Since its release in 2003, Google AdSense has revolutionized website monetization. This feature allows publishers to earn additional revenue on their websites and mobile apps.
But as technology and market needs evolve, so do Google’s product offerings. In March 2022, Google announced its newest feature for AdSense called Related Search for Content. This new website monetization opportunity is designed to enhance user experience while maximizing a brand’s earning potential.
Google AdSense is a multifaceted landscape that may take time and practice to comprehend fully. That’s why in this article, we simplify basic concepts and answer the following questions:
• What is AdSense?
• What is the Related Search for Content feature?
• How does AdSense work?
• What’s the difference between Google Ads vs AdSense?
• How can you monetize your site through Related Search?
Read on and discover how to boost your AdSense earnings!
But First, What Is AdSense?
AdSense is a Google product that enables you to host shopping ads on your website or channel. Essentially, you earn revenue as other businesses pay to advertise through your content.
Signing up for AdSense is easy and free of charge. This way, you can start generating income without any upfront costs.
How Does AdSense Work?
AdSense is powered by an algorithm that analyzes your website and the behavior of your visitors to identify the most relevant ads to display. Ads are created and paid for by other companies who want to promote their products.
In short, AdSense operates in three simple steps:
1. Make Your Ad Space Available
To make your ad space accessible to potential advertisers:
• Paste ad code on your site.
• Specify where you want the ads to be displayed.
• Review Google AdSense requirements to ensure a smooth process.
The great thing about AdSense is that it allows you to control ad placement and visibility within your content. The Brand safety page in your AdSense account also allows you to review individual ads and choose whether to display or block them on your pages.
2.Advertisers Place Monetary Bids To Secure Ad Space
Ad spaces are bid on in a real-time auction. The highest-paying ads are displayed on your page.
3. You Get Paid
Google handles the billing process with advertisers and networks, ensuring you receive complete and timely payments for all the ads on your site. Remember to never click on your ads, as this goes against the AdSense Program policies.
So now that we’ve broken down what it is and answered the question, “how does adsense work?” let’s take a closer look at how much you can stand to earn using this feature.
How Much Does AdSense Pay?
AdSense earnings for each creator will vary based on traffic quantity and quality, user clicks and impressions and the competitiveness of your niche. The ad pricing structure is dynamic because advertisers bid for each ad placement.
Advertisers might be willing to bid more if your website is in a popular and competitive niche or attracts steady traffic. The higher the demand for your ad space, the greater your AdSense earnings.
Understanding the New Related Search for Content Feature
AdSense’s latest feature includes a contextual navigation unit that displays search terms associated with the specific page a user is viewing. Users who click on a search term are taken to a separate search results page on the same website. Here, they can discover other relevant topics and search ads.
At its core, Related Search is a less disruptive ad unit for website visitors while still allowing them to click on ads if they want to. It aims to help publishers increase traffic quantity and quality, ad impressions and page views to boost incremental profit.
Instead of relying on user data, AdSense utilizes page content to deliver appropriate search terms to users. Similarly, ads displayed on the search page do not depend on user data. Instead, they are targeted based on the specific keyword or search term the user clicked on.
If you’re interested in using Related search for content, it’s best to work with a Google advertising agency. They can help set up your AdSense account and ensure your website meets Google AdSense requirements.
Benefits of Related Search for Publishers
• Better Site Engagement
Related search allows visitors to delve into content and ads related to what they’re already viewing. Displaying ads to an already engaged audience makes it easier to encourage conversions.
• Incremental Revenue
This new feature gives you more opportunities to boost your AdSense revenue. It allows for more personalization which can encourage visitors to take meaningful actions.
• High-Quality User Experience
With the Related Search feature, you have control over the look and feel of your related search units. This enables you to maintain consistent and quality user experiences.
How To Monetize Your Site and Boost AdSense Earnings
Follow these tips to optimize your website and maximize your AdSense income.
1. Publish Original and Valuable Content
While Google AdSense may initially approve your website to host ads, it may still undergo quality checks. Some content creators will fill hundreds of web pages with irrelevant, low-quality content to increase ad space. Avoid these practices, as Google may flag your site.
To monetize your content correctly, stick to your niche and produce unique and informative pieces that meet the needs of your target audience.
2. Make Your Site Sticky
If visitors are not clicking on your ads and leaving after viewing a single page, you must optimize your website to ensure users stick around longer.
There are several ways to create a sticky site:
• Your website must have clear navigation so visitors can quickly find what they’re looking for.
• Each piece of content must link to more content. The more pages visitors click on, the more ads they’ll see.
• Make sure visitors can leave comments and interact with you and other users.
3. Optimize Your User Experience
Even the best content and ad placement combined won’t translate to profit if your website loads slowly or is unresponsive on mobile devices. User experience impacts a visitor’s impression of your brand even before they see your ads or engage with your content. That’s why investing in a well-designed and user-friendly website is imperative.
Intuitive navigation, clean design and responsive layouts can maximize your chances of retaining site visitors and driving them to click on your ads. A pay-per-click or PPC agency can provide valuable Google AdSense support to ensure your site is ready to host ads.
4. Make Social Share Buttons Visible
Place social share buttons near your content or in your header, sidebar and footer. This lets visitors quickly share your content across their desired social media channels. The more your content is shared, the greater the chances of reaching a broader audience and driving relevant traffic to your website.
Google Ads vs AdSense
It’s important to note that AdSense is different from Google Ads. Firstly, Google Ads is designed for advertisers that want to promote their products or services on websites or apps. It relies on a PPC payment system where the advertiser only pays Google every time a user clicks on their ad.
On the other hand, AdSense is created for publishers that own or manage blogs, forums, channels and websites. Ads appear on your space and you earn AdSense revenue based on the number of users who view or click on your hosted ads.
Choosing between Google Ads vs AdSense all boils down to your specific business objectives. If you aim to widen your reach and drive targeted traffic to your site, Google Ads is the way to go. But if you focus on generating passive revenue, Google AdSense is the best option.
Whatever program you choose, partnering with a Google advertising agency can give you access to valuable tools, expertise and insights to optimize your ad campaigns and earnings.
Get Professional Google AdSense Support
The introduction of Google’s new Related Search feature for AdSense offers publishers and brands exciting opportunities to improve their website monetization strategies. Whether you aim to drive engagement, improve user experience or generate passive income, this new feature can help you reach your goals.
If you want to start earning AdSense revenue and monetize your content, it’s best to work with a professional cost-per-click (CPC) and PPC marketing agency like Thrive. As an experienced PPC agency, we will handle your AdSense account and ensure you meet Google AdSense requirements.
Our AdSense and PPC marketing services have helped businesses of all sizes maximize their online earnings and boost their digital presence.
Ready to monetize your site? Book a consultation today and receive the Google AdSense support you need to generate long-term revenue growth.