October is already the worst month I've had in 10+ years with Adsense and that includes the past 12-14 months, which have been the worst since I started.
To be honest, I never liked Google's policies and I have not used Google for my own personal searching for five years. I use Bing, get rewards points and have bought lots of stuff off Amazon with the points converted to gift cards.
I have another ad company that is quickly catching up to Adsense in revenue terms and it requires no tweaking, no BS, no complex changes to my site for mobile, etc. Bottom line is the rest of the world is gaining on Google. I think they're in too many businesses (though their new phone looks pretty good... I have a flip phone and pay about $6 a month. Yeah I'm a dinosaur).
Anyhow, I'm probably going to move further away from Google as time goes on. Admittedly, my life has been a mess for the last ten years (both parents died, brother and sister no longer speak to me, I've moved three times, etc.) and I haven't focused on my web business as much as I should have, but the money kept flowing, so I'm grateful. But, when a simple CPM network produces double the revenue than Adsense (happened yesterday and has happened before), I am thinking it's time to move on, especially when Google's earnings topped estimates again. It's fine that Google makes money for their investors, but it seems to be coming at a cost, mostly from small publishers, i.e., they're keeping more for themselves.
Having been in business for more than 35 years, I realize that big players get better deals. Personally, I've never shared that concept. Back in the 80s, when I was in the newspaper business, I always told my ad reps to treat all advertisers the same, whether they spent $12 a week or $200. Strange as it may seem, the big money spenders always wanted better placement and many of them were loathe to pay in a timely manner or at all. I lost significant money by allowing big ads to run without payment. The small guys always paid promptly and were the most decent people.
Bigger may have been better back in the 50s and 60s, but there's much to be appreciated about smaller, faster, more agile, as are most small businesses. Ever get your car repaired? Compare the level of service and price difference between a Pep Boys repair and your local, friendly mechanic. I'll take my car to the local guy every day.
Sorry to go on so long about this but I think the internet is changing or, at least, needs to change. I'm tired of big corporations dictating everything. Small publishers never stood up against Google's one-sided policies and it's a shame because it allowed Google to become massive. And, if they decide to kick you out (did it to me for 1 12 years), there's little to no recourse. Big corporations, big government (see the EU for a prime example) work hand in hand (crony capitalism) and it's hollowed out the middle class. I grew up middle class (dad worked, mom stayed home in the 50s, 60s, 70s), but those days are long gone. I've struggled along just to be middle class, but, now that my life is about to return to some form of normal (disclaimer: I aspire to live off the grid and produce my own food from a garden and own energy (solar, wind) and I' part of the way there (5.7 acres)), I think I will be OK.
Last word: get the hell out of the cities. They're turning into war zones. Good luck to all and good riddance to big corporations like Google and big government (I live in NY state, the worst). Can't happen soon enough for me.
[s205.photobucket.com]
