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7 Compelling Reasons Google AdSense Will Ruin Your Real Estate Blog

By Real Estate Tomato

Real Estate Technology with Real Estate Tomato

April 10, 2007 12:37 PM

1. Advertisements Will Cheapen Your Blog

Nothing makes you look cheesier than having a bunch of ads next to your honest message. Especially ads that you really have no supreme control over. I can forgive some solid sponsorship that directly relates to the visitor's needs and interest. We showcase BlogJet on the TomatoBlogs site because we personally use it, and feel that it is a great tool that our readers should experience.

Rss_pieces_google_ad 2. Lack Of Control Will Lead To Some Surprises

Browsing around a real estate marketing blog that uses Google AdSense Advertisements to supplement their income, we stumbled across this completely off topic ad: Image to right.

The message may mislead your audience.

In an environment where readership and subscription are the goal, establishing the focus of your message is essential.

To Continue Reading "7 Compelling Reasons Google AdSense Will Ruin Your Real Estate Blog" Please Follow Our Link

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Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

This is funny. I actually subscribed to AdSense the week Google offered it. I put it on Homefinders.com and the next day there was an ad on the front page for the largest real estate broker in my market. That was it. Down came AdSense and I never considered it again. Homefinders.com gets about 2000 unique visitors a day. It would probably be worth a few bucks now and then.

Apr 10, 2007 12:31 PM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Whatever additional earnings there are aren't worth it to me to have leads going to another REALTOR® or even links to other services than may be less than THE best. Whatever's there reflects on me.

Apr 10, 2007 12:45 PM

Grant Howell

Alex Lowery Real Estate - Frisco, TX

Broker/Owner 214-234-6901

Great post. I had never really thought about this.Thanks for the info

Apr 10, 2007 12:45 PM

Teresa Boardman

Boardman Realty - Saint Paul, MN

So this explains why you are not talking to me any more. I should have known, it is the ad sense ads on my site.

Apr 10, 2007 12:54 PM

Chris Tesch

RE/MAX Bryan-College Station - College Station, TX

College Station, Texas Real Estate

Seriously, whatever content is on my site I am responsible for! what if a mortgage company was on there and did a horrible job??? I get the rap.... I long ago experienced angst handing out referrals to people I believed did a good job, but found out later they didn't. One hard lesson learned...

Apr 10, 2007 01:12 PM

Real Estate Tomato

Real Estate Tomato - Cottonwood, CA

Real Estate Website Design Done Beautifully

Ohhh... T

I am not ignoring you. I am 2ce as nuts as I was when I was squeezing in conversations with you earlier. The Tomato is quite the monster... and I am wrangling as much as I can. Just hired 3 more to help, so that should free up some time for us to chat it up.

Apr 10, 2007 01:12 PM

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Excellent point. Thanks for the thorough review.

Jeff

Apr 10, 2007 01:16 PM

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers

Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ

Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Haven't explored this option and based on this and other reviews about the "cons" it is not on my to do list.

Apr 10, 2007 01:21 PM

Richard Parr

ADT Security Services - Slidell, LA

Home Security Specialist - Greater New Orleans, Louisiana

Good information. I love the baby in the link.

Apr 10, 2007 01:32 PM

Lizette Fitzpatrick

Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY

Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes

I bought into Google AdSense few months ago. So Far not one lead even though they say people are clicking into my website. I won't keep them too much longer.

Apr 10, 2007 01:48 PM

Desiree Daniels

RE/MAX Tri County - Robbinsville, NJ

Thanks for the information.... I refuse to pay for ANYTHING to be advertised on my webpage... and damnit... I won't falter on that one!!!

Apr 10, 2007 02:24 PM

Diana Corcoran

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY

Rhinebeck Real Estate

Thanks for the tip. I was considering AdSense and now no way!

Apr 10, 2007 02:27 PM

Jonathan Dalton

Realty ONE Group - Glendale, AZ

If there's going to be advertising on the blog, at least let it be advertising of your own service in a nice, non-aggressive manner. Going random with AdSense seems crazy.

Apr 10, 2007 02:52 PM

Ryan Hukill - Edmond

405home @ ERA Courtyard - Edmond, OK

Realtor, Team Lead

All very good points. Thanks for throwing it out there for us to absorb.

Apr 10, 2007 02:57 PM

Cyndee Haydon

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes

Thanks for the great review and reminder of unintended consequences. I'll have to check out the other 5 tips.

Apr 10, 2007 04:50 PM

Stefan Scholl

Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC - Petoskey, MI

Northern Michigan Real Estate

I am very curious as to what kind of revenues are being generated with having AdSense one's blog. It doesn't sound like it is worth the aggravation/distraction to readers.

Apr 10, 2007 07:01 PM

David A. Podgursky PA

THE PODGURSKY GROUP @ Re/Max Direct - Boynton Beach, FL

THE PODGURSKY GROUP - Make the Right Move!

I'm sure that was a surprise!

I think this runs right up there with having ads in your emails - even just for "do you yahoo?"

it only costs a bit more NOT to have them...

Apr 11, 2007 01:39 AM

Christy Powers

Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA

Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent

My husband told me not to use them. After reading this, I am glad that I listened to him.

Apr 11, 2007 01:41 AM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

AdSense, IMO, is a perfect example of Google's attempt to link the world with the rest of the world in a win-win for Google.

There are web sites that make a LOT of money on Google with AdSense. But, they do it a few pennies at a time. If you are in a business where the pay check is in the $Thousands, it doesn't make sense to risk sending potential real estate clients away through an AdSense ad on your web page after working VERY hard to get them there in the first place.

I do NOT believe that having AdSense affects Google SERP and the experts that I respect have tested that and agree. If it did, I'd have AdSense ads on all of my web sites.

So, if you are selling shampoo, widgets, articles, or some low priced product, AsSense can't cost you too much in lost sales. If your services go for $Thousands at a time, AdSense doesn't make sense to me.

Apr 13, 2007 12:35 AM

Jodi Kevern

Arizona Focus Realty - Gilbert, AZ

Interesting information! I have not heard of these ideas before.

Apr 17, 2007 02:56 PM