Primarily, I will be using AdSense and Chitika.  If one does not perform well, it will be removed and replaced.  As you can see, I am also using Amazon.com.  I don’t know how well my amazon link will do… we’ll see.

I’ll be creating more pages, some with only AdSense, some with only Chitika, and some with both, in the coming days.  For now, I’m starting with a page about halogen desk lamps.  Yes, for those curious, I am writing the articles, myself.  I can’t afford to pay anyone to write them, and Google frowns on multiple sites having the exact same content (ala e-zine articles, etc).

Let me know what you think of the page, and this rather ambitious plan.  I’m hoping to see a pretty decent return from this.

Over the next two days, almost every Google-indexed website will find its PR updated.  Some will go up, some will go down, and some will stay where they are.  This, however, is the telling time for how your blog is doing in Google’s eyes.  For instance, I was a PR4 before this update, I was projected to go to a PR6, and am currently a PR5.  I don’t know if I’ll rise again before this is through or not.  Doubtful.  Remember, though, if you’re a fairly new blog, you probably won’t
have a PR this time around.  Not to worry, you’ll be picked up the next round, most likely.  (For instance, my political blog, MindSpeak, does not have a PR in this round of updates, even though it has been indexed and appears in the search results.)

Enjoy the apprehension, the tension, and the joy of watching a number rise by a single digit, getting you closer to that all-powerful 10.  Drop a comment and tell me what your PR has risen to, this update cycle.

As such, I’ve decided to take on a bit of an SEO challenge, and attempt link exchanging. I’m going about if through a new web forum set up by the editor of The Blog Herald (Duncan Riley). The forum is called Web Log Empire, and it is dedicated to blog link exchanges.

A lot of you are about to say “WAIT! Didn’t you speak ill of link exchanges, before?” Yes. Yes, I did. However, I spoke ill of only a certain type of link exchanges. Those being the “pay for play” exchanges - where you pay to have your site listed (usually in hidden text) on many other sites. I also spoke a bit negatively of the automated link exchange systems. The reason being is that both of these systems can actually hurt your performance within the SEO spectrum. Search Engines looks very negatively on the pay-for-play exchanges - especially when they utilize massive amounts of hidden links. The automated exchanges, usually aren’t what they’re cracked up to be, and thus far I’ve yet to find one that is as good as offered.

Therefore, I’m going the “old fashioned” route, of seeking out individual blogs with which to exchange. How will I be exchanging links? All exchanged links will be set up in categories using WordPress’s links system. Then, they will be listed on my sidebar. Additionally, when I find a blog that I really like (or one that will do the same for me), I’ll make a post about it.

These exchanges are the simple, old-fashioned way of doing things, and they provide the most quality control. Every. Single. Blog. I exchange with will first be explored by me. If I don’t care for the blog, or the writing, I won’t offer (or accept an offer) to exchange.

For those of you who are wondering, “what about when you said no, before,” let me put it this way: That was before. This is now. Formerly, I didn’t want to do link exchanges, primarily because I thought they were too much work, and not enough reward. I’m doing this now, as an experiment. If it works, WONDERFUL! If it doesn’t, no harm done. If it crashes and burns, and Google throws me back in the sand box, then - well - I’ll have learned a very valuable lesson.

I will give you one tip, though. Be, at least, pretty sure that the blogs you’re exchanging with aren’t splogs (spam blogs), and don’t engage in underhanded SEO tactics. Sometimes you can’t be certain, but trust me - look over things, carefully.

Oh, yes, monetization report. I’ve done some re-arranging of ad units, etc… on the blog, as per the case study. Well, to be honest, I’m not sure I’m happy with things, as they are right now. I think the site looks a lot more “ad heavy” than it did. Primarily because of the 160×600 skyscraper in the right side bar. I’m not sure if I’ll keep that as a full skyscraper, or if I’ll shorten it to a verticle banner. Once I get to the traffic level I truly want, I might even remove it, entirely, and go with Adbrite, or Bidvertiser. No, no, I’m not trashing Google, I’m just saying that when you combine aesthetics and bang-for-the-buck, it’s not adding up to brilliant, in my mind. I do have to say, though, that I’m already seeing an increase in my Adsense CTR, with these changes. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s increased, and even a slight increase is a good increase!

You may have also noticed some changes in the monetization of this website. Can ya blame me? heh. I never said I wasn’t going into this to make money. I just said I’d never let making money overrule my passion for blogging. As soon as making money becomes more important, well, blogging just isn’t as fun.

So, in an attempt to not only make more money, but also garner some powerful and beneficial knowledge of both SEO and monetization, I’ve partnered with One Way Adversiting and Design and Chitika News (blog) for a case study.

Originally, OneWay was going for a case study surrounding Chitika. However, with so many of the applicants using both Adsense/YPN and Chitika, the rules have changed. Now it’s the best bang for the buck (so to speak). I’m relatively free to talk about things, as they happen, and at the conclusion of the study, results will be compiled into an ebook.

If you want to play along, I highly suggest signing up with Google Adsense, and/or Chitika E-Minimalls for your own website. Referral links (and I’d appreciate it if you’d use them) are on the permalink.

So what’s happening so far?

So far? Quite a bit.

SEO-type changes were made, including methods for titleing entries, and changing the title format of the blog, itsself (although if advertisements about rogue mimes start to appear, I think I’m going to run scared). Additionally, section targetting for Adsense was implemented.

Also, Chitika has been removed from the main ad rotation, as - due to the topics I cover - Adsense is seen as the better fit. While Chitika has been removed from the main add rotiation, I will still use it for specific products, when/where appropriate.

Changes involving Adsense were made, as well. First, an Adsense skyscraper is replacing the Chitika unit on the left-hand sidebar (resulting in my questioning my own layout, and wondering it it would make more sense to move the affiliate links I use, elsewhere (more on these, later)). Additional changes were made to the Adsense unit in the comments section of each page (color change, and type/size). Also, considerable thought is being given to removing the links unit, in favour of it within posts, when appropriate. I doubt that will happen, though.

So, there you have it, folks. Those are the major changes. It doesn’t seem like much, but that, coupled with some additional information and tips - which I will impart to you as time goes by - it will probably make a striking difference. Of course, getting myself listed higher in search engines is a big start (*cough*link to me*cough*). heh.

Feel free to leave comments on the changes, or even contact me via e-mail if you’d like. I value your opinions, my readers.

More, as time goes by. As I mentioned before, why not use the above image links to sign up with Chitika and/or Google, and play along.

As I was checking my stats, to day, I started clicking the queries to see where I ranked for specific queries.  Obviously, I was on page one for all queries, but the surprising thing was that I took page one, position one, for “Chitika Revenue“.  I was very surprised at this, as this would appear to be a much sought after position and keyword combination.  Additionally, I am page one, position four for the query “adsense chitika“.  (Both queries were issues without quotes.)  As I’m only a page-rank four (PR4) website, this is a little surprising.  Very nice, but surprising.  Don’t let anyone fool you, folks, SEO on your blog is an important thing.  Keywords in titles, and well-written articles do get you listed high in the search engines, even with a lower PR.

For those of you who are searching for the articles on Chitika revenue, adsense, and chitika in general, you may find them at the following locations:

• Chitika Revenue has Dropped
• Want to make money from Adsense or Chitika for a living? Here’s the real scoop…
• Category: Blogging ->gt; Adverts ->gt; Chitika
• Category: Blogging ->gt; Adverts ->gt; Adsense
• Blog Search: Chitika
• Blog Search: Adsense

 Tags: google seo google+sitemaps
(Hat tip to Jason Golod Blogs)