AdesBlog.com

The feature that has been anticipated by the publishers for a long time, has been introduced now. New feature will let you update your AdSense ads (their look and feel, link colors..etc) from your AdSense account only. (blogged about it here)

With this feature, next time you want to change your ads’ look and feel:

• You will just have to login to your AdSense
• Change particular ads’ link colors, bg colors, text colors…etc to the new desired colors
• And just press save

And all the ads, that use this script will be automatically updated throughout your blog/site. No manually changing the ads anymore in every page or in your blog’s theme!

How to activate this feature?

In order to use this feature, you need to create your ads again with the extra option that is supplied when you are creating ads. This option is called AdSense unit name and will appear at the end of the form.

This will allow you to name (identify) your ads from one another. Try to name them with descriptive names, example: by their location, site name etc. (eg. AdesBlog footer 720×90). Because later it will be easier to know which of your ad is used where.

Aftermath of the recent Google penalty on blogosphere has not been so bright for many bloggers. It created a lot of discussion in the beginning, but then it was time to take action. Bloggers had to decide whether they want to be on the Google side or against the Big-G. Some thought very hard and after a lengthy discussion decided to play by Google’s rules. Obviously it was not an easy decision to make for them, because they had to forgo hundreds of dollars (if not thousands) in order to be Google’s friend.

Number of blogs up for sale increase

Another interesting phenomenon after the penalty on the net, is the increase in the number of blogs up for sale. Many blogs, especially in the “make money online” category are being sold in many auctions. For example: Blogging Fingers was sold for $6000 recently, even the blogs with personal name in the URL such as Ryan Ramsus was not spared, it was sold for $2,500, and OneMansGoal is up for sale with BIN $8,500, so far the highest bid is $6000. And some blogs sold for mere $110 dollars (sure the stats play major role here).

This shows how powerful the Big-G is, Google can and will change the internet if they want. It can destroy your business in one day, even though they believe in “do no evil” philosophy.

One thing I noticed that the number of RSS subscribers decreased sharply after the above mentioned blogs were sold. Some by 100 percent. I guess many people do not have confidence once the man behind the blog is no longer in charge.

Defiant bloggers

Finally, some bloggers simply ignored Google’s demands and continue to make more money… of course, JohnChow comes to in mind. Even he managed to pull the highest revenue on the penalty imposed month. I don’t think the next month earnings will be any less.

When can you fight Google?

If you are a website that sells products, then you want Google to be your friend. Obviously in this case, even if you do not like the better decision would be to comply with Google’s demands.

But if you are a blog that have thousands of regular readers, why need Google? That’s exactly why JohnChow can ignore Google. Because he simply does not need Google traffic. Most of his traffic comes from direct visitors, and from the blogosphere mentioning his blog (like in this post). But I am sure John will consider abiding Google’s demands for his other sites.

So, here, emotions and being hero does not count. And decisions based on just emotions wouldn’t be the right decisions. Therefore, your next course of action regarding getting back your PR (if you were penalized), should be based on logical factors that can benefit you in the future, rather than just on emotions and anger. As I said, if you are a website that sells something, you will probably need Google’s traffic. And the wise decision would be to abide by Google’s rules of game.

What AdesBlog will do?

I am going to wait for few things. First, I will wait for Text-Link-Ads‘ and LinkWorth’s official stance on this issue. I will wait if they will consider including “nofollow” tags on their text links. Because I am sure they are loosing many publishers (thus lots of money), so they have to make a big decision soon. Secondly, I will wait for my direct advertisers’ stance on how important is PageRank for them. This will be known in the coming few months. Two outcomes can happen: they will either stop advertising on this blog or keep running their text links. Thirdly, I will wait if Google’s penalty has had any affect on my SERP (search engine result page) positions. This shall be known in the next 1-2 months as well.

And depending on these factors, I will decide if I have to abide by Google’s demands or defy them and continue making money by selling text links.

