You see it all over, advice and information on how to buy or build an "AdSense site." Some of it's free. Some of it's for sale. All of it is misleading.

How so? Because there is no such thing as an "AdSense site." AdSense is just one part of the vast Google family of services. Google AdSense doesn't even have it's own web site, which thought puts a sprinkle of irony on those doughnuts trying to sell you an "AdSense site." (disclaimer: www.adsense.com actually belongs to AdSense Consulting, a marketing service much discomfited by Google's use of the same name.)

AdSense is a means of putting people that wish to advertise together with web site owners that wish to sell space. That's it, pure and simple. A web site owner may choose to rent space through AdSense as a means of earning revenue. A web site may be devoted to providing content (i.e. information) about Google AdSense. But is there such a thing as an AdSense site which, set free on the internet, magically spawns money? Sadly, no.

We wish it were so, but AdSense is really just one of many ways of adding revenue to a site. Yes, it's easy (and free) to register to use AdSense. Yes, it's easy to put the code for AdSense in to your web pages. And Google AdSense makes it easy to track your profits and get your check. But you still have the task of providing a web site so rich with information and/or entertainment that people, hundreds, thousands of people, will want to visit it.

So know what AdSense really is--a means of connecting advertisers and web site owners-and keep that in mind before you plunk down hard-earned cash for anything that makes misleading promises.

About the Author:

Bonnie Boots is the publisher/editor of The Internet Wizards Magazine for people who want to create their own products and market on the internet. Register for your free 1-year subscription at http://www.theinternetwizards.com