Affiliate Marketing or Google Adsense : Which One is More Profitable?

Affiliate Marketing or Adsense : which makes more Money

This is one of the most controversial discussion. Lately there have been lot of discussion on how to make money online?  There are several ways to make money online but Affiliate marketing vs Google Adsense enjoys the status. When we talk about affiliate marketing program, first question that comes to mind is "Affiliate Marketing or Google Adsense website?"

Many people are claiming that Adsense websites can earn more revenue than an affiliate marketing website. So an important question here is - which is a better way to make money online - affiliate marketing or Adsense website?

If you are new to blogging, you can read my posts on :
Ultimate 7 steps WordPress Guide to Start a Blog
How to use Google Adsense to make money online

You should also know How to start with affiliate marketing.

There is a misconception that you can't use affiliate marketing with Google Adsense website because Google is against affiliate marketing, but this is not true. You can use affiliate marketing along with Google Adsense. Since Google is very strict about Adsense policies and value user experience hence you are required to have high quality content to place affiliate links to make money online. No search engine will accept if you place affiliate links within low quality content.

What is Google Adsense?

Google Adsense is an advertising program to make money online. Adsense is the biggest online advertising program driven by Google to monetize you blog. With Google Adsense websites you can have passive income that requires less maintaining. But is this the best way to make money from your Adsense website? We will figure it out in this post.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is another great way to monetize you blog. Affiliate marketing is nothing but promoting a product or service and refer targeted website visitors to try those products you are prompting. You get paid every time a visitor that you directed makes a purchase. But is affiliate marketing better than Google Adsense? Lets pick the better option.

Things to know : Affiliate marketing vs Google Adsense

#1. Approval process

It is easier to get into an affiliate program than getting into Adsense. We have already discussed a lot about Google Adsense. You need Google's approval to Set up an Adsense Account. Google is very strict about its policies when it comes to approving an Adsense account. . You can read my post on Google Adsense approval process.
Affiliate marketing on the other hand is easy to get approved from the advertiser. I got my Amazon affiliate account approved in just 2 hours.

#2. Control 

As a website owner, you may want to control which product gets featured on your website.  Affiliate marketing gives you control and you can decide which product you want to feature on your website. But if you use Adsense, you would lose control over these things. Once you Sign up for Google Adsense Account, you actually authorize Google to manage your account. Google picks the ads to place in your website. You don't have any control on the ads shown on your website.
And the most critical information, your Adsense account remains Google's property. Google can shut down your Adsense account anytime, without any prior information and you can't question it.

On the other hand, Affiliate marketing lets you to choose the product or service you want to feature on your website.

You may also like : Simple and legitimate ways to make money online

#3. Payment Method

Most of the affiliate marketing programs offer PayPal as a payment method but Adsense doesn't support PayPal. PayPal is a hassle free way to send and receive money. Adsense sends you checks which is a time taking process.

#4. Quick Money

Affiliate marketing pays more than Google Adsense. Adsense earning is decided on various factors like your niche, targeted website visitors, the popularity of your site withing your niche and social engagement that your website enjoys. The money that you can make with Google Adsense depends upon the amount an advertiser is willing to pay for a click from your Adsense website. This amount can be $0.10 or $10 or even higher depending on the keywords and targeted traffic of your website.

Must Read: Search profitable high CPC long tail Adsense keywords

The best thing about affiliate marketing is that you can start making money from the first sale.

#5. Recurring Earning

Many affiliate programs offer recurring earning till a customer you referred continues with the seller and Adsense program also offers recurring income. Both the programs are good in terms of recurring income.

#6. Payment Threshold

In affiliate program, whenever you make a sale, you get paid. The more sales you make, the more yoy will earn.  But in Adsense, you get paid once your earning reaches to $100. You have to wait until your earning reaches to $100.

Some more things you should know about Affiliate marketing vs Google Adsense :

Affiliate marketing is wider as compared to Google Adsense. You can find affiliate products for all niches, but Google Adsense doesn't accept certain niches.
Read : Google Adsense doesn't accept these niches

Affiliate ads are more attractive but we don't have control on Adsense ads.

Adsense is managed by Google all alone, but there are many small and large affiliate companies.

From the points noted above, I find affiliate marketing more lucrative than Adsense and it can be a good source to make money online but we also can't ignore Google Adsense which is The best advertising program to monetize a blog.  I like to use both money making program on my blog. If you are like me, I strongly suggest you to work on a properly formed combination of both Adsense and affiliate program.

Read to boost your online earning potential : Can you use affiliate marketing with Google Adsense on your blog?

If you are thinking to place some affiliate ads on your website, do check out these best places to place your affiliate ads
125*125
728*90 and
Ads below the post.

Above the post is the most prominent spot so keep it for Adsense ads.

Both - affiliate links and Adsense are great solution to make money online. Instead of choosing one over other, you should use both to maximize your earning potential. This way you will focus on both affiliate products and Adsense to build short term and long term earning.

Do let me know your opinion. Which do you prefer - Google Adsense, affiliate program or both?

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