How about you?

Have you already decided what you will do about selling text links on your blogs? Will you keep selling text links or will you remove them so that you can be Google-friendly?

As you all know Matt Cutts is a software engineer who works for Google, specializing in search engine optimization issues. He is well known in the SEO community for enforcing the Google Webmaster Guidelines and cracking down on link spam.

Here is a video from WordCamp that was organized by WordPress this July 21st to 22nd, 2007.

You might have already watched this clip, but if you haven’t, here it is. He gives many SEO tips… It’s one hour clip, so you might want to get comfortable in your seat.

Below, I have summarized the video clip, listing important SEO tips that were mentioned in the video:

• Use variation of the same keyword in the url, title and content separately

For example, if you want to blog about changing firefox skins. You could use URL: yourblog dot com/change_firefox_skin and title of the post you could use: Changing Mozilla Skins (Mozilla is used instead of Firefox, and plural word is used for skin - skins) and in the content you could repeat keywords like: firefox, mozilla, firefox.com, skin, theme…etc

As you can see, it’s the same thing you are talking about, but you are using different keywords in each place that Search Engines deem important. These important areas are URL and Title, content area is less important but it does add to your advantage if you back up what you write in the title of your post.

• Use dashes and underscores in the URLs to separate the words

It’s good to use dashes and underscores in the URLs, because Search Engines can detect them. It’s worst to use no space in the URLs between different words.

Example: Good to use yourblog dot com/firefox_skin_change or yourblog dot com/firefox-skin-change and not recommended to use as yourblog dot com/firefoxskinchange

Because when you use no space between the words, Search Engines find it difficult to break it. And it’s probable that some Search Engines won’t be able to recognize them at all.

• Name categories after the keywords that you are chasing

When you name a category, it’s good to name them after the keywords that you want to improve your position in SERP (Search Engine Results Page) for. For example if you want to rank high for a keyword “Make Money Online”, it’s good to have a category name for that keyword. Because as you know WordPress and other blogging platforms, directly inserts category names in the URLs.

Example: Your category called “Make Money Online”, would look like in the URL as yourblog dot com/Make-Money-Online/…

• Merge your www.yoursite.com and yoursite.com

Typing in a site with and without www can bring up different sites. Normally all webhosts show the same site (content). However not all Search Engines will think it’s the same site, unless you tell them it is. Usually Search Engines will treat them as different sites, and their statistics (number of backlinks..etc) will be logged separately. So merging them (redirecting one to another) will merge the stats and Search Engines will treat them both as one (same) site, and this might help your site’s position in SERPs.

• Make a buzz on the net and Google will notice you

Google doesn’t want to notice you (your site) through text-link ads from high ranked websites. And Google hates when you do that (buy PageRank). It might even ban you, so do it sparingly.

But what Google likes is, when you do a buzz and when everybody talks about you. When the net talks about you and links to your site naturally (without you buying ads from them), Google will notice that and will improve your position in the Google SERPs and it might also give your site higher PR.

What can you do to make a buzz? Here are some of the suggestions:

- Do a linkbait (what is that?)
- Write a tutorial
- Make a list (ex: 101 Tips for Making Money Online)
- Create controversy (not recommended)
- Make an analysis and publish the results (ex: Usability in emails, Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail…etc)

After you have done them, promote them on social bookmarking sites like Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit..etc

Avoid .biz and .info type of domains

He didn’t really give much info on this but he hinted that it was not a good idea to have a website with these kind of domain extensions. So stick to .com and .net if your priority is SERPs and SEO.

That’s about it, I think it pretty much summarizes the video. However, there are lots of questions and answers in the video. So if you want to get more information about how Google works (not only on SEO) then you might want to watch the video.

His last words were “Selling links and buying links are against our guidelines, and we do take action on them”. ;) But then again, don’t they sell links themselves through AdSense? So that advertisers can show up on the first page of Google…? Mmmhhhh… his words would make sense if Google was not selling text links itself. Anyway, I think that’s a totally different topic that I might talk on a separate post.

