E-commerce : How to Monetize a Free Website Using Adsense

Summary : Google has decided to reward webmasters of quality, free websites with the chance to rake in cash for their hard work.

For some time, I have aggressively marketed my Geocities website without the prospect of any financial return. The site is content-based, so I did not expect to generate any E-commerce sales, and was unable to lure potential sponsors.

That has quietly changed, however. Google has decided to reward webmasters of quality, free websites with the chance to rake in cash for their hard work.

Google's contextual advertising program, Adsense, has been around since June 2003. Back then, the E-commerce program was open only to webmasters with their own domain names. Many quickly took up the opportunity to cash in.

Adsense and Free Websites

When the Big G announced they were expanding Adsense to accommodate free sites, some people scoffed at the idea because they believe freebie sites are full of junk. I first learned of this move while browsing around a few webmaster forums, and to my surprise some were against this move by Google. I believe Google's intention is to bring as many quality websites under the Adsense umbrella as possible.

My first application for Adsense was rejected, and I received an explanation stating that my site was still under construction. I thought that this was a mistake, so I reapplied the same day and was accepted. Right away, I was able to log in to my account and put the ad code on my pages.

Using Adsense Technology

The control panel is easy to understand, and Google provides stats and figures to track your performance. You can also add Adsense for Search to allow visitors to search the web or your site. Every time someone clicks on the displayed ads, you are compensated.

Developing content sites is key to success in Adsense. Why? Google's technology uses the content of each page to guess which ads are most suitable. The higher the quality of the content, the higher quality and paying ads you will attract.

Earning E-commerce Dollars With Adsense

Please note that being accepted into Adsense does not guarantee an E-commerce commission check. Your success depends on many factors. The number of visitors, advertisement placement, the page's keyword value, and the number of persons clicking on the ad panel make a difference.

For those with unscrupulous minds, Google has ways and means to determine where each ad click originates. Therefore, no click spamming is tolerated.

Why Adsense Makes Sense

Adsense is a win-win situation for all the players involved. It benefits the visitors with additional information, the search engines feature higher quality websites and you earn a check every month.

It makes perfect sense to make dollars with Adsense. With this source of E-commerce revenue, you can upgrade your website, taking it to it's full potential.

About the Author : Nicholas Dixon is the editor and publisher of The Roc Newsletter