Sample Content Preview

Anthony Casalena started the company in 2003.

The company is private and is not required to publish information about its financial position. According to a 2016 Entrepreneur article about the company, it stated the company made $100 million in 2015. [Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/274486]

If you consider that the company has at least one million customers, and all those customers subscribed at the base rate of $12, the company is easily earning $12 million per month, which equates to $144 million per year. It’s likely many customers are using the higher-priced tiers, so this $144 million is a conservative estimate by all measures.

How the Company Started

Casalena started the company as part of a college incubator program. He wanted to create hosting and a web development tool that he could use to create websites. As part of the incubator program, he signed on several beta testers and gave them access to the system for a discounted price.

His reason for choosing this type of business was the lack of tools available to blog back in 2003. He felt the tools that did exist weren’t easy to use and you had to use different websites for different aspects of the job. He wanted a complete set of tools that he could use for his development use.

Casalena’s father lent $30,000 to get started with the project. Because it was part of the incubator program, the college allowed him to build the business using school resources, as that is the point of an incubator program. By the time Casalena graduated, the company was making millions of dollars and attracted the interest of several venture capital firms.

Initial Problems

The company received negative press by allowing hate groups to use the Squarespace service. It has since removed those groups and created a policy to disallow any groups of this nature.

WordPress started the same year Squarespace did. At the time, the market for bloggers was still in its infancy. The tools were hashing out the best ways for average bloggers without tech skills to create and maintain a blog. WordPress eventually became quite popular to the point of being the de facto standard among software of it’s kind. However, Squarespace and WordPress are not quite the same. The WordPress standalone software gives its users free reign on how they want to set up their websites. Of course, that requires more knowledge than drag-and-drop. Developers started developing themes and plugins which helped the platform accelerate into the stratosphere. This is something that is still prevalent today.

Squarespace does not offer a free plan, and it doesn’t seem like that is ever going to be an option. The company’s major two competitors, Wix and Weebly, both offer a free tier on their subscription plans. This is likely to attract more users initially. It should be noted, however, that Squarespace’s features are more robust than both its major competitors.

Why it Works

The beta program Casalena set up while at school was quite successful. By the time he graduated in 2017, venture capitalists were interested in advancing the company. He obtained capital easily.

The concept of Squarespace breaks away from having to code modules for websites. It uses a drag-and-drop component mechanism. This makes it easy for others who are not technically savvy to create websites. While other tools now exist, he was an early adopter of the concept. As such, he has been able to transform the company into what it is using several years of experience.

Squarespace saves people time. That is the appeal of the service. When you compare to other services like WordPress where you have to look for themes and plugins and hope they work, Squarespace gives you out-of-the-box functionality. While it’s true that is less customizable than the WordPress route, few nontechnical people will be upset with this. With Squarespace, bloggers can concentrate on blogging and eCommerce owners can concentrate on selling.

The monthly price is reasonable, which will keep people interested in subscribing. At the time of this writing, users could subscribe for $12/month for a personal account. Businesses could subscribe for $18/month. The eCommerce options cost more, and there are transaction costs for the payment processor. But, that is standard in the field, i.e., the payment processors would charge the same irrespective of the selling platform.

Promotion:

During his college days, Casalena was responsible for marketing his service. He used the free offers from Google Adwords ($100 credits) and was able to build up a customer base. The business model is subscription-based which means recurring income. A subscription in a service such as Squarespace usually has low switching costs due to the amount of time and resources invested by the users. It was not easy for non-technical people to transfer websites. It was easier to continue using something that works and did what they needed.

It’s likely that the company received positive attention when they received venture capital. When that information hits the wires, it gives the company credibility. Bloggers and developers were likely thinking that if venture capitalists were willing to give the company money, it is a worthy service for them to use.

Sample Content Preview

Waze was founded by Israeli computer programmer Ehud Shabtai and Noam Bardin (CEO) in 2006.

