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I run a website that is monetized via Adsense and I do not see a negative impact of the Corona pandemic. What makes the situation so much different for the L.A

by TekMol 7y ago

I run a website that is monetized via Adsense and I do not see a negative impact of the Corona pandemic. What makes the situation so much different for the L.A. Times then for a website?

generalpass 7y ago
Could the LA Times run on your Adsense revenue?
- TekMol 7y ago
  This must be a misunderstanding. Let me rephrase my question: Why did the LA Times revenue get "nearly eliminated" while I don't see a change at all? The ads I see on my website seem to advertise all kinds of random stuff, so it is not like I am targeting a specific niche. Maybe some other HN users with websites that feature ads can chime in and tell their experience?
  - chvid 7y ago
    There was an earlier discussion here of youtubers seeing traffic growth but total revenue drop hinting at lower advertisement through Google as well. But "nearly eliminated" sounds like a lot.
    - TekMol 7y ago
      Hmm... I cannot find it. Do you have the link?
      - csa 7y ago
        https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22856324 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22856324
  - maxerickson 7y ago
    How likely is it that there is a tranche of higher paying ads that you were already not seeing?
  - generalpass 7y ago
    My understanding is AdSense is based on click-throughs and sales, which will be more reader-dependent than product-dependent. How do you feel your reader demographic stacks up against the LA Times? AdSense tends to be only certain types of advertisers. I can't say that I've ever seen a concert ticket or movie advertisement in an AdSense window, but I've also been running ad blocking tools for quite some time now. At larger revenue levels, a lot of advertising deals may be more direct. For example, perhaps a major band advertises their show dates directly with the Times. Bands are currently putting the kibosh on their tours, so all of that revenue goes to zero.
  - CydeWeys 7y ago
    You're not even in the position to see the change, is the issue. The cost per click on all these ads could be way down from what it was a couple months ago and you'd have no idea.
TekMol 7y ago
Upon closer inspection I see that cost per click is down quite a bit. But the increased traffic makes up for it. Strange, I would think that in the current times, the value of a visitor is higher for many companies. If they sell digital goods and services, people should have more time now for those.
- AznHisoka 7y ago
  More time but less money, with so many of them unemployed. And nowhere to spend it since most can’t venture far outside.
rypskar 7y ago
Do we know how much of their ad revenue is from ads on their website and ads in the paper version? From what I have seen from other places it is ads in the paper version of newspapers that are hit the most
mtberatwork 7y ago
The LA Times is not only a website but a printed newspaper as well were the bulk of advertising spend is (was) happening.

by TekMol 7y ago

I run a website that is monetized via Adsense and I do not see a negative impact of the Corona pandemic. What makes the situation so much different for the L.A. Times then for a website?

generalpass 7y ago

Could the LA Times run on your Adsense revenue?

TekMol 7y ago
This must be a misunderstanding. Let me rephrase my question: Why did the LA Times revenue get "nearly eliminated" while I don't see a change at all? The ads I see on my website seem to advertise all kinds of random stuff, so it is not like I am targeting a specific niche. Maybe some other HN users with websites that feature ads can chime in and tell their experience?
- chvid 7y ago
  There was an earlier discussion here of youtubers seeing traffic growth but total revenue drop hinting at lower advertisement through Google as well. But "nearly eliminated" sounds like a lot.
  - TekMol 7y ago
    Hmm... I cannot find it. Do you have the link?
    - csa 7y ago
      https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22856324 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22856324
- maxerickson 7y ago
  How likely is it that there is a tranche of higher paying ads that you were already not seeing?
- generalpass 7y ago
  My understanding is AdSense is based on click-throughs and sales, which will be more reader-dependent than product-dependent. How do you feel your reader demographic stacks up against the LA Times? AdSense tends to be only certain types of advertisers. I can't say that I've ever seen a concert ticket or movie advertisement in an AdSense window, but I've also been running ad blocking tools for quite some time now. At larger revenue levels, a lot of advertising deals may be more direct. For example, perhaps a major band advertises their show dates directly with the Times. Bands are currently putting the kibosh on their tours, so all of that revenue goes to zero.
- CydeWeys 7y ago
  You're not even in the position to see the change, is the issue. The cost per click on all these ads could be way down from what it was a couple months ago and you'd have no idea.

TekMol 7y ago

Upon closer inspection I see that cost per click is down quite a bit. But the increased traffic makes up for it. Strange, I would think that in the current times, the value of a visitor is higher for many companies. If they sell digital goods and services, people should have more time now for those.

AznHisoka 7y ago
More time but less money, with so many of them unemployed. And nowhere to spend it since most can’t venture far outside.

rypskar 7y ago

Do we know how much of their ad revenue is from ads on their website and ads in the paper version? From what I have seen from other places it is ads in the paper version of newspapers that are hit the most

mtberatwork 7y ago

The LA Times is not only a website but a printed newspaper as well were the bulk of advertising spend is (was) happening.