Most people don’t intentionally create websites to beg, unfortunately many of them do.
Unless you have a shopping site, most visitors come to your site because they are looking for information. (Especially if they found you through a search engine.)
Of course there are exceptions to this, but for the majority of the time this is true. (Searching for information is still one of the most common tasks performed online.)
Pretend You are a First-Timer Visitor
Take a look at your homepage from the perspective of someone who just found it through Google.
What is the first thing they see?
Are they blasted with Google ads?
Do they have to scroll down half a page before they get to your content because you have advertisements yelling at them to click or buy something?
Does the first paragraph of your site have a benefit-rich statement that will quickly tell people how your site will help them, or are you promoting a product?
Instead of asking for money, how about giving away something valuable like a free report, e-book, or good old fashioned help.
It’s little things like this that make all the difference. As the old saying goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” This holds true online too.
On all of my sites, I try to make the first few paragraphs rich with audience benefits and/or give something away. I want people to realize that they will experience something different than my competition.
I realize I only have a few seconds to grab their attention so, I’m OK with forging an AdSense click or two in exchange for a lifetime visitor.
I am looking at the net effect.
It’s easy to believe that it’s best to get the ad click before a person leaves your site, but what if they never come back? Why would they? You haven’t given them anything to chew on except ads or a sales pitch.
Wouldn’t you rather sell them on your brand and information, hoping this will encourage them to come back again and again? This could ultimately result in multiple AdSense clicks down the road and even more earnings from products you might sell or from affiliate commissions.
Trust and credibility are two factors you must have if you want long-term success online. And you can’t gain either through an AdSense ad or a flashing banner. But you can gain them by helping or giving away something of value.
I have nothing against ads, of course. But I do have something against sites where ads seem to overshadow the content.
Remember, some of the highest earning affiliate sites, initially appear as if they don’t have much to sell at all.
Ponder that one for a minute. 
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Follow on Twitter: @pvreymond
Hi Lisa,
It is a great point and I agree with you, most people come to your website looking for information.
If you try to sell them something the first time they visit your site you are risking to lose them forever because they will see you as a salesman…
Remember that people have to see your product several times (in most cases 7) before they buy it.
You have to build a relationship with your prospects and demonstrate that you can help them… People buy from those they trust and believe in.
When creating your website put yourself in the shoes of your prospects, see through their eyes and then build your website keeping it in mind.
Thanks!
^PV Reymond
Follow on Twitter: @ashish_gbpuat
i totally agree with you .
i have also come across number of sites that emphasize the display of adds rather than focusing on the content.
there are adds everywhere : in the header, embedded in the content, in the sidebars and in the footers too.
its better that you provide quality content on the website instead of no. of irritating adds coz then only more no. of visitors will be engaged in your website
Ashish Saxena´s last blog … WELCOME !
Follow on Twitter: @theCSW
Thanks Lisa! I see a lot of sites like this and I must admit I’ve wondered if I possibly needed to make some adjustments to capture additional revenue. Thanks for helping to clarify that I’m on the right track with my current approach.
Follow on Twitter: @cfyves
Great article.
I must say I agree with you. As a visitor to many blogs and sites myself I have to say that what has always left a good impression is a site where it’s easily read.. where the content is cleanly presented where I don’t have to dangle through Ads.
What I find is if I’m not bombarded with advertising in a bloggers (or website’s) content then I’m more likely to spend time actually looking through the author’s menus and possibly reading through several articles.
While if I’m bombarded with ads I’ll tend not to look very much because it’s to hard to find. And of course I probably won’t frequent those sites as often.
I guess it’s the balance. I kind of see it like this..
Ad bombardment – The author believes his ads are the most important thing on his/her site
Easily read content cleaner ad presentation – The author believes his/her content is quite valuable and values his/her readers
At least that’s the impression I get.
Yves´s last blog … Learning curve – Testing ad placement
Follow on Twitter: @TechnologyJuice
This is a great article for multiples obvious reasons, which I do not feel that I need to repeat. However, in all honesty, this is the type of article that I often read and frustrates me, because there is not “fix-it” or follow-up advise. I am always reading and reading and reading about the don’ts, but about the do’s?
To be specific, here’s your statement:
“This could ultimately result in multiple AdSense clicks down the road and even more earnings from products you might sell or from affiliate commissions.”