The company was bought out in 2013 by Google. Google is a public company, but revenues of a parent company are usually consolidated into the parent. As such, there isn’t a published breakout of the revenues for Waze. According to a report from Harvard Business School, Waze has 100 million users. This suggests the company is highly profitable. Google (parent company of Waze) does not break out its advertising dollars per user.

[Source: https://digit.hbs.org/submission/show-me-the-waze-to-go-home/]

The company started out as FreeMap Israel and used the concept of crowdsourcing to populate the data needed by the network.

The company calls its users Wazers.

How the Company Started

Ehud Shabtai wanted a map of Israel to be displayed in Hebrew. He needed the data from users of the app and made the app, and usage of the app, free. He considered it a community-based traffic app.

When the company was called FreeMap, it caught the attention of venture capital firms. Waze has secured three funding rounds, for a total of $67 million. When Google acquired the company, it did so at an amount just shy of $1 billion.

Initial Problems

Concern has been ongoing about drivers updating their information while actively driving. While the app is useful to drivers, it is believed to contribute to more accidents, or at least, the possibility of them happening due to app usage. In 2017, the company addressed this by allowing users to record voice navigation prompts. It’s unclear what impact this will have on the problem.

[Source: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/did-google-just-buy-a-dangerous-driving-app.html]

In 2014, an article by CDNet.com wrote about a lawsuit against Shabtai. It specifies that Shabtai profited from community-based software which does not allow for the community to benefit financially. This is much like the open-source concept in the development community. However, Shabtai did add value to the data. The outcome of this lawsuit is unclear.

The app has a feature for locating where the police are. There is growing criticism that this could hinder the ability of the police to get their jobs done. It could allow criminals access to this data that would not be available without the service. Google’s position is that knowing where the police are located promotes safe driving. There is no indication of any further developments on this issue.

Several years ago, the major mobile data providers (Verizon, AT&T) switched to limited service plans. For apps that rely on data to be free flowing with unlimited plans, this could limit use by customers. The industry has since reintroduced unlimited plans, albeit at a higher cost.

Some towns are complaining that GPS-based programs are turning tiny streets into traffic nightmares. The apps often redirect traffic
to these tiny streets, and when people follow the advice, it creates a traffic surge for these streets.

[Source: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Waze-Google-Maps-San-Francisco-reroute-12898001.php]

Los Angeles is considering taking legal action against Waze for redirecting Wazers to residential streets. [Source: http://www.govtech.com/fs/LA-Considers-Legal-Action-to-Stop-Waze-from-Routing-Commuters-Through-Neighborhoods.html]

Why it Works

Users who want real-time traffic data can download the Waze app for free. They can also participate by submitting data in real-time about gas prices and traffic info.
Waze users can also find the lowest gas prices, again with the help of other users in the network. These other users submit gas prices when they observe them.
Waze has formed several partnerships with companies who want access to the network.

When people find the best routes where they aren’t stuck in traffic, in a small way, they are helping the environment. When you multiply that by the number of users who use the app to avoid traffic jams, that savings can be significant. The savings on money from not being stuck in traffic is an easy sell, too.
Waze has expanded its data by partnering with many governments. Both entities (Waze and Governments) benefit by provided each other with traffic data, road closures, updates, etc.

The company has been test-marketing a carpooling feature of its app. The aim of this initiative is to reduce the amount of traffic by getting people to hook up in real time. It’s an answer to the problem of differing schedules for regular carpoolers. The company hopes to use this initiative to eventually change the patterns of buying cars in the future. It feels that it should prompt people to not need cars as much. That is an aggressive goal and one that requires changing people’s perceptions about the need for having a car. However, this initiative could save people money on parking, which is huge and could be a selling point.

[Source: https://soundcloud.com/cbinsights/a-conversation-with-noam-bardin-founder-of-waze]

The overhead for the company is quite low. It uses crowdsourcing for data acquisition, which means little-to-no costs. The biggest costs are the network and app development and maintenance.

Sample Content Preview

Introduction

Unfortunately, not every aspect of the world is equal, hence why there are class divisions in every single society, for example. But, vulnerability on Earth pierces much deeper than just the difference between the rich and the poor. There are people across the globe that are suffering and are in desperate need of a helping hand.

