One of the most powerful and proven monetization methods available to a website owner is the Google Adsense custom search but it is often ignored and unused. I don't know why!? Everybody is so used to those standard 468x60 and 250x250 units and whatever... I am sure they work for you and all that, but look.. Visitors are used to them as well. They have seen them everywhere too. Users don't like to click on ads. Period. They come to a site for the content offering and then quickly want to move on and go about doing whatever it is else they do on the internet. Whether it is talk to their friends or to check e-mail.. Going outside to play tennis or basketball, baking cookies, etc. Clicking ads?! Hah... Screw that! We are not doing that. We don't really feel like it :D
My friends, that is exactly the reason why the CTR on content websites is so low, usually in the single digits. So come on.. Just don't make excuses anymore. Face it... It is the reality. It's time to start solving the problems instead of ignoring them. The biggest challenge for you, as a website owner, is to get as many people clicking on your ads, that is if you are running a PPC monetization strategy and that is your primary revenue stream. Using the same old tricks, although proven, aren't the "it" thing anymore. We are halfway into 2009. Hello!!!? There is lots of clever and better ways to monetize targeted traffic. Google makes billions of dollars from simple keyword searches matched with the right ads. That is their proven winner. The #1! They make all this money because they help users find random stuff.... So --- are you?!
Google AdSense for search is one of the newer products that has been introduced in the AdSense line up. It offers total customization and implements with your site within 2 minutes once the code is generated, as if it was your own custom search engine....and in essence, it is! You design the look and feel of the layout as well as what sponsored ppc ads can be triggered when a user searches for certain keywords. All of the basic configurations are there for you. You are 100% in control. The best thing about the Google AdSense for search custom engine is that it lets users self-serve their needs. It helps them find what they are looking for. Don't you think this is important? I sure do.
OK, search is great and all... But is it really a must have. In one word, yes. It is. Do you know how difficult it is trying to cater to every user and try to provide everything that they may need in regards to subject XYZ?! As I've written recently... The chase for content is endless. In 2009, it is time to simplify things. It is all about forming partnerships and optimization and further re-optimization. Work with what you got. Stop looking at all the wrong places. You have it all right there under your nose. You don't need a million affiliate programs and networks. You just need a couple of reliable sources of revenue. Google should always be at the top of your list if you are just starting out.
Google AdSense provides an advertising inventory on-demand. The largest ad inventory in the world to be exact... You can tap into it instantly! I see a lot of mini-site developers and other just regular webmasters as well totally ignore AdSense for search. Come on... That is so silly! We get 20 - 30% CTR on ads on some of our sites with the proper setup and the visitors keep coming back too. Every site should have a search engine... Get with the times! It is 2009. If you never tried out Google AdSense for search, well, you need to give a go.
The biggest difference about the new AdSense for search setup is that it blends the top 3 sponsored ads really well. They look almost like organic listings! You know what this means right?! More clicks... Yup. Then there are also 8 additional ads on the right side. There is also a search box at the top and bottom. Overall this is a big upgrade and a breathe of fresh air. I've written to Google a few times times and submitted this feedback. Come on... No brainer!! I am really happy and excited to finally see this rolled out. Although it is not on everyone's accounts yet, it is on some of our clients sites. Sweet!
On the old setup, you didn't have any search boxes by default installation. All you had was the sponsored ads and results. That is it. It was like that for a couple of years... 4 sponsored ads at the top and 5 on the right or bottom. Nothing more and nothing less. That is all you got. If you wanted to add your own search box, you could of... But most people don't. It is too much work. People want to cut and paste and be done with it. On our sites... We added a search box and sometimes even two on the results page. It makes a huge difference! People search around more and the user experience is now a positive one even if you couldn't find what you were looking for in your first search attempt. At the end, we make more $$$ thanks to the improved CTR.
Observations at WannaDevelop.com
02/23/2010: Dozens of Amazon affiliate stores for sale.. Developed by DomainMassDevelopment.com 01/11/2010: Wanna be part-owner of DomainState.com with myself and a few others? Ok, read this now... 11/02/2009: FS gets it on with WP... It's about time, no??!?! 08/24/2009: If all else fails... Who is gonna pay the bills?!! 08/22/2009: Frank Schilling has the winning formula $$$$$$
