My Adsense Report - Unlocking The Secrets Of Adsense - Chapter 7 (October 2009)

Since my last report in August 2009, I've been trying all types of tweaks, readings, tests, and adjustments to my articles in the continuing attempt to unlock the secrets to the Adsense treasure. I know a lot of folks read my first six chapters (weeks). Many times I've read something, got interested, and then a series of articles just stop in mid-air.

I hate it when that happens. So, I thought it important to not have such a happening occur with this series, and, thus, here is my report to date:

I use for my writing two writing platforms, Hub Pages and Xomba. I've got more of an insight into Adsense when I started setting up my own website for “pinktaxi.us” and “josephehoward.com.” Both URLs go to one website. Now, instead of just writing using adsense, I was actually picking the design, color, positioning, and what ads to actually select. Since plunging into the website-side of adsense I, again, find myself scratching my head, just as I did (or do) with writing using Adsense.

Here's a tip I believe to be valuable, if not right now, certainly, a valuable asset in your future. Go buy the URL (if available) with your name. As, example; if your name is John Smith, try and get “johnsmith.com.” The “.com” address, let's face it, .com is the industry standard know worldwide. If the .com is not available you can try securing your name using .net, .org, or the newest U.S. designation “.us.” .us stands for United States.

By securing your name on a URL you solidify yourself. Then, if not now, but at a later date you want to set-up your website to present your writing works you can do it with your own name. This makes YOU a unique address on the Internet. If you do not write under your own name, but use a pen-name, then solidify yourself by getting a web-address (URL) unique to your pen-name.

URLs are pretty cheap these days and can be paid for by the year, or two, five, ten years, whatever you choose. I use GoDaddy.com as my hosting company and the company I buy my URLs from. .com addresses are only $10.69 per year, and if you choose to pay for multiple years the price per year is less. They are a website hosting company, but, more important, they are an URL Registar. Registars are officially authorized to distribute URLs. If there ever is a problem regarding your-URL it is the Registar who you go to. I also have my website hosted with GoDaddy. With all the tools I need to create a website, and keep it up to date, including unique email addresses, and 24/7 tech support via telephone, I pay $4.99 month. The price includes five pages for my one website. For pennies a day you can upgrade to accept credit cards, get more pages, have a shopping cart, whatever your heart desires.

Another excellent company is Netfirms.com.

The difference between GoDaddy and Netfirms is GoDaddy will bill you monthly after an initial 3-month payment to start and Netfirms bills yearly only. GoDaddy is based in Arizona, and Netfirms is based in Canada. I give 5-star ratings to both companies. And, best of all, both companies offer their help-services from where they are based, not half way around the world.

I have used the Internet since 1994, and let me tell you that there are a lot of shotty companies offering the works for a website. I have learned from my own bad-experiences to go with a company with a proven track record. I personally have dealt with Netfirms since finding them in the sea-of-Internet-crap back in 2002. I have watched GoDaddy grow since discovering them through a friend. I have had hosting with them for two flawless years.

Here's the one rule I follow; if they don't have 24/7 FREE tech support via telephone, “find another company!” Building a website can be mind boggling at times and there's nothing better than picking up the phone can getting compassionate tech support, and having things well-explained, so, you can move on with the building.

Why your own website? No one will take the care of marketing you other than you. If you've amassed enough writing on any of the writing-platforms (Xomba, Hub Pages, Wordpress, etc.) you can link your website through your posted articles on the platforms.

For me, using links to my website and links back to the platforms steer traffic to my site. It may not be a lot, but, its a start. Also, I don't have to “store” my articles on my site and take up a lot of space. I keep my articles on the platforms and their links on my website. Having a website is like your piece of real estate on the Internet. In a way, you're open for business. You could sell ebooks, and/or what ever else tickles your fancy. And you control the content and you control the censorship. I've been censored on a platform for writing about some advertisers being annoying in their approach of delivery-of-message. On my website I do not censor my own works. But, my aim is always for general audience reading.

On the writing platform Hub Pages you have the option of adding eBay and Amazon ads of your choice. I try to keep my ads consistent with my topic. I encourage anyone writing in this platform to use these advertising options. It's another way to flash for-sale and give you, yet, another chance to put some coin in your pocket.

