The Open Source Web Design Toolbox: 100 Web Design Template Sources, Tools and Resources

The Open Source Web Design Toolbox: 100 Web Design Template Sources, Tools and Resources

The open source model has, over the last 20 years, proven that collaborative development is one of the best ways to incorporate the newest ideas and latest concepts into design.

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Google AdSense Tutorials, Newsletters, Tools, Web Sites, and Blogs, SEO

Internet Marketing, Online Marketing

Google AdSense Tutorials, Newsletters, Tools, Web Sites, and Blogs, Page 1

Google AdSense Tutorials, Tips

After researching quite a bit to understand Google AdSense and how to best implement and optimize AdSense contextual ads for several Web sites, I’m not at all surprised to see that a major key to generating revenue with AdSense contextual ads is the critical importance of interesting, keyword rich content and solid search engine optimization. Great content helps to draw visitors to your site, which in turn brings in the traffic to help your site generate revenue. Optimizing your site for AdSense helps AdSense serve appropriate contextual ads. SEO, SEM, of course, can help your site show up on the first page of search engine results. They all work together.

I was also struck by the tremendous volume of “how to get rich quick” schemes using Google AdSense. If you’ve done any ‘Google AdSense’ searches or other searches for how to monetize your website, you’ve already seen what I mean.

The good news is that the Google AdSense section below provides annotated links to truly helpful information about Google AdSense, monetizing your site using AdSense, and how to make money with AdSense. Within this section you’ll find links to official Google AdSense information, tutorials on optimizing AdSense and your sites for maximum results, helpful AdSense tutorials, AdSense for blogs, AdSense arbitrage, AdSense case studies, AdSense tools, such as blocking MFAs (Made for AdSense sites) and ad tracking tools, online forums on AdSense, and Web sites and blogs that cover AdSense and other affiliate programs.

See also Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM) here at WebsiteTips.com.

Do you have suggestions, recommendations for helpful, insightful AdSense tutorials, information, AdSense tools, blogs, books, or other resources? Recommendations and suggestions are welcome and appreciated! We’ll also thank you by adding a credit link to your site (only with your OK), of course.

Google AdSense General Information, Tutorials

• 7 Powerful Ways To Make Money from AdSense Using Only Free Tools
  7 of the most effective ways make money from AdSense, including writing and distributing articles (and where!), your email signature and using email effectively, bartering your skills, and more. [Article/tutorial by Christopher Kyalo, via WebsiteTips.com's Marketing Articles, Tutorials section.]
• Analyzing and Interpreting AdSense results with Google Analytics
  Covers Google Analytics basics, comparing time ranges, Viewing overtime data trends, Ad clicks tracking, Ads performance tracking, Web pages performance tracking, Traffic type performance, Search Engine specific performance tracking, User segment performance tracking, Advanced Cross segment reporting, more. [Article/tutorial dated 03/26/2006, by Miki, ASP.NET 2.0 Resources.]
• AdSense CTR
  Helpful forum discussion thread at DigitalPoint’s Pay Per Click Advertising forum about CTR (click-through ratio). Common questions answered here with helpful, reasonable answers. Note: it’s against Google AdSense program policies to discuss your actual CTR, eCPM, etc. This thread discusses all this in general terms only. [Forum thread dated 2004-2005 via Digital Point Forums.]
• Blocking MFAs from AdSense is Not that Easy
  Explains the pros and cons of shared MFA blacklists and also explains how to research and uncover MFA ads from your own site’s AdSense ads. [Article/tutorial dated 11/05/2006, by Stefan Juhl, for StefanJuhl.com.]
• The Giant How to Make Money with AdSense Thread
  Thoughts on creating a long-term sustainable income with AdSense. Terrific thread at WebmasterWorld with plenty of practical advice, tips for success, and much more. [Forum thread beginning 06/20/2007 - ongoing, WebmasterWorld.]
• Google AdSense: eCPM Trends August 2007
  Extremely insightful forum discussion thread with posters commenting on their AdSense earnings trends — many finding a noticeable shift in their earnings late July, beginning of August 2007 – positive and negative. Of note, posted by ‘cline’, 03 August, 2007, 4:25pm:

  There has been a change on the advertiser side. Advertisers now have access to the “Placement Report” with data going back to 1 June 07. We’ve run these reports on all of our clients’ accounts and have identified many content network sites that underperform. We block these. Also, many accounts are now in the CPC site targeting beta. We’ve moved high-performing sites into CPC site targeting and lowered content network bids for non-targeted sites. If many advertisers are doing what we’re doing, CPC bids on the median sites should go down while the CPC bid average remains the same. A few sites should be experiencing big increases, while the average site experiences decreases.

  While you will read everywhere that earnings will fluctuate, this is an especially interesting, insightful forum discussion. See also this similar thread that started Friday 03 August, 2007, Are You Having A Quiet Friday? Has the Net stopped & everyone got off? [Forum thread beginning 07/30/2007 - ongoing, Webmasterworld.]

• Google AdSense: Income, Implementation Best Practices, Pitfalls
  Terrific article on AdSense, and one of the best I’ve seen so far. Covers implementation best practices, obstacles to success, and resources to succeed with Google AdSense. This is Part II of the site’s “Research Report on Google AdSense as a wealth creation strategy, focusing on the implementation and income potential from AdSense.” Topics covered: So how much income can you expect from Google AdSense? Difficulty of Success with AdSense; Many ways of Implementing Google AdSense; Best Practices; Test, Test, Test; Getting Free Traffic to Website; Generating Serious Income from AdSense; Success Examples; Resources. [Article/tutorial by Character & Wealth.]
• Google Tests New “Show More” & Related Words AdSense Units
  News, screenshots and links to more information about Google testing a “Show More” feature within AdSense ads, and news of an outage that took down all Google PPA ads over the previous weekend. [Article/tutorial dated 08/06/2007, by Barry Schwartz, for Search Engine Land.]
• How To Make Money with AdSense
  Author Eric Giguere explores four key factors in this Google AdSense tutorial – traffic, target niche, content, and optimization. Helpful insight and no-nonsense, practical advice about how to make money with Google AdSense. [Article/tutorial by Eric Giguere, via WebsiteTips.com's Marketing Articles, Tutorials section.]
• Learn how to Setup AdSense Channels
  “Understand the use of AdSense channels and make use of the benefits of targetable AdSense channels.” Great tips on how to setup AdSense channels with advertisers in mind while also making them useful and optimized for tracking your site’s AdSense ads. Lots of helpful insight here. [Article/tutorial dated 02/27/2007, by Hans, for Kriya Yoga Cyberspace Ashram.]
• What Happens When an Google AdSense Publisher Dies?
  Helpful information and links to more information, too. [Article/tutorial dated 10/29/2007, by rustybrick, for Search Engine Roundtable.]
• What To Do When You’re Kicked Out Of AdSense: A primer to get you back in and other tips
  Very helpful insight and information in this forum post on how to get your AdSense account reinstated after you’ve been kicked out. See the follow-up forum posts, too. [Article/tutorial dated 03/24/2005, by asp4bunnies, for Webmasterworld.]

