So my application to have GoGoMamaGo.com host Google Adsense ads was rejected again. I got the same message both times:
Difficult site navigation: While reviewing your site, we found that it was down. Google ads may not be published on a site that is not fully launched, functioning, or easily navigable. Once your site is functioning and has enough content for our specialists to review, we will be happy to reconsider your application.
The first time, I thought my site had a bad day and that they caught me during a time when the site was having problems loading. So when I reapplied and got the message again, I realized that there is simply not enough content on the site right now. I suppose I can’t blame them since I’m only at about 10 posts right now. I wonder how many posts I’ll need until it gets approved, or how much time must pass before the site is deemed to be “fully launched”.
So a tip for you fledgling online business owners: your first goal should be to make sure your site has ample content and is firmly established.
The Question of Credibility
The simple reason: your site needs credibility. Without credibility, many affiliate programs like Adsense won’t look at you. The credibility of Google’s own Adsense program in part relies on the credibility of its affiliates. Afterall, why would a potential advertiser purchase keywords in Google’s Adwords program if they thought their marketing investment would just go to low-trafficked, low-credibility web sites.
Credibility is less about traffic and more about richness of content (at least that’s my theory right now). So when planning your launch and projecting your ad revenues, you need to factor in that credibility building effort. It will definitely affect when you think your revenues will break even with your capital investment.
The Silver Lining
Apparently, once approved, you can apply the Google Adsense tag to any site. So, I’m hoping the credibility question won’t pose problems with my stroller site, which I would like to have take as many monetization opportunities as possible. I doubt that I’ll have problems since there will be plenty of content, including a huge stable of articles. Once that’s established, I’ll be able to insert the Google Adsense ads on any one of my sites.
Other Options
In the meantime, I’m investigating other options. As you know, I’m already running Kontera on my site, which admittedly won’t do much until I amp up my site traffic. Actually, no program will do much until I have more volume on my site.
One program I am looking at from multiple angles is Text Link Ads. I’m considering it for the following:
- Posting links to the stroller site to help build in-bound links, as well as drive traffic to the web site.
- Registering Go Go Mama Go for the affiliate program.
- Running text links on both the Go Go Mama Go, as well as on the stroller site.
I’ll probably give it a while and apply when the stroller site is in beta in a month.
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