And, I'm still working my way through my many articles adding keywords, and adjusting my text so my selected keywords flow within the content.

Just a quick word about tags. I wrote an article about Tyler Weinman. He's the 18-year old who is accused of mutilating and killing 19 cats in Florida and I've been following the on-going events working up to the trial. I have a tracker set up with Google News so I can get the latest news on this subject.

It's been through my research of this article that I've learned about bogus-tags. I'm getting updates from sites and articles which have nothing to do with the case. I wondered for awhile, how could this be? My previous trackings using Google News have always been fairly good. But, not this time. When I started checking things out I found the the websites/articles which had nothing to do with the case I'm working on had added to their usual tags the name “Tyler Weinman” just to draw traffic, and no other reason.

It appears some people use high-profile words/names as a way to draw additional traffic to their sites. It is my understanding Google frowns on such tactics. Bogus-tags can't possibly do anyone any good.

My point, if you're going to be a writer on the Internet, using bogus-tags degrade your work.

Awhile back I wrote a Chapter 7X of this series especially for my readers on the Xomba Platform. In it I made mention of 600 full-written articles being a good aim to start getting reasonable pay from Adsense. I am just shy of 200 fully written articles. It took me 18 months to make my first $100, and three months to make my second $100.

To me, making money using Adsense is like kicking a snowball off the top of a mountain. The roll down the mountain increases with the number of written articles you've written. In time your ability to gain revenue will “snowball” into a worth-while amount. For me, the magic number of articles I need is 600.

Previously, I have said Adsense is like a crap-shoot, and I still hold this to be true. You may realize fast-high-revenue by being lucky enough to achieve a high click-through rate on one piece out-of-the-blue. It does happen and its happened to many, but, it hasn't happened for me, and, probably not to you.

I just wanted to bring everyone up to date and let you know I'm still out here in Googleland with my pick and shovel looking for the illusive Adsense treasure.

Thanks for reading, and I'll be back to give you my latest report in November.

Here are some links you might find useful:

My Adsense Report - Unlocking The Secrets Of Adsense - Week 7X

http://www.xomba.com/my_adsense_report_unlocking_secrets_adsense_week_7x

"Free Site - LOTS of Help for ALL Writers:" http://www.how-to-write-anything.com

"Keywords that pay $2 - $10 per click:"

http://hubpages.com/hub/50-Keywords-which-pay-2-10-per-click-Adsense

"Go Daddy Web Hosting and Registar Services:" http://www.godaddy.com

"Netfirms Web Hosting and Registar Services:" http://www.netfirms.com

3000 Words on Maximizing AdSense Revenue *:

http://hubpages.com/hub/3000-Words-on-Maximizing-AdSense-Revenue-with-Hub-Pages

*this article is written for writing on Hub Pages, but, it has superb information useful across all platforms.

I was looking over in Adsense help on Google the other day when I noticed a little yellow box at the bottom of the page with a little lightbulb in it.

Here's what it said: “"Do you use a web publishing platform such as Hubpages, Xomba, Wordpress, MediaWiki, or Weebly? Your site or service may offer instructions for using AdSense..."

It was pretty exciting to me because XOMBA is a “publishing platform." No longer just a site! I would think that to be important for our growth. It's great advertising....and we're moving up to the top of the heap. Congrats to all for pullings us all into the Internet light!

And, please make comments as they help with the sharing of information and knowledge. You can write me direct on Xomba under “Joseph E Howard,” and on Hub Pages under “pinktaxi,” or from my website. I will answer all inquires.

This article is copyright 2009 Pink Taxi Communications XCM , Tualatin, Oregon, USA 97062: http://www.pinktaxi.us or http://www.josephehoward.com

The Google Adsense logo is the property of Google Inc.

Website addresses are the property of their respective owners.

*** When I started writing this series I thought Adsense would come to me with a "snap." I wrote the series on a weekly basis. Well, I'm still waiting to hear that "snap." So, I took a break for a couple of months. The original six segments were written in about 7-weeks and were referred to as weeks 1 - 6. From here on out they will be written in "chapters." The "weeks" are now chapters.

Chapters 1 & 2 (Weeks 1 & 2)

Chapter 3 (Week 3)

Chapter 4 (Week 4)

Chapter 5 (Week 5)

Chapter 6 (Week 6)