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Optimize Your Site for AdSense

Straight from Google – Tips to Optimize Your Site for AdSense

• Optimizing with Channels
  Google’s tutorial and guide on how to implement and use channels within AdSense. Topics covered: URL Channels: Creating URL Channels; Custom Channels: Creating Custom Channels; Generating Channel Reports. Editor note: Using channels can make a huge positive difference with optimizing your site for AdSense. Channels can help you see exactly what’s working and what isn’t and where. I use a combination of URL channels and custom channels to track my various ad placements and their URLs – it’s a fabulous tool and easy to set up. [Article/tutorial via Reports and Earnings - Channels, Google AdSense Help Center.]
• What is section targeting and how do I implement it?
  Google’s short tutorial on their AdSense tags to use to emphasize specific areas of Web page content and also to ignore. Includes cautions about their use, too. [Article/tutorial by Google AdSense Help Center.]
• Where should I place Google ads on my pages?
  Provides fairly general but helpful tips on the best places to add Google ads within your Web pages. Also includes a Web page “heat map” that illustrates ideal placements on a sample page layout. Here’s an enlarged version of the heat map, too. The darker orange colors represent the strongest performance and fade to lightest that represents the weakest performance. Note that each page is truly different, and it’s important to fine tune your pages based on your site’s unique content and visitors. [Article/tutorial by Google AdSense Help Center.]

For ad placements for forum sites along with a Forum Heat Map, see the section below, Optimizing AdSense for Forum Sites.

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General Tutorials, Articles on AdSense Optimizing

The annotated links in this section each cover the broad topic of optimizing AdSense, covering many areas. Following this section are sections on specific areas of optimization: ad formats / sizes, ad placement /locations, ad management, tracking ad clicks, optimizing content, keywords, using AdSense competitive ad filters, dramatic shifts up or down in AdSense earnings, optimizing forum sites, optimizing blogs, and more.

• 8 Shrewd Ways to Optimize Google AdSense
  Reasonable, sound advice, insight on how to optimize your site and placement for your Google AdSense ads. Topics: Less is “more”, Choose the ad size type that fits your design best, AdSense psychology, Experiment, Use AdSense site search, Target keywords, Use color schemes that fit your design, Spreading content to multiple pages. As stated, “the most basic principle in optimizing your AdSense is to serve interesting ads to your users that will make them click. This principle can be achieved with the right layout, right size of ads, and right blending of ads. Here are some effective tips to optimizing your AdSense.” [Article/tutorial dated 05/11/2007, by Robinson Go, Advice for Bloggers.]
• 10 Little Known Ways to Skyrocket Your AdSense Earnings
  Practical, helpful insight, helpful links, and great tips on each of these topics: 1. Ad creation, 2. Ad placement, 3. Ad quantity, 4. Image or text ads?, 5. Channel your ads, 6. Track ad-size perfomance, 7. Competitive ad filter, 8. Target your content for high-paying keywords, 9. filtering your content of negative keywords, 10. Split testing your adsense ads. Very well done article/tutorial. [Article/tutorial dated 10/14/2007, by Jest Staffel, Ajaxflakes.]
• AdSense Secrets: Getting More Clicks on Your Ads
  The importance of keywords and topics, your ad position and color, getting highly targeted traffic, choosing the right anchor text for backlink campaigns, wisely choosing the title text, helping Google detect the theme of your page, your site, meta tags, title text, headings, using Google’s section targeting, using Google’s channels within AdSense to analyze your ads’ performance, blocking junk websites and competitor websites, and more. Well done article/tutorial here. [Article/tutorial by Keyword Country.]
• AdSense Tips: 15 Tips to Increase Your AdSense Revenue
  Covers keywords, focusing on a theme, fresh content, the best formats, and much more. Practical, helpful tips here. [Articles/tutorials series by DeadLine Online.]
• Factors Affecting AdSense Ad Clickthrough Rate and Earnings Potential
  Questions to ask before launching AdSense on your site; intelligence, age, and the types of people who tend to click ads more; searches that signify desire for advertisements; ad integration; quality and quantity of ad alternatives; the top SERPs; site authority; and more. Great article. [Article/tutorial dated 05/21/2006, by Aaron Wall, for Aaron Wall's SEO Book^[*note].]
• How I Increased AdSense Earnings by 50%
  Covers tips and observations about ads format, ad placements, site promotion and development, identifying the most profitable keywords, experimentation, adding new sites, and overall thoughts. Excellent article. [Article/tutorial dated 02/17/2007, by Brian Turner, for webpronews.com.]
• How to Improve AdSense Revenue
  Topics covered: improving your website’s traffic, How to get a higher CTR, Ad Colors, Ad Placement, Ad Format, Targeting, CPC, Google Search Box, Optimization Tips for Forums – Ad Format & Placement. Great article that covers a lot of ground. [Article/tutorial by Dominik Mueller, via WebsiteTips.com's Marketing Articles, Tutorials section.]
• Optimizing Google AdSense
  Helpful information and insight about optimizing your site with Google AdSense in mind. Topics covered: Select the Google AdSense Ad type that fits your design best – and gives the best CTR, Select a Colour scheme that fits the design of your pages, Do SEO (search engine optimization) on your website, Optimize your website for high paying AdSense keywords, Increase website traffic, Use Google AdSense Adlinks on your site, Use Google AdSense site search. [Article/tutorial by Chris Hansen, AdSenseGuide.]
• A Publisher’s Guide to Contextual PPC Ad Optimization
  Tricky Optimizations, Google Hints & Section Targeting, and more. Helpful tips and links here. [Article/tutorial dated 07/29/2006, by Chris Beasley, for websitepublisher.net.]