I guess what I cannot figure is if you don’t have AdSense in the first place, then how can you earn down the road? Please understand that I am not attacking you and I am a satisfied subscriber. It is just frustrating reading advise that does not really resolve anything.
Juscelino M. Acevedo´s last blog … Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
I always appreciate any kind of feedback so no need to explain. Constructive criticism provides room for growth so I appreciate it.
Even if you are not an AdSense member, this advice applies to anything you sell on your site. It works for affiliate marketing, e-good sellers, hard good sellers, MLMers and the list goes on. Whatever your monetization goal is, you have to start with quality.
You mentioned that this post does not resolve anything. I have to disagree slightly here. It was a message to people who overuse ads and underdeliver on quality. If you put quality first, it can improve your repeat visitor stat and ultimately improve your overall site’s revenue — and that goes for AdSense, hard goods, or whatever you are trying to sell.
PV Reymond said it best above. It often takes multiple exposures for people to buy.
If you want to increase the chance someone will come back to your site over and over again, start by making quality your #1 priority (instead of selling something). The great thing about that philosophy is that applies to any monetization.
I don’t know what you’re selling on your site or what your #1 monetization priority is, but I guarantee if people are sold on your usefulness and quality the chances of returning are heightened. It is also increases the likelihood that they will buy in the future and take your recommendations. I promote Site Build It! (which is not cheap) and from feedback I receive, most people who buy are people who have come back to my site over and over again. They aren’t usually first-time visitors. It takes time for the sales cycle to complete.
So what am I hoping this post resolves? I want people to watch the ratio of advertising to value/quality. When you focus on quality more than ads, everyone wins in the end. That was the intention of this post.
Follow on Twitter: @TechnologyJuice
Although it has taken some extra explaining, I understand your point. I think that the real problem for me is that I am trying to speed up the success part of blogging. I honestly don’t care about the monetizing at the moment. However, I will not remove the banners simply because of the possibility that there could be some type of income. I feel confident that the quality of my content is above what most new bloggers write and will continue to be patient.
Keep up the good work and thank you for understanding.
Juscelino M. Acevedo´s last blog … Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
And I don’t think you should remove the banners as long as content and quality is your main focal point. As you probably notice, I have Google ads and banners on all my sites.
I checked your blog after I wrote that post and think your layout is very clean and you don’t overdo the selling/banners. So you should be fine.
Actually I went back and noticed you had 3 AdSense units above the fold. It doesn’t look as bad because one is a link unit, but I personally would not have that many AdSense units before my main content. Just my preference. But I stand by my original statement. Your overall layout is pretty clean so it’s not overpowering too much.
Follow on Twitter: @TechnologyJuice
Good (free) advise is always appreciated. However, the only reason I will not make any changes is because this is probably theme number 1,239 that I have tried and I think that I am happy. I have been STRUGGLING with “the right theme” since day one and it’s always something.
When I first installed it I noticed all of the AdSens(ing), but decided that it’s part of the theme and I will live with it. I truly appreciate taking your time to provide feedback. Thanks!!!
(By the way, this reply is meant to be below, but I could not reply to your last comment below.)
Juscelino M. Acevedo´s last blog … Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
Follow on Twitter: @krenee76
You are absolutely right about this! It’s so annoying when you can’t find the content because it’s so buried in ads. I know that some site owners don’t do this on purpose, sometimes they may be so crunched for time that in their rush to get something posted, they end up blasting their visitors with blatant sales pitches instead of quality content. My suggestion is to consult the article directories and chose a few good articles to publish to your site (adhere to all copyright laws of course) – this is a good way to populate your site with more content. Of course your own original content is best, but for the time crunched, the ezines will do. Check out ezinearticles.com or associateprogram.com for quality articles. Or if you’d like some tips on how to write your own engaging content, read, “5 Tips for Writing Engaging Content” at: http://affiliate-helpdesk.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-tips-for-writing-engaging-content.html.
The Affiliate Marketer’s Help Desk´s last blog … Email Marketing Basics
Follow on Twitter: @DaveMoore1
I have to admit Lisa It took me a while to respond to this one. Got to love blogging it gives you moment to real in your emotions and say it right without blowing and pissing off the world.