Whether it’s related to health, education, religion, finances, basic human necessities or war-torn communities, non-profit organizations create a link between those that are able to help and those in need of that help. Ultimately, if non-profits didn’t exist, humanity would be failing in its duty to protect the less fortunate.

Just simply having the idea to launch a non-profit is commendable, because it’s people like you that make a true difference. By not having a profit margin as your primary focus, you’re automatically putting your own situation aside, so you can help those that are wishing for light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, although making money isn’t your goal, you still need to be aware of how to build, launch and run a fully-fledged business. Without a certain degree of business acumen, you’ll struggle to sustain the operation of your non-profit. So, we’ve put together an awesome eBook that’ll guide you through every stage of the process.

With this as your resource, you’ll have all you need to glide through the procedure and launch a successful non-profit organization in no time at all. So, without further ado, let’s delve in.

What is a Non-Profit?

As the name suggests, a non-profit is an organization that isn’t concerned with how much money they’re making compared with how much they’re spending. In fact, the bulk of their work is to give, give, give. In society, the non-profit isn’t always the term that is attached to those types of organizations; some people naturally use charity, NPO or 501(c)(3).

But, you need to know much more than what the name implies if you want your venture to be successful. You see, when people decide to launch a non-profit, they automatically become exempt from any tax. As you’re probably aware, most non-profit organizations rely heavily on donations from the generous public, and those that make donations can deduct that from their own taxes.

But, that doesn’t mean non-profits aren’t monitored by the IRS, because they are. The organization must display their financial and operating information so that the public can clearly identify what their contributions are being used for. That’s because transparency is huge when people are giving their hard-earned cash away.

If someone donated $100 and the non-profit didn’t display their information, that money could be used for items unrelated to the charity without the contributor knowing. Another advantage that a non-profit has is that they pay absolutely zero income tax on all the donations they receive and all the money they generate through fundraising events. So, that means if you arrange a sponsored run which makes $10,000, and you also receive $10,000 in donations, you’d be able to keep the whole $20,000.

But, you must fall under certain niches to qualify as being a non-profit. If you intend to support religion, back science developments, enhance education, reinforce public safety or help those in need, you’ll be able to label yourself as a non-profit organization.

Basically, anything that benefits the public in some way or another will get the green light. Like any other business, a non-profit must be managed professionally if you’re looking for longevity. That means liaising with volunteers regularly, treating paid staff properly, and prioritizing the happiness of your “customers.” If it doesn’t run like a well-oiled machine, the success of the non-profit will be very limited.

You probably didn’t expect to hear that non-profits have paid staff, but they do. Those on salaries will face the same employment taxes and workplace rules as profitable businesses. Of course, salaries will typically be lower, but individuals in the upper echelons of the hierarchy do typically get compensated well.

How It’s Different from For-Profit

The biggest differentiator between non-profit and for-profit organizations is related to taxes. See, a non-profit starts its life as a for-profit corporation registered through the secretary of state’s office in the particular state where it will focus its operation. Once it’s all official, you then need to source an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.

You can then use that EIN to submit an application to the IRS seeking exemption from any taxes. It’s a lengthy process to be approved, as the IRS needs to see proof that you’re operating as a non-profit and will also review your mission statement that discloses how you plan on serving the public. Once you’ve been approved, the corporation will then evolve into a non-profit, tax-exempt organization with a 501(c)(3) label.

For-profit businesses are the complete opposite. As they operate with the intention of maximizing their profit margin and making as much money as they can, they face the full wrath of federal and state taxes. If they fail

to abide by the taxes, they’ll receive fines and punishment from the IRS. Another difference between the two entities is how taxes are reported. Both are required to submit tax returns to the IRS each year, but the variance lies in the reason for filing them. For-profit organizations file quarterly tax returns to demonstrate how the company is performing and to showcase they’re paying their taxes on time. Whereas, a non-profit organization will file tax returns to prove to the IRS that the revenue they’re generating is being recycled to fund their mission, and not to add to long-term profit.