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In the latest PR update (actually, even before that, in the earlier PR downgrade), I lost my PR7, now it is PR5. Since it was a penalty from Google for selling text links on my blog, I had two options:

1. Remove all the TLA and LinkWorth text link ads from the blog and request Google for reconsideration. Which, most probably would give me back my PR7.
2. To keep the links and continue selling text links and doing paid reviews.

You are right. I did choose the second one.

Was it a right a decision?

From the financial point of view, it was a right decision. Because now I can keep making money with TLA and LinkWorth. Moreover, after the downgrade, I sold two more new direct text-links for $150 each, one is LogoMaid.com and another NetRadio.com.

Had I obeyed Google’s demands, I wouldn’t be talking about my new $300 income now.

This proves that, you can still make money with a lower PR blog. It also proves that, not all advertisers are looking for a high PR backlink. Rather they are looking for a good blog (preferably with high traffic) that is related to their business.

New design for AdesBlog soon, plus introducing 125×125 buttons

AdesBlog will be having a redesign soon. Together with the new design, I will be introducing new advertisement options - popular 125×125 buttons. Initially there will be total of six buttons. Fees for the first batch of advertisers will be very attractive, very good discounts are awaiting them. So if you are interested to have your button, please contact me a.s.a.p. It’s first come, first serve. So the faster you contact me, the better chance you will have in securing a spot. book your spot here.

For those who have opted to WesternUnion instead of checks, you should check your Payments Page in AdSense. Sometime today (hopefully) the payments should be out.

If you are not sure how to withdraw your payments through WU. Please read my post Guide: How to withdraw your AdSense earnings through WesternUnion, where I have explained everything in detail.

If you are Malaysian, have you opted for this option? Are you excited to get your payments (fast) through WU?

Update: Today (31 Oct) the payment has been issued, so check your account. Thanks for the heads up Kay

The long awaited PageRank update is in process now. After many blogs being penalized by Google (most probably manually), now the real PageRank update is on the way. So far, up to now, we have only seen PageRank downgrades, last being the worst, which took the whole internet by storm. Now everybody is talking about PageRank only. Darren has a confirmation (from 2 sources at Google) on reasons for the latest PageRank penalty, it’s all about text-link selling.

The Real Update

Many blogs have seen different PageRanks in their toolbars over the last few days. In order to know if the real PageRank update is in process, do look at the PR0 sites of your own. Many PR0 blogs have seen updates, one of my own project www.web2bookmarks.com was a new site launched few months back with PR0, today it received PR4. That means the long awaited PR update is here.

Should you submit your blog for reconsideration?

Now that we know the penalization was for purely text-selling. If you have been penalized, should you submit your blog for reconsideration? That’s totally up to you, if you want to get your PageRank back. You can go to Google Webmaster Tools and click on Request reconsideration link (see below).

You need to be signed in, to be able to see above Google Webmaster Tools dashboard.

As for me I don’t think I will apply for reconsideration. If I do, what I will get back? My PR7 and almost zero income from this blog. Because almost all my income from AdesBlog comes from text-links. So, no thanks Google! I will pass…

How about you? Have you experienced a new PR? For those who have been penalized, will you apply for reconsideration?

First, Google went for the longest delay in PageRank update. And then it came out and started slashing eveybody’s PageRanks left and right. Luckily AdesBlog was spared for the first one… but it was not to last long…

I had enjoyed my PR7 for 1 year and 20 days exactly ;) Yes I am speaking in the past tense, because today I noticed that the Google servers are being updated with a new PageRank for my blog, and it’s not a good news. My new PR is 5.

