$1 Million Dollar Google AdSense Check - Page 2

lisa · #16 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 07:52 AM

I really hope it puts an end to the MFA sites and I hope you're right about the PPC model. I used Yahoo Search a while back and bid on some very cheap, targeted terms just to draw visitors to my fitness site and I didn't have anything to sell so as you said ncaditya how would Google measure something that? So it would seem to me they'd have to keep it around. I sure hope so.

#17 (**permalink**) 06-19-2007, 10:04 PM

He (the owner of plentyoffish, sorry forgot his name) was on the Today's Show this morning. They made a big deal about the fact he earns most of his money by displaying Google ads. Of course, that wasn't news to us affiliate marketers and webmasters, but it made me wonder when we are going to start seeing more affiliate marketers on mainstream talk shows and revealing how so many people are making money with affiliate programs. Most people still have no idea about this concept. I try explaining to my family and they can't believe it's that easy. Well it's not really easy to get traffic, but the concept itself is easy.

webdev · #18 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 08:42 AM

webdesigner, you're right. Most people who surf the internet don't know that you can make money on the internet. As more and more people find out about it and with more and more number of people getting online in the other parts of the world other than north America, it is only going to get difficult who are trying to establish business online now and for the exsisting affilaites as the competition rises.

I think the real threat/competition comes from countries like India. With so much population, with the IT boom and with so many number of people getting online there, they pose a direct threat to north american affiliates and marketers (that's just my theory) and i've seen a lot of people who are already doing affilaite marketing from India. Most of thes people come for Bangalore which is the silicon valley of India but as the word spreads there more the competition will become stiff form as it is.

I read it somewhere that most entrepreneurs come from North America. That might change in time.

But the good news is that not everyone is cut out for making money online. The concept is simple (you create a website and put ads on it). But making money is hard, be it through website or doing direct promotion. Some people do get a beginners luck but for most it takes time. Also, not everyone sticks around. A lot of people give up.

But i wonder what is going to happen when supply over takes demand (if it ever gonna happen), that is, when you have more advertisers and affiliates than consumers online?

lisa · #19 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 11:21 AM

I think creativity also plays a part in it. A lot of affiliate marketers do some very clever things behind the scenes that their visitors don't even see (viral marketing, etc.)

It's not just about putting up good content but you have to differentiate your site from the pack in your niche. People also underestimate copyrighting. How you talk to your visitors and present your content makes a HUGE difference in how engaged people become on your site. It really isn't a bad idea to hire a copywriter if writing is not your cup of tea.

I read somewhere that your writing should not be above a 7th grade level. Use short sentences, always use active voice, and never be afraid to add some personality to your site. (I have to work on that myself)

People like to know there's a human behind your site (show a picture) and they want to know that you are here to help them, no matter the topic of your site. So many sites come off as cold and distant and people don't get that "this person really wants to help me feeling". That's the strategy I've used on all my sites and I get emails from people all the time thanking me for that vibe. Some of them are shocked that I actually answer my email. That goes to show you how people value that one on one feel.

Affiliate marketing is a business. Your product is your site's content and your unique voice. You are building a brand of one... YOU. And just like anything else it takes time and a lot of hard work to build a business and market it. People treat affiliate marketing like it's a get rich quick scheme but it takes a while. I've been doing this since 1998 and it wasn't until 2004 where I made what I would consider a full-time salary online....and I got started when it was supposedly "easier". And it's getting even more challenging because the search engines are smarter than ever.

I'm not sure we have to worry much about oversaturation, mainly because of the infinite niches available (Chris Anderson's book "The Long Tail" is a great read!) and the fact that 98% of people that try to create a business fail. So for every successful entrepreneur there are thousands upon thousands who are trying and failing. Sounds harsh but true. So while the numbers of affiliates continue to increase in countries worldwide, I believe there are still a larger porportion of consumers going online to search for information. But it is definitely getting harder for newbies to get in the affiliate game, which is why I don't think saturation will become a problem.

Plus, it's not nearly as easy to get ranked in the search engines as it was years ago so if you want to succeed out here you REALLY have to put in a lot more work to get that traffic. People are lazy by nature. I've helped at least 8 of my friends start websites and they all say the same thing, "This really is a lot of work. I never realized it." (I guess they thought I've been playing around all these years. LOL) And when people realize this, they get discouraged because they either don't want to invest or don't have the time.

#20 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 11:45 AM

Wow, Lisa so very well put. Another point I'd like to make is that people who are succeeding out here are laregely marketers and great copyrighters, not technical folks. My family is always asking me why I'm trying to do this because I have no technical experience. But as Lisa said, it's about building a business and knowing how to market. Anyone can put up content and ads but not everyone is good at communicating and being creative. That's a skill/talent you must have.

Building a business means drafting out a plan, deciding exactly who your target market is. Most people who create sites don't have a clear idea of who they want to target. You should define their age, income, level of experience in your niche, sex, etc. That helps you write for your audience. It helps you develop a voice that is just right for the people you want to reach. Unfortunately people build sites for themselves instead of the people who are reading the content.

I read an article where it said something like a successful internet business is 90% marketing and 10% technical. The point was you can hire someone to do the scripting but you need to understand how to market. They also said that if you want to learn to make money online, take a course in marketing and copywriting, not scripting and programming.