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Tutorials, Tips on AdSense Ad Formats / Sizes, Ad Placement / Locations for Optimization

Where should you place your ads? What sizes or formats earn the most money? How many ads should you have per page? These tutorials address these specific issues.

• Banner Ads: The Best Performing Banner Ad Sizes, Formats, Locations, and Colors
  Choose the best banner ad sizes and locations for your site, along with choosing effective colors – all based on the latest facts, recommendations, and trends. This in depth article provides charts of current standard ad sizes, Google AdSense ad sizes and Yahoo! Publisher Network ad sizes, followed by statistics and recommendations on the best performing ad locations, best performing ad sizes, and blending or contrasting your ads with your site. [Article/tutorial by Shirley Kaiser, SKDesigns, for WebsiteTips.com's Marketing Articles, Tutorials section.]
• Location, Location, Location
  Ad placement tips and an eye-tracking graphic that shows how the eyes typically track on a Web page. Although intended to help people with Yahoo! publisher ads, the same information can also apply to AdSense ads. [Article/tutorial dated 05/10/2006, by Michael Mattis, Blog Editor, for Yahoo! Publisher Network Blog.]
• Optimizing AdSense For Better Performance And More Money!
  Topics cover: Positioning, link units, Leaderboards & Skyscrapers, Square & Rectangle Ad Units, Optimizing AdSense: Taking out non-related ads, Filtering AdSense Advertisers, the importance and value of numbers of pages, multiple pages, the use of channels, Google search with AdSense, and more. [Article/tutorial dated 07/10/2005 by Martin Lemieux, for WorkZ.]
• Optimize Your AdSense Efficiency
  Helpful basics and how-tos on optimizing your site for AdSense efficiency. “Increase your AdSense CTR and eCPM by adjusting the number of ad-slots according to advertisers during the course of days and weeks.” [Article/tutorial dated 02/15/2007 by Hans, Kriya Yoga Cyberspace Ashram.]

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Tutorials, Tips on AdSense Ad Management, Tracking Ad Clicks for Optimization

• AdSense Gold – Tracking AdSense Ad Clicks by Page and Keyword
  Creating a wide net, using software to track AdSense clicks and earnings granularly, keys to understanding how to profit from content, tracking earnings at keyphrase search level, manufacturing sitewide relevancy, tracking AdSense clickthrough stats, and more. Very helpful article. [Article/tutorial dated 06/01/2006, by Aaron Wall, Aaron Wall's SEO Book^[*note].]
• AdSense SSI using PHP
  “Manage your advertisement-codes without an ad-server – a few lines of code make your AdSense control a whole lot easier.” Hans explains how to use PHP includes to manage your AdSense ads, but he also explains why it matters so much to be able to manage your ads centrally using include files – not only ease of management but also the ability to easily rotate ads, change ads, and more. He includes PHP code samples, and CSS samples, too. He also writes about optimal ad placements and more. Very helpful article/tutorial. [Article/tutorial dated 02/15/2007, by Hans, for Kriya Yoga Cyberspace Ashram.]
• Don’t Blind Optimize Your AdSense
  Insight on using Google’s own tools, using third party tools, and more. [Article/tutorial dated 01/31/2006, by Nick Wilson, for Performancing.]
• The Importance of an AdSense Journal
  How keeping a journal about the changes you make with your AdSense ads can help you track what’s helping and what isn’t helping for your AdSense ads and optimization. Good tips here. [Article/tutorial dated 06/25/2007, by Joel Comm, JoelComm.com.]
• Utilize Exit Page Strategy To Maximum Adsense Earnings
  Explains exit page strategy, the best exit page for AdSense ads. Editor note: A unique idea here that makes good sense. Well worth checking out. [Article/tutorial dated 07/02/2007, by KC, KC Hut.]

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Tutorials, Tips on Optimizing Content, Keywords to Optimize AdSense

While some of the listings within Tutorials, Articles on AdSense Optimizing also cover content and keywords, these listings are specifically about this topic.

• Attracting AdSense Revenue with Quality Content
  “Keywords are still important, even essential, but the surrounding text must be relevant, informative, interesting, and original.” Willis discusses originality of content, along with several technical issues regarding keyword usage – keyword density, key word frequency, and keyword proximity. Helpful insight and information here. [Article/tutorial dated 05/24/2007, by Seth Willis Jr., for Idea Pulse.]
• How to Improve Content to Attract Targeted Ads
  Helpful tips with important ingredients within your Web page to be sure to optimize for your determined keywords, keyphrases, and more. [Article/tutorial by AdSense How Tos.]
• How to Improve AdSense Ad Relevancy
  Covers tips on the importance of relevancy and why it matters, section targeting with AdSense, meta tags, keywords, content, titles, sidebars, pictures, contacting AdSense support. “AdSense is not very good at reading between the lines of what your post is about – it needs to be explicitly told.” Although the post refers to improving AdSense relevancy for blog posts, the tips can help any type of Web page. [Article/tutorial dated 11/16/2006, by Darren Rowse, ProBlogger.]
• Never Pay for High Paying Keywords ….Find your own
  Short blog post with ideas on how to research your own keywords, keyword phrases, targeting the high-paying keywords and keyword phrases for your site to help improve your earnings with AdSense. [Article/tutorial dated 06/25/2007, by Andy Martin, for Learning Thinking Earning |AdSense|.]

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Tutorials, Tips on Using AdSense Competitive Ad Filters for Optimization

While some of the listings within Tutorials, Articles on AdSense Optimizing also cover filtering ads, these listings are specifically about this topic. Should you filter out MFAs and low-paying ads in addition to competitors? Many feel it’s worthwhile and increases their earnings, while some don’t. See these articles and forum discussions to help you decide.

