Being evil
I have a blog about hunting, and like many other bloggers who want to monetize their labors of love, I am a member of the Google Affiliate Network. The network allows us publishers to promote products sold by advertisers and receive a commission on any sales that result from our readers clicking through.
The products I promote range from waders to binoculars to hydration systems to, yes, ammunition — everything you might need to bring home the bacon except the firearms, which generally can’t be sold online.
But Google announced to publishers late last month that the Google Affiliate Network will no longer collect or pay commissions on weapons-related merchandise.
I can hear it already: “Quit yer cryin’. Google has a right to set policies consistent with its values. If you don’t like it, take your business elsewhere.”
That’s fine. I’ll set aside the fact that Google’s tentacles are wrapped around virtually every aspect
of the small, independent Web publisher’s life with products like Blogger, FeedBurner, YouTube, Google Analytics, Gmail, Google Affiliate Network and AdSense (I use and love all of these). And I’ll even throw my support behind Google’s right to align its policies with its values.
The problem is that Google’s policies are a mess.
I know other folks who have had issues with google over this, to the point it resulted in huge reductions in sales after a policy change. And I’ve been told by web-marketing folks that my website here, based on rank and traffic, could generate 5-10 times the ad revenue it currently does if it was about cars, sex toys, food, or some other non shooty hobby.
Via Sebastian, who notes:
There used to be a time when tech people were almost universally “leave me the hell alone” types, but with the Gen Y and beyond, it seems to have taken a turn for the left. I’m thinking that might have to do with computers becoming less about ones and zeros (the realm of engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists) into a creative industry, not all that remarkably different from arts and philosophy.
February 8th, 2012 at 10:51 am
“…if it was about cars, sex toys, food, or some other non shooty hobby. ”
And if GM owned Facebook instead of selling the Chevy Volt, their bottom line would improve substantially.
Apples and oranges, Unc, or maybe apples and corduroy pants.
February 8th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Because GM is a webpage.
February 8th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Cars, sex toys, and food are all regularly noted here, which probably does improve the traffic, or at least the comments. GM has shorted gastro-intestinal topics, except among their former shareholders. Niche market?
GM used to be in electronic communications, you know. It’s surprising, the number of things they used to be able to do. Selling Chevy Volts does not appear to be their strongest suit.
February 8th, 2012 at 11:25 am
As a side note, google will happily take your money if you want to buy adsense ads for weapons-related keywords.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Google adsense/adwords are slightly difficult to get approved for weapons-related keywords. You must omit certain portions of phrases or it will not show up. They’re fairly strict surprisingly.
February 8th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
GM used to be in Finance too with GMAC, I see GM owning Facebook as the next AOL…in the tank and pull the handle.
February 8th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
I think the Sebastian quote hit the nail on the head at the end there… I see lots of resumes from graphic artists trying to sell themselves as ‘web programmers’ to go for the bigger salary. Those resumes go in the circular file.
February 9th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
I should note I’ve met some graphic artists who I’d hire over CS people as web programmers any day of the week. They are a mixed bag. But there are certainly a lot of them who are better artists than programmers.