Don't get me wrong. There are a ton of programmers out here doing extremely well but they also have to know how to market and need some degree of creativity. And just for the record I am not coming down hard on programmers because I WISH I was more technical but I still think the myth among people who don't know much about online marketing is that computer geeks are making the money online when it's mostly marketers (or at least computer geeks who also understand marketing)

My point is marketing has to come in somewhere and I disagree that luck has anything to do with it. You have to understand marketing and have some degree of creativity. And I'm learning I'm lacking a bit on the creative side.

attackdepression · #21 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 07:04 PM

good points webdev, lisa and greenthumb. I don't really think supply will overtake demand. Billions and billions of searches are done everyday on millions of different topics. You just have to go where no one else is going and stay away from the hot topics. Sure there are some topics that are becoming oversaturated but affiliate marketing isn't going anywhere. The problem is people keep trying to go after the same niches.

Just think about it. The iPhone is coming out in the U.S. this month so that creates a new opportunity for people to create information-based, affiliate sites on how to use it and get the most out of it. I have a friend who already has his domain name and his ready to start his site.

As long as their are hot and new products, topics, news stories, there's plenty of topics and room for anyone to profit. As everyone has said, you just have to know how to market and find smaller, profitable niches.

#22 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007, 03:31 PM

Lisa, you have a great website by the way. I've enjoyed reading many of your topics and your blog.

Here's my situation...I would like to give Adsense a try to earn additional income. A couple of days ago, I purchased an Adsense website template package from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/225-Adsense-Webs...QQcmdZViewItem

I bought it figuring I could choose a website, buy a domain name for it and and upload the website to my hosting account. Then work hard at promoting it and generate traffic and therefore generate income.

I read your article about google adsense and how you should avoid getting material already written from someone else because possibly Google will reject my site.

Do you know if these adsense websites I bought will cause me problems?

Please advise. I really would like to do things the right way. I know that making money online is not easy and it will require work. So I'm just looking for guidance.

Thank you for your time.

lisa · #23 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsLisaLisa

Lisa, you have a great website by the way. I've enjoyed reading many of your topics and your blog.

Here's my situation...I would like to give Adsense a try to earn additional income. A couple of days ago, I purchased an Adsense website template package from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/225-Adsense-Webs...QQcmdZViewItem

I bought it figuring I could choose a website, buy a domain name for it and and upload the website to my hosting account. Then work hard at promoting it and generate traffic and therefore generate income.

I read your article about google adsense and how you should avoid getting material already written from someone else because possibly Google will reject my site.

Do you know if these adsense websites I bought will cause me problems?

Please advise. I really would like to do things the right way. I know that making money online is not easy and it will require work. So I'm just looking for guidance.

Thank you for your time.

Thanks for the compliment.

They could potentially cause you problems if hundreds of people are buying this product and using the same articles over and over again. Eventually Google will begin ignoring them. Google won't reject your site for AdSense, but you may have a hard time getting those individual articles ranked well in the search engines - thus making it hard to earn anything. That's what I meant about those "adsense ready" products.

It's really better to build a site on a topic in a niche you are passionate about so you can write your own, unique content.

Gigababbler · #24 (**permalink**) 02-05-2008, 10:57 PM

Man! That just made me rethink about my website idea! A million dollars? Such a lucky guy. I'm jealous!

But you know...unless you got something very very special, social sites are extremely hard to rise from the ground.

webman · #25 (**permalink**) 02-06-2008, 02:32 PM

Excellent advise! However, I sincerely doubt it's harder for a newbie to succeed at affiliate marketing ...Maybe for spammers lol

Regardless, I will never give in to failure.

Plus I kinda feel saying thousands upon thousands is kinda vague. We all agree that most for fail cause they don't try.

redstone · #26 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 12:50 PM

I came across this old post here.
WOW that story was a great read.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117987775136211487.html

KevinCamon · #27 (**permalink**) 02-08-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revenue

Dont forget that the name is really catchy too, it kinda gives the impression that there are lots and lots of matches to find compatibility with, come on now plentyoffish.com doesnt that imply something, plus it kinda gives off that, oh well if my current partner or this one or that is working then there's plenty of other fish in the sea.
Its not just the niche. I'll admit the niche has something to do with it especially at the time he launched it by i think there's something a bit more fishy going on. Something people like about fish.

a little Earnings History:
on Aug. 27, 2003, Markus Frind (markus007) has made posting on WebmasterWorld forum [11] : "I make about $40/day off 1200 visitors. No idea if that is good or bad."

At Feb. 27, 2006 he has published a photo of cheque for 901,733 CAD [1] (Nine hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty-three Canadian dollar, about $800,000 USD!)

If anyone wants to see a pic of markus and his girl or just want a little bit more raw data about the site. go to the link below

.

http://moneygeek.blogspot.com/2006/0...r-day-and.html

I tell you what guys, this article did it for me. I was so inspired by this story that I printed it out and hung it on my fridge. I have so many unique ideas that I'm ready to launch. That was such a great idea for him to do and now it paid off.

Time to get those little brain cells working people, because before you know it, people will be looking and discovering all sorts of unique ideas that's going to be the NEXT BEST THING.

Kevin

webman · #28 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 12:29 AM

Show us some recent successes like within this or last year...

mrvyper · #29 (**permalink**) 04-03-2008, 04:42 PM

Those are impressive adsense earnings. Have you seen this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-5Rl2lfYwM

Anybody on this site making income in the 7 figures like this?

Lajocar · #30 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 12:33 AM

That Adsense check was over a two month period and not for one month. Read up on it.

Shoemoney also got some very big checks.

WB Sponsors