• Competitive Ad Filter
  Google’s official help, support information about the AdSense Competitive Ad Filter. Includes how to use it, how to locate the URLs of the ads you wish to filter without clicking on the links (important!), and more. [Website section: Google Help Center.]
• Filtering Ads
  Index page listing all the FAQs and information about filtering ads within Google AdSense. This is Google’s official help, support information. [Website section: Google Help Center.]
• To Filter or not to Filter: Google says I filter too much…
  Discussion of Google’s Optimization Team’s monthly optimization report that always seems to tell everyone to reduce the number of filters in their competitive ad filter. Discusses using competitive ad filters for low-paying ads and MFAs, not just for competitors. Excellent tips on using an Excel spreadsheet:

  Keep track of your filter list in an Excel sheet. Upon entering look up once other relevant information, e.g. registrant or target IP address. Then determine whether these guys are annoying, bad or really bad. When you run out of space, throw out the annoying ones first. If you still need more space, have a look at the bad ones’ Alexa charts. Often, from the chart you can already see whether they are still actively advertising (in this case you see a spike in traffic). Then you may be able to release the sites in question as well. Never release the really bad sites. They will keep on advertising. Maybe they are just pausing their campaigns and do the domain-switch thing…

  More insight, ideas, and discussion here, too. [Forum thread beginning 10/16/2007 - ongoing, WebmasterWorld.]

• Google AdSense: How did I Increase My AdSense Revenue with SAME CTR?
  Tremendous insight here on how the author had “done everything right” with keyword-rich content, good SEO, and more, but he still had low earnings. He carefully analyzed his site’s ads to find consistently low-paying ads inundating his site. This article goes into detail about how he figured all this out and then how he solved the problem. Fantastic article and unique insight and helpful ideas here. A must-read article on AdSense.[Article/tutorial dated 12/15/2006, by Raj, BlogHASH.]
• Using the Competitive Ad Filter to Increase AdSense Earnings
  Blog post that explains how bad MFA sites are for your site visitors that click on MFA site ads, in addition to negatively impacting your AdSense earnings. Editor note October 2007: Although Google has taken action to ban MFA sites since this blog post was written, there are still plenty out there. [Article/tutorial dated 11/04/2006, by John Chow, John Chow dot Com.]
• What does YOUR Filter Look Like?
  In addition, “What types of sites end up there, and are there any trends you notice?” In addition to responses about filters, you’ll find other tips, such as using Excel to track your filters. Some tell what and why they filter certain ads, such as direct competitors, parked domains, scams and email harvesting schemes, eBay, ‘get rich quick’ schemes and others. Also a lively debate on whether or not it really matters to filter out ads – pros and cons. [Forum thread beginning 07/27/2007 - ongoing, WebmasterWorld.]
• Why filter MFA and Directory Sites?
  Excellent discussion on the pros and cons of using AdSense Competitive Ad filters to block MFAs. [Forum thread beginning 11/16/2006 - ongoing, WebmasterWorld.]

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Tutorials, Tips on AdSense Earnings and Optimization: Dramatic Shifts Up or Down

While it’s common knowledge that AdSense earnings will fluctuate, you might find that your earnings take a dramatic drop and wonder what happened and why. On the other hand, if your earnings skyrocket, you need to make sure that someone hasn’t hijacked your site and its AdSense ads. Here are some articles/tutorials on how to handle these issues.

• AdSense Smart Pricing Explained
  Explanation of AdSense ’smart pricing’ with links to more info. Smart pricing may or may not be the cause of earnings drops, though. It’s good to understand what it is, how it works, etc. [Article/tutorial dated 04/19/2005, by Darren Rowe, Problogger.]
• Anatomy of an EPC Collapse: Building a List of Causes
  Fantastic forum thread begins with an article on reasons for earnings to collapse with AdSense. Discussion follows with at least 131 posts with ideas and thoughts, findings and observations, and much more. Packed with helpful insight and information. [Forum thread beginning 03/05/2007 - ongoing, WebmasterWorld.]
• The Curse of Google AdSense ‘Smart Pricing’
  Author’s AdSense earnings plummetted, explanation, and email from AdSense team about what may have happened, smart pricing info, more. [Article/tutorial dated 08/13/2007, by Grey Viper.]
• The Facts about Smart Pricing
  Blog post by Google AdSense team to dispel myths and misinformation about smart pricing and its impact on AdSense. [Article/tutorial dated 10/28/2005, by Suzie - AdSense Publisher Support, for Inside AdSense (official AdSense blog).]
• Getting More From Google AdWords
  Google’s announcement of smart pricing to AdWords customers. [Article/tutorial dated 04/2004, by Google AdWords.]
• How’s Your AdSense Income So Far for the Month of October?
  Blog post and links to other posts about what could be impacting AdSense earnings positively and negatively, such as PageRank changes, smart pricing, advertisers changing or dropping out at certain times of the month due to budget, increase in low-paying ads and MFA sites, and more. Author shows screenshot of his earnings and how they’ve drastically dropped, what can be done about it, and more. Interesting post. [Article/tutorial dated 10/16/2007, by Gaman, Sabahan.com.]

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Tutorials, Tips on Optimizing AdSense for Forum Sites

• Getting Your Forum Site to Perform Well with AdSense
  Using MegaGames Forum as an ongoing forum site case study example, you’ll find more helpful tips in this blog post from Google AdSense. Topics: The welcome box ad, the forum post ad, blending colors and breaking down borders, and improving ad relevance with section targeting. [Article/tutorial dated 07/26/2007, by Magnus Yang - AdSense Optimization Team, Inside AdSense (official Google AdSense Blog).]
• Six AdSense optimization tips for forums
  Helpful blog post on optimizing a forum site for AdSense. Great insight here, along with a Forum Heat Map showing the strongest placement through the weakest placement. Topics covered: the importance of ad format for multiple ad units; Display your ad units where repeat users will notice them; Place a leader board immediately after the last post; Use horizontal link units; Opt-in to image ads; Be sensitive to your forum community. [Article/tutorial dated 10/07/2005, by Sandra - AdSense Publisher Support, for Inside AdSense (official Google AdSense Blog).]
• Forum Optimization for Better AdSense Performance
  Short concise tips on where, how to optimize your forum site for AdSense – AdSense placement tips with a welcome ad box and within forum posts, handling colors and borders. [Article/tutorial dated 07/27/2007, by Arnold Zafra, for Search Engine Journal.]

