Chad Randall, b5media’s director of sales, got hammered for a guest post he did on Darren Rowse’s blog about why he hates Google AdSense. After getting stitched up, he took another crack at his thesis today. For all the gory details, check out his blog.
One particularly valid point that Chad raises is how much – or how little – of AdSense revenue actually goes to Web sites and blogs. Chad contends it’s very little compared with suggestions Google gives away 70% to 80%. (Personally, I think it’s closer to Chad’s estimate). The problem is no one really knows the extent of Google’s generosity – or lack thereof – because it’s not something the company discloses. You figure with all the investor scrutiny on Google, there would be more information about the AdSense split. Then again, Google isn’t the most public of publicly-traded companies when you take into consideration things such as its refusal to provide financial guidance.
Unless something changes soon, the AdSense mystery will be right up there with the Caramilk Secret, how the pyramids were built, and why it’s been 40 years since the Toronto Maple Leafs won a Stanley Cup.
Note: Check out this New York Times story from January 2006 that claims Google pays out 78.5% of AdSense revenue to publishers. David Airey weighs in on Chad’s claim AdSense makes your site look “unprofessional”.
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