Topic: Adsense

Podcaster Jen Briney of "Congressional Dish" had her Amazon Associates account terminated for "incentivizing" purchases by telling listeners that using her links supports the show. Amazon's policy strictly prohibits encouraging users to bookmark links or stating that purchases provide financial support to a site. This highlights the precarious nature of relying on major tech platforms for revenue, as accounts can be closed without appeal or payment of outstanding fees.

A lawsuit involving the founder of Snopes, David Mikkelson, and his ex-wife is discussed, including allegations of embezzling $98,000 for "hookers and blow." The hosts question the site's financial independence and its claims of being funded solely by Google AdSense. They mock the site's inclusion in the International Fact-Checking Network.

NBC News reports on teenagers in Vilos, Macedonia, who allegedly earned significant advertising revenue by creating fake news sites during the U.S. election. Adam Curry shares an alternative perspective from an "economic hitman" source, claiming the locals' motivation was a long-standing resentment of the Clintons dating back to the 1990s Balkan interventions.

The discussion explores what might constitute "unlawful content" under new net neutrality rules, using Google AdSense's terms of service as a potential template. Google's list of prohibited content includes adult material, mail-order brides, and specific sexual health discussions. There is concern that these corporate standards could be adopted as federal enforcement guidelines for internet traffic.

Google has reportedly shut off AdSense for Antiwar.com, citing "inappropriate content," which the hosts describe as a form of Orwellian censorship. Amidst this news, they perform a formal knighting ceremony for Hendrik Schmid, who contributed $1,000 to the show. The segment includes the traditional "mutton and mead" jingle and a discussion of the "No Agenda" rings and shipping delays.

Twitter maintains a high market capitalization despite a lack of consistent profits, illustrating ongoing attempts to monetize network connections. While early search engines like AltaVista and Yahoo struggled to find sustainable models, Google successfully leveraged the Adsense advertising platform. The network itself remains difficult to monetize directly without intermediary advertising services.

The hosts discuss Google's recent algorithm updates aimed at demoting "low-quality" content. They express concern that these changes are a "money-making scam" to force sites into buying AdSense ads. Despite the risk of being demoted like JCPenney, they decide to continue their current web strategy to see how it affects their search rankings.

The hosts thank various donors, including members of the "111.11 club" and those seeking "karma" for job interviews or business deals. A discussion on Mormonism is referenced following listener feedback on a previous segment. Additionally, Bill Clinton being named PETA's 2010 Person of the Year for his vegan diet is mentioned, with the hosts observing that the former president appears to be in poor health.

Adam Curry describes being banned from the Google AdSense program after his audience clicked on ads to support his "Big App Show." Google flagged the activity as a scam and refused to pay out earned revenue, even reversing previous payments. The hosts criticize the online advertising industry's rigid rules regarding user engagement and "creative" appeal.

The hosts discuss the show's open-source art generation and the various listener-made products like dice and coins. Adam Curry shares his frustration with Google AdSense after being kicked off the platform for "suspicious activity," resulting in a loss of income. He also thanks a producer for creating an Android version of his "Big App Show" for free.

Web publishers report a disconnect between increasing traffic and decreasing AdSense revenue, suggesting that users have developed "banner blindness." The human brain appears to parse out advertising frames, focusing only on the central content, a phenomenon compared to an aircraft's "T-scan" instrument focus. This fatigue has made traditional display ads less effective over time.

A critique of media coverage regarding Google argues that journalists fail to investigate the company's "black box" advertising algorithms. Google's control over both the buy and sell sides of the online ad market is highlighted as a unique monopoly. An anecdote mentions a meeting with an original engineer of the system Google acquired to build AdSense.

A discussion on the mechanics of media sales explains why political advertising dollars rarely reach podcasting. The hosts describe how sales teams in broadcasting and publishing rely on established "Rolodexes" and why individual show producers might resist running ads for specific political candidates like Rudy Giuliani.

John Dvorak discusses the appearance of political advertisements on his blog, including ads for Ann Coulter and Mitt Romney. He notes the visual similarity between Romney and actor Treat Williams, while Adam Curry shares a listener's correction regarding the "Punch the Monkey" internet ad meme.