joined A Safelist?
Have you ever joined a safelist? When I was lurking on a forum the other day, I happened to read someone commenting on the joys of being in a safelist. In that instant, I felt the hair stand on the back of my neck, as a painful past memory came to the forefront. Yeah, it was one of my newbie stupidity memories. Anyway, after all these years, I couldn't believe it, I thought this form of advertising was obsolete. Guess not.
To make a long story, short. This was a new thread that was created by this person. So, I had to assume one of two things. 1) It was an owner of the safelist trying to get individuals to join, if they asked; or, 2) It was an individual who has joined a credit-based safelist and needed other people to join to get credits to advertise.
Anyway, my own experience with safelists were short-lived. I learned quickly that I did not enjoy deleting 1000 of emails that I never would have time to read, or wanted to read. And, in many cases, the emails were spammy in nature. For those new to the Internet, or for those who do not know what a safelist is, check out my article, - "So, You Want To Join A Safelist".
The article will give you details of a what a safelist is, how it works, and most importantly, whether it's worth the traffic you may get.
So You Want To Join A Safetlist?
Do you really want to join a safelist? Or do you know what this advertising vehicle is? And finally, is their any benefits to being in a safelist? All good questions that I try to answer.
Safelists have been around for a long time. At one time they seemed to offer some, a convenient way to advertise. However, is this true today? I answer the above questions, and let you be the judge.
What Is A Safelist
A safelist is a form of email marketing and advertising. In its simplest of terms, it is a group of people that agree to opt-in to receive marketing emails from each other. Now this is the important part. ALL members can email the other members in the list sometimes once a week, or as frequently as once a day. It sounds like spam, you might say. No, because when you sign up to participate in the safelist, you have to agree, that yes, you are opting-in to this program and you will not send it to the spam file.
This does sound interesting doesn't it? I'm sure there are some of you thinking, "Hm-m, this could help me with my website or product that I am selling." Whoa. Before you get to excited, stop for a moment, and let me explain what is really happening in a safelist.
For simplicity sake, I will take one individual that has joined the safelist. This individual sends an email trying to sell you his product of kitchen utensils. More than likely, you're not interested in buying utensils. You in turn, will be trying to sell this guy your designer pens. Do you see a trend here. If not let me explain.
To put it bluntly, this is not a targeted list. Most of the individuals are not interested in buying your product or service, but are only interested in having you buy their product or service. In either case, sales are not going to abound. And, in most cases, any company that has a brand that they want to protect is not going to allow you to use this type of advertising vehicle. And if you do, you won't be in the program long.
Hopefully, I've convinced you that a safelist is not going to get you the target market you need and want for your product. However, if for some unknown reason you still feel that it could possibly help your business, cut your loses and try a free safelist.
Different Types of Safelists
What type of safelists are out on the Internet? From what I can see, there are still three different types of safelists:
1. Free - If it is a free safelist, you may find that you are limited to how often you can send out emails. the owner of the safelist is probably making money from advertisements that it attaches to each email, that each member sends.
2. Paid - You have to give the safelist the money to belong. They claim that with the paid list you have more control over your list. After you've spent the $30+, you may feel that those claims were well, not true.
3. Credit based - How does a credit based safelist work? There are several ways you can earn credit. 1) You can receive credits by referring other individuals to become a member of the safelist (Safelist is gaining more members and an opportunity to make sales for itself), or; 2) by clicking on certain links within an email that is sent either by the owner of the safelist, or other members. Thus, if you have 1 credit, you can send 1 member an email.
Though this is my opinion, I personally do not feel that a safelist works, and may cause you more grief than it is worth. In my early days, when I was Internet-naive, I thought I was going to see great rewards from a safelist. Nope. Didn't happen. What I did receive was a whole bunch of emails from people selling me everything from ebooks to paid programs that they wanted me to join. Of course, I wasn't interesting in what they were selling, because I was more interested in these same people who were soliciting me to buy something from me. Self-defeating isn't it! End result, I found myself deleting emails, just so that it wouldn't overload my email box.
Have you ever joined a safelist? When I was lurking on a forum the other day, I happened to read someone commenting on the joys of being in a safelist. In that instant, I felt the hair stand on the back of my neck, as a painful past memory came to the forefront. Yeah, it was one of my newbie stupidity memories. Anyway, after all these years, I couldn't believe it, I thought this form of advertising was obsolete. Guess not.
To make a long story, short. This was a new thread that was created by this person. So, I had to assume one of two things. 1) It was an owner of the safelist trying to get individuals to join, if they asked; or, 2) It was an individual who has joined a credit-based safelist and needed other people to join to get credits to advertise.