Not to say I’d ever sugar coat anything, but my first point is as much as I love what I do it’s the most complete I’ve ever felt in my professional life, I’m still out here to make money. It’s not the first or last thing on my mind everyday, but it has to be a topic that needs explored from the very first day.
The unfortunate part is in the beginning you’ll find yourself over doing it until you get it drilled down as tight as you do and know exactly what each piece of real estate is worth and what “your” market responds to.
Now you’re right it is kind of annoying to trip over 2 large rectangles of Google Text ads before you get to any content, but I know I read some blogs that it’s worth putting up with that because they do take the time to give you some great stuff, however that’s not the norm.
I guess my major point is, as Carl Ocab puts it so eloquently it’s fine to give away the best content you can possibly put together but we’re out here to get paid too and you should be monetizing your blog from day one and you should be testing and tracking every thing you’re doing.
So one day you can be an “A” list blogger as yourself.
Another favorite quote of mine is they either lover you or they hate just know that there’s no money in the middle.
Unsure of it’s origination but I’ve heard it a lot.
I learned that the hard way…
I could write about this topic all day I think, but the other thing to consider is traffic types I’m not sure about your traffic but I’d say my referral traffic is more likely to stick around than my search traffic even though 98% of my search traffic is long tailed.
So my opinion is if they were only going to hang for 30 seconds or less I might as well provide them something to leave on instead of the back button.
I guess that’s a guys point of view…
Thankfully we have some awesome women out here blogging and telling it how it is so us guys don’t get off kilter. I know I need a balance check here and there.
Till next weeks master piece…
Take Care
Dave
P.S. After reading through your comments about comments I guess we’re on the same page. It’s the initial perception that get’s us all in trouble… LOL
David Moore´s last blog … Sexy Website Branding On Twitter With Sexy Bookmarks Part 2
Follow on Twitter: @christiantjr
It’s true…considering the user experience is essential. You have to believe that focusing on the customer is actually going to end up being best for both of you. Create value, and the money comes on it’s own. Simple, yet so few of us actually follow through on it!
Christian´s last blog … Please Post Your Facebook and Twitter Profile Here
Excellent point Lisa. The number one purpose for the Internet today is Information! That the main reason why it’s gigantic. Secondly, it would be safe to categorize your business a trust and credibility entity. To me that is a crucial factor why people will come to your site and make a purchase. It is the same reason that I myself have sign-up with Website Babble. With all the scam and con-artist out there, its good to come across someone as yourself that is honest and willing to assists people to achieve their goals. I’m very impressed with what you did with the site so far, and commend you keep doing it. I have a vibe that you will take it to the next level.
Stay sweet ma!!!
This is a great article I’ve seen sites like the ones you described and I bet they get really high bounce rates due to the excessive advertising and lack of content. The main focus of a website should be on providing value for people and if you do that they will be more likely to take you up on your offers.
Great site by the way
Regards
Patrick
Follow on Twitter: @Robswebtips
Awesome post Lisa. Indeed you are right, people try so hard to make money they end up losing money! You cannot force your first time visitors to buy something from your site out the blue (Speaking for information sites) it’s better to build a relationship + credibility with the reader which will help you get a customer + long time visitor (Hopefully).
I remember coming to a site before and I had to scroll down about 3-4 times before I reached the content the rest was filled with spammy ads!
Great post Lisa
Bilal´s last blog … Five more affiliate marketing tips to help you become a better affiliate marketer
Follow on Twitter: @krenee76
Speaking of sites that beg for money. Has anyone seen these sites that take other people’s articles and make slight word changes, but for the most part it’s the same article? I found a sight that took one of my articles and switched to words using strange synonyms surrounded by a ton of ads. I don’t know whether I should feel complimented or offended!
The Affiliate Marketer’s Help Desk´s last blog … Get Real Help With Starting Your Affiliate Marketing Business
Follow on Twitter: @farazshaikh
really great article frnd
adsense clicks´s last blog … Making Money Using Clickbank
Absolutly right, so true but one question is still open, is how? Or what? What should there? What content and how is it presented?
The following website combined both, ads and content:
Http://www.best-value-deals.com
Follow on Twitter: @classified4u
Very informative information. I will update my blog as per your instructions.
Global Free Classifieds´s last blog … Classified Advertising: How To Write Headlines That Make The Sales