A third difference is that it’s a compulsory requirement for non-profit organizations to publicly disclose all of their financial and operational information. Plus, they must have information readily available so that they can provide it within 30 days of a written request. That’s so the donors, and the widespread public, feel reassured that they aren’t being cheated when they donate to your cause.

On the other hand, a for-profit corporation has two options; they can either become a public company that features on the stock exchange, or they can become a private company that keeps their information secret. In general, a privately-held company is managed by the founder or owner, and not a board of directors. A for-profit must follow the regulations set out by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A non-profit is automatically run by a board of directors.

Different Types of Non-Profits

Not all non-profit organizations are considered the same. The non-profit bracket is split up into different factions, and your organization’s faction is determined by what your mission is. So, as a general rule of thumb, there are four main categories – public charities, foundations, social advocacy organizations, and professional & trade organizations. We’re going to discuss each of them.

A public charity is essentially an organization that either provides free or extremely affordable services to help people who are vulnerable. It doesn’t matter what your motive is, if you’re actively and directly helping the less fortunate, you can be considered a public charity. The revenue needed is funded through the public, government, corporations, and foundations. Many schedule fundraising events to give people an extra reason to donate.

For instance, you could frequently create free workshops for the unemployed to acquire new skills. Alternatively, you could be a church that supports and provides for the local community. Some other examples of a public charity include libraries, hospitals, and museums.

Next, a foundation is an organization that sponsors fundraising events, community programs, and smaller non-profit entities. They sit just above public charities because they indirectly serve the public by backing other non-profits in their endeavors. There are literally hundreds of thousands of foundations across the globe, and they all have the same goal.

Now, foundations are split into three key areas – private, corporate and community. The private type deal with the distribution of vital funding to the vast array of public charities; the corporate type offers financial grants to non-profit organizations from large corporations; and, the community type handles funding for non-profits in a certain region. Moving on, social advocacy organizations are those that strive to make a difference on a certain topic. They function with the help of donations and members who are also fighting for the same cause. With the funding they receive or generate, they set up rallies, spread information and hold events to push for social change in alignment with their mission. A superb example is the National Organization for Women and Greenpeace.

Last, but by no means least, are the professional & trade organizations. This type of non-profit provides an abundance of support for people who are in the same line of work. Usually, people are required to pay a small fee to become a member to help the organization sustain itself, but they’ll then receive free or discounted training. The National Association of Realtors is just one example.

What to Consider Before You Start

It’s imperative that you don’t just rush into things and dive into a nonprofit venture head first. You need to assess the situation and figure out whether you have what it takes to build a successful organization that doesn’t rely on sales. Thousands of applications get sent into the IRS every year, but roughly 50% get declined.

That’s why it’s so crucial that you plan first. If you cover all bases and embark on your journey on the right path, you’ll be making a huge contribution to your society. There’s no denying that non-profit organizations are a necessity; governments simply cannot find an equal correlation between supply and demand. The responsibility also falls on successful non-profits to help those in dire circumstances.

To ensure that you’ve thought about the process thoroughly and have put a tick in all the non-negotiable boxes, we’ve put together 10 things that you must consider before you even get started.

Sample Content Preview

Introduction

MediKix says there are 440 million blogs in the world, as of late 2017. Variety Magazine tells us that over on iTunes there are 500,000 active podcasts. iTunes is far and away the most popular destination for podcast listeners. What do these blogging and podcasting stats tell us as marketers?

This reveals that you have 880 times more competition when you blog than if you host a podcast to reach your audience.

That is a powerful piece of information. Let that sink in. There are any number of reasons a marketer or business owner doesn't run a podcast, and the most common excuse given is that podcasting is hard, and blogging is drop-dead easy. Anyone can enjoy the simplistic anonymity of blogging, but podcasting is a much more personal way of reaching out to your audience. After all, your voice and maybe even your smiling face are going to be shared with the world. Some podcasters record both audio and video simultaneously because they know people like putting a face and personality with the voice of their favorite podcast.