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AdSense for Audio: Tutorials, Tips

• Google Audio Ads – Review
  Detailed review of Google Audio ads by Goramba via Digital Point Forums. Good insight here and covers pros and cons, outcomes of the tests done with Google AdSense for Audio. Reviewer covers an outline of the process, ad creation, selecting areas to play your ad, final steps, actual tests and their outcomes, and overall opinions. [Forum thread dated 09/24/2007 via Digital Point Forums.]

AdSense for Blogs: Case Studies, Tutorials, and Tips

• AdSense Blog Case Study
  Helpful case study about improving your AdSense revenue by tweaking a bit – ad design blending with your site, ads closer to your content, a focused blog topic, HTML title element text, and more. [Article/tutorial dated 03/24/2006, by Darren Rowse, ProBlogger.]
• AdSense Optimization Case Study – BuzzMachine
  Fabulous post that shares tips about an existing blog and how to optimize the current AdSense ad placements and why it matters. Helpful comments at the end of the post, too. Although dated August 2007, this information is just as true now… it’s not outdated at all. [Article/tutorial dated 08/24/2005, by Darren Rowse, ProBlogger.]
• Blogtomize!
  Covers ad placement for the blog’s homepage, individual blog entries, section targeting using AdSense channels, customizing ad colors. There are also 2 graphics that show different layout possibilities with AdSense ad placements. [Article/tutorial dated 01/30/2006, by Sandra Tsui - AdSense Publisher Support, for Inside AdSense (official Google blog).]
• Hacking Movable Type to Create and Integrate Advertising Posts
  Great tutorial here with Movable Type code snippets that shows you how to add AdSense (or other ads) to your blog posts. [Article/tutorial dated 04/27/2006, by Aaron Wall, Aaron Wall's SEO Book^[*note].]
• Optimizing Scott Hanselman’s Blog for Improving AdSense Revenue
  Case study on Computer Zen, a popular blog by author Scott Hanselman. Shows before and after screenshots of AdSense ad placements on Scott’s blog, pros and cons of existing ad placements, recommendations for improvements with explanations, and more. Good insight here. [Article/tutorial dated 11/23/2006, by Amit Agarwal, for Digital Inspiration.]
• Using AdSense Channels with Movable Type
  Great instructions and tips on how to use AdSense channels with Movable Type. [Article/tutorial dated 07/14/2004, by John, John's Jottings.]
• When Should You Put Ads on Your Blog?
  Blog post that discusses varying opinions about this issue as well as the author’s opinion and reasons. [Article/tutorial dated 10/12/2007, by John Chow, John Chow dot Com.]
• Why You Need a Popular Post Section
  How a popular posts section can help your PPC earnings, including AdSense. [Article/tutorial dated 10/05/2007, by John Chow, John Chow dot Com.]

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AdSense for Video: Reviews, Tutorials, Tips

• How To Set Up Google AdSense Video Units Via YouTube
  This tutorial gives helpful screenshots showing you exactly what to do to set up Google AdSense video units. See also the corresponding forum thread, AdSense Video Units – Enabled and Ready To Use. See also Google AdSense for Video above. [Article/tutorial dated 10/10/2007, by rustybrick, for Search Engine Roundtable.]
• Introducing AdSense Video Units
  Interesting forum thread discussion on AdSense ads with YouTube Video. Tips, how it works, opinions abound. [Forum thread beginning 10/09/2007 - ongoing, Webmasterworld.]

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Google AdSense Arbitrage

See also Google AdWords Google AdWords Search Arbitrage here at WebsiteTips.com.

What is “Arbitrage?” Some Definitions

• Arbitrage
  Helpful information and definition from Wikipedia. Topics include: Conditions for arbitrage; Examples; Price convergence; Risks; Types of arbitrage: Merger arbitrage, Municipal bond arbitrage, Convertible bond arbitrage, Depository receipts, Regulatory arbitrage, Telecom arbitrage, Online advertising arbitrage; The debacle of Long-Term Capital Management. [Article/tutorial continually updated by Wikipedia. hat tip: Affiliate Arbitrage - What Is It? Can I Make Money?, by Mark J. Welch.]
• Arbitrage
  Helpful information about arbitrage and how it applies to Google AdSense and AdWords. Links to resources and more info, too. [Article/tutorial by Marziah Karch, Your Guide to Google, About.com.]
• Online Advertising Arbitrage
  Section defining online advertising arbitrage via Wikipedia’s Arbitrage definition. [Article/tutorial continually updated by Wikipedia.]

Articles, Tutorials about AdSense Arbitrage

See also Google AdWords Google AdWords Search Arbitrage here at WebsiteTips.com.

• AdSense Arbitrage is Hurting Your AdSense Earnings – How to Fight Back
  Using Google AdSense Competitive Ad Filter and the AdSense Preview tool to block these MFA sites. [Article/tutorial dated 07/08/2007, by Sheila, for Flipping Web Estate.]
• Google AdSense disabling arbitrage publisher accounts as of June 1st
  Insightful information here about Google cracking down on AdSense arbitrage publisher (and good news, IMO!). [Article/tutorial dated 05/18/2007, by Jennifer Slegg, JenSense. hat tip: Google Cracking Down on AdSense Arbitrage, by Kevin Newcomb, Search Engine Watch Blog.]
• The Death of AdSense Arbitrage
  Blog post and comments about Google taking action to stop AdSense arbitrage. [Article/tutorial dated 05/23/2007, by Joel Comm, for JoelComm.com.]

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Google AdSense Click Fraud

For more on click fraud, see also Online Marketing Tutorials Tutorials, Articles on Preventing Click Fraud, Pay-per-click Anti-fraud Strategies.

