Google AdSense is, hands down, the number one web-based
marketing
system out there. It’s arguably the most intuitive of the lot, and the
payout is consistently just as high – if not higher – than other similar
programs.
So why are we bothering to tell you about alternatives to Google AdSense?
For one, there are some people out there who are incredibly
suspicious of Google, and understandably so. After all, signing up for
their AdSense program allows Google to basically have full access to
your information. Though that information is used to make AdSense and
other free Google tools more efficient and better for you, you also
don’t know what else they’re doing with that information.
Here’s another thing: the terms and conditions for Google AdSense are
insanely strict. Only certain types of websites can also be used with
AdSense. If you don’t agree with the terms and conditions, then don’t
bother signing up. Google will find out if you’re abusing their rules no
matter how sneaky you think you are. And when you’re out of the AdSense
program, you’re pretty much out for good.
But here’s the good news: Google AdSense isn’t the “be all, end all”
in this market. As a matter of fact, there are a number of great
alternatives that a lot of people will tell you are even better than
Google. Most are more flexible, some have different ad formats, and
several have been known to pull in more money for users than AdSense.
Listed in no particular order, we’ll start with our first AdSense
alternative:
1. Qadabra
Qadabra aims
to become the most recognizable name in self-serve display advertising,
focusing on maximizing eCPMs through performance based algorithms (that
means you make more money from every click).
Quick Look:
- $1 minimum payment
- No minimum impression volume
- Built in optimization algorithm
- Banners go live the second after creation
- Supports all geographic locations
- Rich media creative
- Live and advanced reporting system
- Dedicated support team
You can sign up with them in as little a 15 seconds, create your ad placements, and let
Qadabra do the rest.
2. Clicksor
If you’re a small publisher, then you’re going to love
Clicksor.
Their payouts are pretty big, and the cost per click bid values are
pretty good so you can actually earn decent cash for once. This is
perhaps the single reason why bloggers love them!
Unlike some other sites, however, Clicksor does have slightly more
strict guidelines – though not nearly as strict as Google. For instance,
you are only to place one copy of their code on a page (though there is
evidence that if you place only DHTML code or a single pop-up code on a
page, you can get away with putting several context-sensitive
advertisement blocks on your site).
And speaking of context, that’s another reason why people love
Clicksor – their ads have time and time again proven to be context
sensitive. So while
keywords
are still a great idea, this advertising tool is smart enough to “read”
your page and then show ads that are targeted to all of the content on
your site. This is a huge benefit. Your visitors are exposed to
advertisements that match the search query they entered, which means
that you will definitely have a higher click through ratio as a result
and make more money.
As for the ad types, you can expect to find several, including:
- Image ads
- Text ads
- Flash ads
- Banners
- Pop-unders
- Animation ads
- DHTML or Dynamic highlighting
- Interstitial ads
As with AdBrite, give Clicksor about 24 hours to work properly on your site.
3. Bidvertiser
One thing that’s really cool about
Bidvertiser
is that you have a whole lot of options when it comes to ad formats. In
fact, you can even make your very own ads! With “free design” you’re
able to specify exactly how you want your ads to look and their
dimensions. Also, for anyone who isn’t too experienced with
web design,
Bidvertiser also offers a “point-and-click” tool that will help you
format any advertisement so that it goes with the look and feel of your
website.
What really makes Bidvertiser worth mentioning on our list, apart
from being an excellent AdSense competitor in almost every sense, is
that they have features that can further help increase your earnings.
One of these is the Revenue Generating Toolbar. This toolbar allows you
to provide your very own customized toolbar to anyone who visits your
site. When a user uses your toolbar, you will then earn more money. The
toolbar is 100% customizable, meaning you can put your logo on it, add
links, and include other useful tools.
The other thing that we really like is the conversion bonus.
Bidvertiser will now not only track the cost per click, but it will also
track if any of the clicks actually lead to a sale. If it does, then
you receive a conversion bonus! If you’re able to generate a ton of high
value leads on a consistent basis, then you can expect to make a nice
sizeable bonus every single month (and in this case, the bonus will be
even better than the CPC payout!).