Cost is often given as an excuse for not podcasting, as well as a lack of knowledge. There are other reasons people give for not podcasting as a way to build their businesses. Maybe you share some of the common questions that keep many entrepreneurs and business owners from running a podcast.

• What is a podcast?
• How do I start?
• Don't I need a lot of expensive equipment?
• What do I talk about?
• Can I podcast from my smartphone, and should I?
• How do I find an audience?
• How long should my episodes run?
• How do I edit my audio files, do I need a sound mixer, and where do I host my podcast?

If you have these and any other questions about starting, running and benefiting from your very own podcast, this is the guide for you. Maybe you currently have a podcast that is not giving you the results you are looking for. Perhaps you have been thinking about podcasting and are finally ready to get started. Either way, How to Use Podcasting to Grow Your Business and Your Profits can help.

You will discover why you should be podcasting, as well as the benefits to you and your business. You need to ask yourself a single question before you decide on the focus of your podcast episodes, and we will share that crucial question with you. From gear selection to choosing the content creation format that best suits your business, this guide can help you turn your podcast into a powerful marketing tool that can grow your business and your bottom line.

Let's take a look at the many ways this marketing media can help you achieve your business goals. Then we will share an easy to follow 8-step formula for creating, launching, marketing, and benefiting from your podcast.

Why You Should Be Podcasting

First off, let's answer the question, "What is a podcast?" We turn to podcast host Blubrry for the following definition.

• A podcast is downloadable audio media that can be consumed at any time.

That is a basic and correct definition if a little incomplete. Podcasts can also be seen as on-demand internet radio episodes accessible on and downloadable to a number of devices. Most podcasts publish episodes on a predictable, regular schedule, and these files are usually uploaded to sites like iTunes and Stitcher as MP3 files, but sometimes as WAV files. Popular smartphones, modern tablets, and laptops make recording, uploading, and listening to podcasts simple.

By the way, podcasting may not seem right for every business. If you own a brick and mortar shoe store, you may not feel this type of marketing will pay off. Podcasting, editing audio, interviewing, and marketing your efforts can take a lot of time and energy, and in some cases money. On the other hand, if you own a local or chain shoe store and you decide to launch a podcast, you can be pretty sure you will be the only one of your competitors doing so. A little creative thinking can show you how a podcast will work for any business.

You may be wondering if there is an audience out there waiting for what you have to say. Edison Research reports ...

• 1 in every 4 Americans has listened to one or more podcasts in the past 30 days. That means more than 82 million people in the US, young and old alike, are listening to podcasts regularly.

• More adult men and women are listening to podcasts than ever before, and that number continues to rise for both genders.

• Podcast episodes can be enjoyed live or at a later date. Record an episode once, and your audience can access it for years.

• If you are marketing to a younger adult audience, podcasts can help you reach your target prospects. That is because adults aged 18 to 34 are more likely to listen to podcasts monthly than their older counterparts. Additionally, 1 in 3 adults aged 25 to 54 routinely listens to podcasts.

• By the way, when someone decides to subscribe to a podcast show and tune in regularly, they are usually affluent. Monthly listeners are 60% more likely to earn over $150,000 per year than folks who don't make listening to podcast episodes a monthly habit.

• Podcast lovers are smart, 42% more likely to have a 4-year college degree than non-listeners.

• As far as getting your message across, podcasts are perfect. Unlike video and text-based content, which are not usually viewed or read through until the end, podcasts seem to grab and hold the attention of your audience like no other media. A full 42% of all listeners will stay tuned from start to finish during an episode.

These are just US-based statistics, but podcasting is popular in the UK, Canada, Asia, and elsewhere as well. As a matter of fact, in non-US nations, there is currently a ground-floor podcasting opportunity that you shouldn't pass up. Don't forget that when you record your podcast, you will get listeners all around the world, regardless of where you live. You don't need to record new episodes for different countries or demographics.

More Benefits of Podcasting

The most important aspect of podcasting for entrepreneurs, bloggers, brick and mortar companies, and other business owners is that it can grow your list. If you are not developing and benefiting from a list of prospects and customers, you are missing out on the most efficient, lowcost marketing tool available today ... email marketing.