• AdSense Click Fraud
  Article on a new click fraud scheme that uses specific keyword searches within a site’s search forms totally unrelated to your site. On the surface, it makes no sense, but reverse click-fraud is the probable cause. Details on what happens and what to look for in this insightful exploration of yet another form of click fraud. [Article/tutorial dated 10/10/2007, by Justin, for DSL Reports.]
• Click Fraud
  Helpful article explaining what click fraud is as it applies to Google AdSense and AdWords, and defines click fraud in general, too: “Click fraud is the name attributed to the practice of utilizing methods that mimic legitimate internet user clicks on a web publisher’s website in order to gain profit.” [Article/tutorial by MFABlocker.]

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An AdSense Case Study

• In the Beginning… (pt1 of 3)
  Part 1 of this 3-part case study introduces a brand new project site at the time of this first post, Ringtone-Search blog. Plans to write about how to create a site that’s interesting for visitors, optimized for search engines, and optimized for AdSense. Plans and topics for the case study include: studying the markets and selecting topics, selecting the right blogging platform for the job, keywords in domain name – do they matter, sandboxing, geo-location issues, relying on quality content vs. link/publicity campaigns, search engine traffic vs. other sources of traffic, and ad positioning. Whether a brand new site or an existing site, this 3-part study can provide plenty of helpful insight. Part 2 gives a status update and search engine results after a few weeks and Part 3 gives plenty of helpful AdSense insight. Well worth the time to read all 3 parts of the case study and visit the project site for yourself. [Article/tutorial dated 04/08/2006, by 2k, for SEOMoz Blog.]
• The Project: …There Was Silence – About Google SandBox And Geo-location Issues (pt2 of 3)
  Part 2 of this 3-part case study is written after the new Ringtone-Search blog site has been online a few weeks (see the part 1 description directly above). He’s submitted the site to a few directories but has primarily relied on natural linking and the 10 or 11 articles written to that point – and the articles were written for interest to visitors while also targeting specific keyphrases for search engines and AdSense. Blog post also provides a spreadsheet screenshot showing the status of keyword phrases and search engines to that point and his thoughts about where things stand to that point. Helpful insight. See Part 3 for AdSense optimizing and insight, too (described directly below). [Article/tutorial dated 04/25/2006, by 2k, for SEOMoz Blog.]
• The Project: Generating AdSense Revenue From Low Traffic Site (pt3 of 3)
  Part 3 of this 3-part case study, tutorial discusses methods to increase AdSense revenue for low traffic sites by utilizing limited assets more efficiently. The project site, Ringtone-Search, at the time of the post is about 2 months old, has about 150-200 unique visitors per month from search engines and about 300-400 unique visitors per month from other sources. Covers both theory and practice on:
  • how to improve the price per click factor, including insight on how to target content for specific high-paying keywords and how to write content for high quality, niche markets
  • how to improve click count, including insight on placing focus on ad positioning and writing content that attracts users in buyer mode

  [Article/tutorial dated 06/10/2006, by 2k, for SEOMoz Blog.]

• The Project: Generating AdSense Revenue From Low Traffic Site – the Sequel
  Three months after writing the initial post in this series, In the Beginning… (pt1 of 3), 2k writes a follow-up that includes using the data collected about user behavior. Data is from Web server log files, a log of AdSense clicks, and information on how much each AdSense click generated. “When you take a combination of these and drill down from a specific angle, you get lots of valuable information – like what pages are the best performers in terms of clicks, what ROI each keyword has, etc. When looking at information like this, it doesn’t take much imagination to find out new means and methods to make the site even more successful and profitable.” Helpful insight here. [Article/tutorial dated 09/23/2006, by 2k, for SEOMoz Blog.]

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The Freelancer’s Toolset: 100 Web Apps for Everything You Will Possibly Need

The Freelancer’s Toolset: 100 Web Apps for Everything You Will Possibly Need

Running a business for yourself means you have to be inventive and always on the lookout for a new and better way to get things done. Innovation junkies, take note: the Internet has a lot to offer. From invoicing to marketing, these are tools that freelancers need to know about.

Organization

If you’re busy with lots of client work, it’s easy for things to get out of hand. Don’t let your work get away from you; organize information and projects with these tools.

1. Backpack: Get your projects organized by using Backpack. Create to-do lists, notes, files, images and a calendar with reminders that can be sent via email or to your mobile device.
2. Central Desktop: Collaborate, communicate and share files with clients and coworkers using Central Desktop.
3. iOrganize: With iOrganize, freelancers can organize work by keeping notes, ideas and bookmarks in one place.
4. Viapoint: Viapoint makes it easy for freelancers to store emails and files by client or project.
5. Stikkit: Use Stikkit’s “little yellow notes that think” to keep in touch, plan and collaborate with clients and coworkers.
6. Webnote: Webnote users can take notes using a web browser, then save and return to the notes on any computer. This is especially helpful if you’re working on-site with a client and have to use a computer other than your own.
7. Netvibes: Spend less time searching and more time working by customizing your browser’s start page with email, feeds, messaging, job boards and much, much more.

Calendars & To-Do Lists

Client meetings, important events and a never-ending list of things to do can wear you down if you can’t make them manageable. Use these handy calendars and to-do lists to keep your schedule from taking over your business.

1. Remember The Milk: Remember The Milk reminds you to take care of important tasks, so you’ll never forget when a project is due.
2. CalendarHub: Use CalendarHub’s web-based calendar to keep track of deadlines and set goals for your business.
3. Google Calendar: Google Calendar is a web based tool that allows users to organize their schedule, so you’ll always know exactly what you need to be working on.
4. Planzo: Planzo’s online calendar keeps freelancers connected to events and things to do. It lets you share your events just about anywhere, get a daily digest and receive text message reminders.
5. Spongecell: Spongecell is an online calendar made for freelancers with lots of meetings and engagements. Plan events, spread the word and allow guests to add content to your calendar.
6. Neptune: Neptune’s web based to do list tool helps you keep track of the things you need to take care of every day. It lets you email yourself new tasks, get an email report every morning and upload files to store with your projects.
7. Ta-da List: When you’re busy with lots of projects, it can be hard to keep track of what you’ve accomplished. Make web-based ta-da lists for yourself or other people, then share them and check items off as you go.

Your Money

Money is what keeps your freelance business going, but managing it can be tedious and time consuming. Sure, it’s fun to see money come in, but does anyone really like sending out invoices? Use these tools to make the process of managing your income easier and more enjoyable.