Anyway, my own experience with safelists were short-lived. I learned quickly that I did not enjoy deleting 1000 of emails that I never would have time to read, or wanted to read. And, in many cases, the emails were spammy in nature. For those new to the Internet, or for those who do not know what a safelist is, check out my article, - "So, You Want To Join A Safelist".
The article will give you details of a what a safelist is, how it works, and most importantly, whether it's worth the traffic you may get.
So You Want To Join A Safetlist?
Do you really want to join a safelist? Or do you know what this advertising vehicle is? And finally, is their any benefits to being in a safelist? All good questions that I try to answer.
Safelists have been around for a long time. At one time they seemed to offer some, a convenient way to advertise. However, is this true today? I answer the above questions, and let you be the judge.
What Is A Safelist
A safelist is a form of email marketing and advertising. In its simplest of terms, it is a group of people that agree to opt-in to receive marketing emails from each other. Now this is the important part. ALL members can email the other members in the list sometimes once a week, or as frequently as once a day. It sounds like spam, you might say. No, because when you sign up to participate in the safelist, you have to agree, that yes, you are opting-in to this program and you will not send it to the spam file.
This does sound interesting doesn't it? I'm sure there are some of you thinking, "Hm-m, this could help me with my website or product that I am selling." Whoa. Before you get to excited, stop for a moment, and let me explain what is really happening in a safelist.
For simplicity sake, I will take one individual that has joined the safelist. This individual sends an email trying to sell you his product of kitchen utensils. More than likely, you're not interested in buying utensils. You in turn, will be trying to sell this guy your designer pens. Do you see a trend here. If not let me explain.
To put it bluntly, this is not a targeted list. Most of the individuals are not interested in buying your product or service, but are only interested in having you buy their product or service. In either case, sales are not going to abound. And, in most cases, any company that has a brand that they want to protect is not going to allow you to use this type of advertising vehicle. And if you do, you won't be in the program long.
Hopefully, I've convinced you that a safelist is not going to get you the target market you need and want for your product. However, if for some unknown reason you still feel that it could possibly help your business, cut your loses and try a free safelist.
Different Types of Safelists
What type of safelists are out on the Internet? From what I can see, there are still three different types of safelists:
1. Free - If it is a free safelist, you may find that you are limited to how often you can send out emails. the owner of the safelist is probably making money from advertisements that it attaches to each email, that each member sends.
2. Paid - You have to give the safelist the money to belong. They claim that with the paid list you have more control over your list. After you've spent the $30+, you may feel that those claims were well, not true.
3. Credit based - How does a credit based safelist work? There are several ways you can earn credit. 1) You can receive credits by referring other individuals to become a member of the safelist (Safelist is gaining more members and an opportunity to make sales for itself), or; 2) by clicking on certain links within an email that is sent either by the owner of the safelist, or other members. Thus, if you have 1 credit, you can send 1 member an email.
Though this is my opinion, I personally do not feel that a safelist works, and may cause you more grief than it is worth. In my early days, when I was Internet-naive, I thought I was going to see great rewards from a safelist. Nope. Didn't happen. What I did receive was a whole bunch of emails from people selling me everything from ebooks to paid programs that they wanted me to join. Of course, I wasn't interesting in what they were selling, because I was more interested in these same people who were soliciting me to buy something from me. Self-defeating isn't it! End result, I found myself deleting emails, just so that it wouldn't overload my email box.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Understanding Contextual Targeting
Understanding Contextual Targeting
You may have heard about contextual targeting, but do you know what it means? Is it important?
Let's first define what contextual targeting is and is not. Contextual targeting is the matching of ads (Either through Adwords or Adsense) through the use of keywords or selected topics to sites.
Since most every webmaster has dabbled in Adsense, I will use it, Adsense, to explain. The spider will analyze your site or blog to determine your theme, as well as, the content that you have on your site. Once the theme is identified Google will target Adwords ads to the page, accordance to the advertiser's keyword, topic, language and location.
Okay, that's fine and dandy, but what's in it for you. Contextual targeting purpose is:
1. For the reader, useful information.
2. For the reader, not only useful information, but possibly information that people find an interest in, and which they may want to follow for a long time.
3. For the webmaster, increased readership and/or the potential for income.
Thus, if you have a website about "digital cameras", Google would determine, if you indicated through your keywords, that the web page is about digital camera. If that is the case, the bot will place ads about digital cameras on your web page.
