Tag Archives: WTF!

AdSense is NonSense…

A short while ago I wrote that I was going to “monetize” my blog by inserting ads provided by Google… a service they call AdSense.

It’s not a simple process if you really want to make money. I read a few books and watched a few videos. I signed up for the AdSense program, and then started inserting dummy code where Google could place the ads. This took the best part of a week.

Then I clicked a button to tell Google I’d completed this process, so they could check, and start the insertions. Instead, they sent me an e-mail to say I had not complied with their policies. Well, they sent an e-mail in Thai, which told me nothing, but one of Google’s other services is “Translate” which did a good job of producing something I could understand.

But, Google being Google, they don’t bother to tell you which guideline, or lines, you’ve violated. So I spent more time checking the site against the guidelines, couldn’t see a problem, and resubmitted the activation request.

Today, after being rejected for a third time, I checked in at the AdSense Forum, and asked people there for help.

Well, what I didn’t know, is that Google has ‘bots’ – automated programs – that check your text for offending words. They call them “stop words.” And I have some. I may have a lot. But, since they do this automagically, they don’t consider context.

In one article I mentioned the Sex Pistols. It was something about Virgin Records and nothing about sex. You can’t say sex. Heck, I probably can’t even say “Virgin.” In another article I said “Porn.” I was explaining that that’s my name in Thai. But, it seems, I’m not allowed to tell you that. Not if I want to make money with AdSense.

And you may remember I jokingly called the limestone hillocks that are common in this region “titties.” I used the word many times. That probably burned out a few chips in Google’s servers.

adsense

So, I’d like figuratively to set fire to one whole server by saying “Screw You Google.” AdSense is just one of many ways to monetize a blog. I’m already working on a Plan B, one that means I can say titties any time I want. That’s my kind of ad supplier.

In fact in a matter of minutes, I signed up with a service called Chitika – and if you’re thinking bananas, you misread it just as I did. Thanks to a WordPress plugin, I already have ads in the blog. Super-simple.

citika

Maybe I won’t make as much money, but I really have no interest in writing about Mary Poppins and Santa Claus. In fact one forum member said you can only stay signed-up with AdSense if you write for seven year-olds who haven’t been to Neverland.

Hopefully this article will be found by anyone thinking of using AdSense, and as a result they will not waste as much time as I have.

Rant mode is now OFF.