1. Wesabe: Use Wesabe to keep tabs on where the money in your business goes, helping you to make better financial decisions.
2. InstaCalc: InstaCalc is a web based calculator with lots of bells and whistles including spreadsheet capabilities, unit conversions and programming commands. It’s great for freelancers because you can send clients links to any of your calculations, put a calculator on your website or create charts and graphs from your calculations.
3. XE: If you’re working with an overseas client, you may need to handle foreign currencies. Use XE’s currency converter for accurate calculations with up-to-the-minute currency rates.
4. Dimewise: Use Dimewise’s web-based convenience to manage your business transactions wherever you are.
5. FreshBooks: FreshBooks offers a program for “painless billing,” so you’ll never have to spend hours sending client invoices out. Designed with service-based businesses in mind, this software provides a method to manage and send invoices, handle work orders and generate reports with ease.

Storage

Do you have too many client files clogging up your hard drive? Use these services to take a load off.

1. openonmy: openonmy’s website offers storage for files up to 1GB. These files are made to be accessible from any computer, so you can open them up even when on-site with a client.
2. Xdrive: Xdrive offers 5GB of online storage. Use their service to share files with your clients and coworkers.
3. YouSendIt: Have you ever had to clean out your inbox just so you’d have room to send out an email? YouSendIt puts and end to that trouble by sending files up to 2GB to your clients.
4. Flickr: Save space on your hard drive by uploading your photos to Flickr. It’s a great way to store, share and organize photos for your business.
5. Box: Create an online file-sharing location for you and your clients on Box.
6. MediaTemple: Keep your important client files safe on MediaTemple’s servers. They offer innovative hosting solutions for all kinds of websites.
7. DivShare: Use DivShare’s file hosting service to email files to clients or store them in a folder for shared access later.

Project Management & Productivity

Do you wonder where all of your time goes? Do your clients want frequent status updates? Keep tabs on your time and projects with these tools.

1. Harvest: Harvest offers web-based time tracking software with simplicity. Track your progress and inform your clients using Harvest’s reports.
2. Side Job Track: Side Job Track, designed with freelancers in mind, provides software that lets you track and manage project information. Features include job tracking, invoicing and reporting.
3. Basecamp: Basecamp offers a way to improve project communication. Use it to keep your teammates and clients informed about what’s going on with your projects.
4. ConceptShare: ConceptShare provides online design collaboration. Invite clients and coworkers to view your design and make comments on your work.
5. ProjectStat.us: Instead of fielding constant calls about the status of a project, let your customers view the status of their project online with ProjectStat.us.

Writing & Design Tools

Being creative can get expensive. Purchasing icons, stock photos, book publishing and the like can add up fast and eat into your profit margin. Check out these free and inexpensive tools designed to make the lives of freelance writers and designers cheaper and easier.

1. Writeboard: Have you ever had a client or coworker revise a document and end up wiping out your work? Use Writeboard to share and collaborate while saving separate versions each step of the way.
2. Lulu: Lulu gives fledgling writers an easy way to get published. Each product is printed as it’s ordered, so you don’t have to build an expensive inventory.
3. MailBuild: Built for web designers, MailBuild allows users to set up a template for client email campaigns.
4. MyFonts: Do you want to see how fonts will look on your design before committing to a purchase? MyFonts provides a source for trying out and buying new fonts.
5. IconBuffet: Find and trade stock icons for your web designs on IconBuffet.
6. stock.xchng: Add photos to your writing or web design at low or no cost. stock.xchng provides tons of stock photos, many of them royalty-free.
7. Google Docs & Spreadsheets: Don’t bother spending hard-earned money for the latest version of MS Word. Create, upload, share and edit word and spreadsheet documents online using Google Docs & Spreadsheets.
8. MorgueFile: MorgueFile’s high resolution photos are has-beens in the stock photography world, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do a great job spicing up your work.

Security & Privacy

Don’t let your work get stolen or compromised. Can you imagine how your business would suffer if you lost files due to a virus? Or worse, if the financial information of your clients got exposed to spyware? These services help you stay safe and secure.

1. SpamSieve: Fighting spam takes time away from your business and opens your system up to intruders. Use SpamSieve to keep spam out of your Mac email client.
2. Escrow: Don’t get burned by clients that make fraudulent payments. Use Escrow to protect yourself and your clients from payment fraud.
3. Cloudmark Desktop: Cloudmark protects your Outlook inbox from spam, phishing and viruses, so you’ll never have to worry about compromising business files when reading your email.
4. PayPal: Give your clients a way to pay without sharing their financial information by using PayPal.
5. Moneybookers: Open your business to the worldwide market safely. Use Moneybookers for secure worldwide payment and acceptance.
6. Spamato: Keep your business email secure by using Spamato with Outlook, Thunderbird or Mozilla Mail.
7. Spybot Search & Destroy: Make sure your confidential client information is safe from prying eyes by scanning for spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy.
8. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition: Protect your business files with a good antivirus program. AVG Anti-Virus offers a free solution for protecting your computer from viruses.

Mobility & Contact

When running a business, it’s essential that you’re able to keep in contact with clients, vendors, coworkers and other important acquaintances. Use these tools to communicate with ease.

1. Campfire: Campfire is a web-based chat tool that’s ideal for online meetings with clients or coworkers.
2. Meebo: Don’t miss out on a client just because you don’t use the same instant messaging tool. Get access to every major messaging service on Meebo’s website without having to download anything.
3. FaxZERO: Online communication is popular, but sometimes you just have to send a fax. But who wants to invest in a fax machine and phone line for something that happens only on a rare occasion? Instead, use FaxZERO to send a fax anywhere in the US or Canada for free.
4. eBuddy: Don’t miss out on important messages while you’re away from your base of operations. Log on to eBuddy to sign on to online messengers using your mobile device.
5. K7: FaxZERO lets you send out a fax for free online, but what if a client wants to fax something to you? Enlist the help of K7, a service that assigns users a phone number that accepts fax and voicemail messages, which are then sent to your email.
6. GoToMeeting: Use GoToMeeting to keep in touch with clients and coworkers via online meetings.
7. LogMeIn: Don’t let your business suffer because you can’t take your computer on the road. Use LogMeIn to get access to your computer’s desktop anywhere.