If you are using AdWords, than your ads will show based upon the keywords that are targeted toward the website about digital cameras. Okay the above explains how you can get matching ads by keywords, but Google also may place ads according to topic.
What is Contextual Ads by Topic
Contextual ads are matched according to the concepts on a page, rather than matching the single terms or phrases on a page. Instead of using Camera as your target, you may decide to use Photo & Video. This expands your target and camera because only one subject within the "Photo and Video" topic.
As you can expect, search engine advertising is a form of contextual advertising, since the ads that appear is based upon keywords and or topics. And thus, all the search engines, Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, etc. utilizes contextual advertising.
Can Contextual Targeting Benefit a Webmaster
Yes, it can have a positive impact on your earnings if your content, topic and keywords are more targeted to your niche or subject matter.
Bottomline, it's wise to have some idea about search engine optimization. For an intro to SEO, check out my website on it. SEO Basics. And yes, context targeting is important and should not be ignored if you want the target that will buy or enjoy your content.
You may have heard about contextual targeting, but do you know what it means? Is it important?
Let's first define what contextual targeting is and is not. Contextual targeting is the matching of ads (Either through Adwords or Adsense) through the use of keywords or selected topics to sites.
Since most every webmaster has dabbled in Adsense, I will use it, Adsense, to explain. The spider will analyze your site or blog to determine your theme, as well as, the content that you have on your site. Once the theme is identified Google will target Adwords ads to the page, accordance to the advertiser's keyword, topic, language and location.
Okay, that's fine and dandy, but what's in it for you. Contextual targeting purpose is:
1. For the reader, useful information.
2. For the reader, not only useful information, but possibly information that people find an interest in, and which they may want to follow for a long time.
3. For the webmaster, increased readership and/or the potential for income.
Thus, if you have a website about "digital cameras", Google would determine, if you indicated through your keywords, that the web page is about digital camera. If that is the case, the bot will place ads about digital cameras on your web page.
If you are using AdWords, than your ads will show based upon the keywords that are targeted toward the website about digital cameras. Okay the above explains how you can get matching ads by keywords, but Google also may place ads according to topic.
What is Contextual Ads by Topic
Contextual ads are matched according to the concepts on a page, rather than matching the single terms or phrases on a page. Instead of using Camera as your target, you may decide to use Photo & Video. This expands your target and camera because only one subject within the "Photo and Video" topic.
As you can expect, search engine advertising is a form of contextual advertising, since the ads that appear is based upon keywords and or topics. And thus, all the search engines, Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, etc. utilizes contextual advertising.
Can Contextual Targeting Benefit a Webmaster
Yes, it can have a positive impact on your earnings if your content, topic and keywords are more targeted to your niche or subject matter.
Bottomline, it's wise to have some idea about search engine optimization. For an intro to SEO, check out my website on it. SEO Basics. And yes, context targeting is important and should not be ignored if you want the target that will buy or enjoy your content.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Is Spamming Just A Nuisance Only?
Is Spamming Just A Nuisance Only?
There are many different types of spam. Many turn their thoughts to email spam, which many if all usually encounter. However, spamming on a website, blog and even within your Facebook account can be labeled a nuisance, and at times, an expensive lesson, if you decide to ignore it.
Referral spam, for instance, is not only a nuisance, but it can cost a webmaster or blogger money, if you have a hosting plan that gives you only limited bandwidth. Though I was hit with referral spam, I caught it in my stats before it got to out of hand. However, the clicks did accumulate quickly. At the beginning of the day, it was four figures deep, within five hours, it was five figures deep. Obviously, you have to stop these spammers before they steal all your bandwidth.
Check out my article, Spamming-Your Stats, Website, Blog and Social Media to learn more about the different search engine spamming that can hit your site, and what you can do about it.
There are many different types of spam. Many turn their thoughts to email spam, which many if all usually encounter. However, spamming on a website, blog and even within your Facebook account can be labeled a nuisance, and at times, an expensive lesson, if you decide to ignore it.
Referral spam, for instance, is not only a nuisance, but it can cost a webmaster or blogger money, if you have a hosting plan that gives you only limited bandwidth. Though I was hit with referral spam, I caught it in my stats before it got to out of hand. However, the clicks did accumulate quickly. At the beginning of the day, it was four figures deep, within five hours, it was five figures deep. Obviously, you have to stop these spammers before they steal all your bandwidth.
Check out my article, Spamming-Your Stats, Website, Blog and Social Media to learn more about the different search engine spamming that can hit your site, and what you can do about it.
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