The Disadvantages of AdSense & why Alternatives are Necessary
We all need AdSense alternatives. For one thing, it's always a good thing to have options. We don't want to be limited when it comes to choosing an ad network or when we want to monetize our website. A good, stable, free market offers alternatives, so you can find the best solution for your needs.
Google AdSense is just one advertising network, and it's very popular. But just because something is very popular, doesn't mean it's the best, or best suits YOU. There were always good advertising solutions out there, but Google has become so popular, some people seem to think it's the only possible way to advertise and make money off of their digital assets.
Here are some of the disadvantages of AdSense, that you should consider when choosing an ad network:
Big isn't always great
Google is a huge corporation which doesn't take into consideration the needs of every little publisher or advertiser. The advertising solution they offer is solid enough, but it's not designed to cater to publishers or advertisers, and doesn't address the specific needs you might have.
The fact that Google is huge also leads to another problem - customer service is not the best. Google has no need to invest in quality support for you, and they don't really care if you use their ads to monetize your website, or decide to use another ad network. If you leave, there are many more customers to spare. If you encounter a problem while using Google AdSense, you'll find there's no one to talk to. There are support forums, but other than that - you're on your own.
Limited selection of ad types: Another serious issue with AdSense, is that ad types are limited. For example, Google doesn't offer push notification advertisements or popunders - some of the leading ad formats in the industry. It's important to choose the best ad formats for your audience - having a limited ad selection will limit your success and profits.
Not only does Google limit the type of ads you can use, it also limits the way you use any other ad service. You can use other ad networks while using AdSense, but it requires a lot of supervision and usually it's not worth the hassle.
Payment threshold is too high: Payment threshold for Google AdSense is $100 - that's just way too much for small website owners, and it means they have to wait a long time in order to cash in on their ad income. With AdMaven, for example, the payment threshold is below $10, so you don't have to wait very long in order to see real money from your website.
You can lose all your money in a second: Your ad account can be shut down without a real reason. Sure, Google will say it's click fraud or policy violations, but there have been many cases in which Google simply closed accounts and the publishers never saw the money accumulated there. Since customer support is close to non-existent, there won't be much you can do if your ad account gets shut down. Furthermore, if you make a mistake, this usually means a lifetime ban - you'll never be able to use Google ads again.
AdSense isn't profitable for small publishers: Small publishers aren't going to enjoy a significant profit when using AdSense. Most advertisers on Google prefer search ads, and display ads selection is limited and sometimes downright boring. Users tend to ignore those ads, so you don't get many clicks. No clicks, no money.
Other AdSense limitations
Site age limitations - Chinese and Indian sites have to be at least 6 months old before applying to AdSense.
Content limitations and policies - Google doesn't allow insertion of ads near certain types of content, such as adult (nudity, explicit language), content about explosives and guns, tobacco, drugs, alcohol and more. If you run a website that has "objectionable" content, Google won't let you use AdSense.