Marketing & Networking

You provide a great service and offer awesome rates, so why isn’t the world knocking down your door with business? Perhaps it’s because they have no idea you exist. Get your name out there and find new clients with these tools.

1. LinkedIn: LinkedIn offers online networking at its best. Find opportunities and contacts based on your work and the people you already know.
2. askCHARITY: Take advantage of askCHARITY’s database of key media contacts to get the word out about your business.
3. Craigslist: Craigslist is an invaluable tool for any freelancer. Find clients, sell your work, buy supplies, network and more using Craigslist.
4. Coroflot: Use Coroflot to post an online portfolio and find design jobs.
5. ProfessionalOnTheWeb: ProfessionalOnTheWeb hosts a directory of portfolios. Make sure yours is there when clients search for help.
6. Elance: Use Elance to get connected with clients that need your services on a project.
7. 37signals Gig Board: Use the 37signals Gig Board to find freelance jobs in programming, design and more.
8. WebProJobs: Find full-time and freelance web professional jobs on WebProJobs.
9. Job Pile: Job Pile aggregates popular freelance job boards, so you can spend time working instead of searching.
10. YouTube: Use YouTube’s viral video to get the word out about your creativity.
11. CafePress: CafePress offers on-demand printing for promotional items as well as a place to sell your design.
12. Spot Runner: Use Spot Runner to build a TV advertising campaign.

Business & Legal

Paperwork isn’t always fun, but it is necessary. Forms and agreements can provide legal protection and help you avoid disputes down the road. Check out these tools that help you protect yourself and spend less time on the boring stuff.

1. MyNewCompany: Get legal and tax protection for your freelance business by making things official. Use MyNewCompany to incorporate or form an LLC online.
2. Help Me Work: Get the stability of corporate life while still working as an independent consultant. Help Me Work takes care of taxes, client billing, paychecks, benefits, retirement plans and more.
3. Designers Toolbox: Get set up with all the legal forms your design business may need with Designers Toolbox.
4. Creative Commons: Use Creative Commons to specify how much or how little legal restrictions you want your work to carry.
5. AIGA: Protect your business with AIGA’s standard form of agreement for design services.
6. Nolo: If you’ve got a legal question about your business, head to Nolo. Experts there offer legal advice for independent contractors and consultants.
7. Creative Public: Head to Creative Public for forms, contracts, pricing guides and more for your design business.

Client Contact & Feedback

Your clients are what keep you in business, so it’s important to check in with them and make sure they’re satisfied. Use these programs to keep in touch with your clients and find out what they have to say about your work.

1. Breeze: Send out email campaigns to your clients with Breeze’s easy tool.
2. Wufoo: Use Woofoo to make forms, surveys and invitations for your customers with ease.
3. Relenta CRM: Keep track of customer relationships using email, contact, document and activity management with Relenta.
4. Highrise: Don’t lose track of your customers: keep in touch with Highrise’s online contact management system.
5. ScratchnScribble: Use ScratchnScribble’s service to have handwritten or printed greeting cards sent to your clients.

Website Tools

Clients are looking for your business online. Will you be there? Check out these applications to make sure your business has an excellent online presence.

1. Big Cartel: Set up an online store to sell your products using Big Cartel’s service.
2. WordPress: Blog about your business and industry with WordPress.
3. Inblogit: If you’re a design professional, your blog should be attractive. Use Inblogit for blog functionality with more flexbility in design.
4. Icebrrg: Create web forms with Icebrrg so that your website can generate customer inquiry and feedback.
5. XHTMLized: If you’re too busy to build a website yourself, use XHTMLized. They take your design and turn it into a web page that is browser and search engine friendly.
6. XHTMLiT: XHTMLit offers freelancers another time-saving solution for converting design into HTML.
7. Userplane: Make your website interactive for your clients by bundling chat, messaging, video, search and live presence with Userplane.
8. Ning: Let your clients network with each other by creating your own Ning social network.
9. ExpressionEngine: Impress your customers by having a website with lots of features. Use ExpressionEngine to publish just about anything on your website.
10. FlashDen: Build a great-looking website that your clients will want to visit. Buy Flash, audio, video and fonts to make your website look good at FlashDen.

Printing & Packaging

When your products look good, your business does too. Presentation makes a difference, so be sure to make a good impression by using these innovative printing and packaging tools.

1. Jewelboxing: Impress your customers with Jewelboxing’s customized, professional-grade DVD and CD packages.
2. Qoop: Qoop prints everything freelancers might need: business cards, apparel, promotional items, posters and more.
3. Moo: Moo prints note cards and mini cards from your photos and design. These can be used for promotional materials or business cards.

Tools to Give & Take

These tools pack a double-whammy of functionality. Use them to get the resources you need or as an alternative revenue stream.

1. Google AdWords: Use Google AdWords to advertise your business or make money by putting AdWords on your website.
2. Prosper: Using Prosper’s people-to-people lending website, you can borrow money for business expenses from real people. If you have extra cash, use Prosper to earn interest by lending to others.
3. Text Link Ads: Generate interest in your website and attract clients with Text Link Ads or earn money by selling space for others on your site.
4. PayPerPost: Use PayPerPost to have a blogger write about your product or service. Alternately, you can earn money by writing about someone else’s business.
5. Guruza: Find answers to your business questions or earn money by giving expert advice on Guruza.

Miscellaneous

From office suites to creative stimulation, these tools have a lot to offer for freelancers. Check out these applications that cover anything and everything else you might need for your business.

1. Zoho: Zoho’s Office Suite includes a variety of software solutions for freelancers: a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, wiki writer, notebook, project management, CRM solution, database creator, calendar, web conferencing, email and chat.
2. Veetro: Veetro offers another all-in-one solution that specializes in the tools freelancers need the most. This program combines money, document, task and customer management with email marketing, reporting and blog publishing.
3. Work: Are you clueless about what it takes to run a business in your industry? Work offers guides that show you how.
4. Pandora: Get your creative juices flowing with Pandora’s fully customizable internet radio.

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