Other sites which had PR7…

• Engadget (from 7 to 5)
• Search Engine Journal (from 7 to 4)
• Search Engine Roundtable (from 7 to 4)
• Washington Post (from 7 to 5)
• Forbes.com (from 7 to 5)
• SFGate.com (from 7 to 5)
• Sun Times (from 7 to 5)
• New Scientist (from 7 to 5)

Luckily my new PR is not PR4. Even Darren’s blog was not spared, his problogger.net went from PR6 to PR4. Here is a list of more sites who lost their PRs.

Possible reasons for the downgrade

I had anticipated that soon or later Google will catch up with my blog’s PR. Because, I was selling text links on my blog openly. I really think that it was because of this - selling links, my PR was lowered. My other site AdesHost.com which does not have paid links on it, still has a strong PR6.

Second but less probable reason is my unfortunate link exchange with JohnChow (he got another downgrade this time, now he has PR4). It’s possible that by exchanging links with such a popular blogger like JC, my blog might have been exposed to Matt Cutts of Google… But as I said, that’s less probable.

Downgrade effects and my future plans

At the moment PageRank is a strong determinant for an ad price (but might not be in the future), and therefore my ad prices, the ones from Text-Link-Ads will probably decrease. However my own prices won’t be changing, at least for the time being.

Also, I see that the traffic from Google to my blog has not been affected. But it’s too early to say… let’s wait at least one or two weeks and see if lesser PR will affect the traffic. If it doesn’t then having PR5 won’t really matter.

At the moment, my mood is not too bad, maybe it’s because I was ready to accept it… As for my blogging, I will still be doing what I do everyday, that is providing you with quality posts. So you can expect no change from AdesBlog, posting frequency and quality of the posts will still stay the same.

How is your PageRank?

Has your blog been affected with the latest downgrade? If yes, will it affect you and your blogging experience after this? Why do you think Google is behaving in such manner?

I think that will be a great feature, in few weeks time you will be able to change the look and feel of your ads, remotely from your AdSense account. You just select the new colors and ad types then press “save” and all your ads which use the same “channel” will be automatically updated.

This new ad management feature means that your ad unit settings (such as colors and channels) for new AdSense for content ad units will be saved in your AdSense account every time you generate ad code. Then, if you’d like to change any of these settings in the future, all you do is make the update within your account — you’ll no longer need to manually replace the ad code on all of your pages. AdSense Blog

This feature might not be a big deal for bloggers, because blogs use themes and it’s quite easy to change pretty much anything in the themes. However it will be a big welcome feature for websites, especially websites that are running on static pages.

Here is a preview (and here) on how this feature will look like.

AdSense has introduced video units today. Currently this feature is open only to publishers located in the United States with English-language websites. It will be live for the ROTW (rest of the world) later today.

How to activate video units? (watch the movie below)

Now that the youtube videos are monetized, there will be even more junk videos in youtube network. On the other hand, it’s a great opportunity to those genuine, popular youtube directors.

How it looks?

Here is how the video will look like. There will be a skin around the youtube video, which I think looks awful. It will contain a banner on top. I am not sure if the banner can be removed. There will also be one text ad on the video footer, sometimes it’s just one line and sometimes it is few lines.

This will be a very ugly looking AdSense YouTubes… I thought the ads will be inserted at the beginning of the video and not around it ;) Because it takes up so much space… But the disadvantage of ads before the video would be the waiting, it would make really bad experience too. Either way, it’s not about usability here, it’s about making money. So I guess that makes usability out the window!

Your share

Now that the youtube has adsense, will you be jumping in the bandwagon and start producing your own videos? As for me, I don’t think I will be producing any videos in the near future yet. Maybe really really later…

The post titled “Malaysians can get their AdSense money with WesternUnion now” has been updated and the title has now been changed to “Guide: How to withdraw your AdSense earnings through WesternUnion.”

Since I posted that post, many people were asking me questions and I have been receiving emails every since. So I decided to update the post and make it a guide (with screenshots) on WesternUnion withdrawal for AdSense earnings.

If you have any questions please ask them in the comments and I will update the post.