Email marketing continues to prove year after year that it returns an impressive profit per dollar invested. One much-referenced piece of data shows that email marketing returns $38 for every $1 spent. When a prospect of yours clicks on a link in one of your emails and makes a purchase, that person will spend 138% more than a customer that purchases from you in another way. Email marketing works, and a podcast can grow your email list effectively.

Authority Building

List building is not the only significant benefit podcasting offers your business. People do business with companies and individuals they trust to provide valuable market information. By hosting a podcast, you build your brand as an authority in your niche or field. Even if you don't decide to monetize your podcast, this single feature can still help you grow your business significantly.

You Make a Personal Connection

Podcasts are more personal than text-based types of content. The sound of your voice or the voice of your podcast host connects with your listeners in a way that simple text never can. This is probably why engagement, ROI, and profits are higher for podcast episodes than they are for most text-based marketing efforts.

Marketing Simplicity

Yes, podcasts can be difficult. You can buy tons of equipment and make the process as detailed and intricate as possible. You can also simply whip out your cell phone or power up your computer and record, launch, and benefit from podcasting. In its basic forms, podcasting is simple.

You Expand Brand Awareness

First-time podcasters are often amazed that their episodes are downloaded and enjoyed by people around the world. You can reach your target audience with podcasts on a local, national, or international level, which means growing your brand is possible in a very big way.

Improved Profits

There are so many ways to monetize your podcasts. You can sell advertising and then simply work to increase the number of downloads you get, thereby improving how much money your advertisers pay you. You may also sell products and services directly through your podcast. In the seventh step of the 8-step podcasting formula you receive in this report, you will discover plenty of ways to use this powerful marketing method to improve sales and profits for your business.

Your Audience Can Listen on the Go

If your prospects attempt to watch a video or read an e-book while they are driving a vehicle or exercising, bad things can happen. On the other hand, the portable and audible aspects of podcasting make this business marketing tool available to your prospects when other forms of marketing are impossible to consume.

Sample Content Preview

Introduction:

Welcome to the latest and very easy to apply “Google AdSense” Training, designed to take you by the hand and walk you through the process of getting the most out of Google AdSense, for your business.

I’m very excited to have you here, and I know that this will be very helpful for you.

This exclusive training will show you step-by-step, topic by topic, and tool by tool, what you need to know to dominate Google AdSense, in the easiest way possible, using the most effective tools and in the shortest time ever.

This training is comprised of 20 chapters organized into 4 sections. This is exactly what you are going to learn:

Section 1: Google AdSense Basics

In Chapters 1 through 4, we’ll talk about:

- What Is Online Advertising All About?
- What Is Google AdSense?
- How Can Google AdSense Help Your Business?
- Shocking Google AdSense Facts To Consider

Section 2: Google AdSense – Step by Step

In Chapters 5 through 10, we’ll talk about:

- Setting Up An AdSense-Friendly Website
- Creating A Google AdSense Account
- Google AdSense Walk-through
- Customizing Your First AdSense Ads
- Inserting Ad Slots Manually
- Inserting Ad Slots With The AdSense Plugin

Section 3: Advanced Google AdSense Strategies

In Chapters 11 through 16, we’ll talk about:

- Increasing Ad Revenue With Link Units
- Increasing Ad Revenue With A Custom Search Engine
- Implementing AdSense Section Targeting
- Implementing Ad Placement Targeting
- Crazy Simple Ways To Double Traffic To Your AdSense Site
- Money-Making AdSense Optimization Tips And Strategies

Section 4: Additional Tips to consider

In Chapters 17 through 20, we’ll talk about:

- Do's and Don'ts
- Premium tools and Services to consider
- Shocking Case Studies
- Frequently Asked Questions

Well, it’s time for you to start getting the most out of Google AdSense on behalf of your Business.

I know you'll love this training.

Google AdSense Basics Google AdSense Basics Google AdSense Basics Google AdSense BasicsGoogle AdSense Basics

Chapter 1: What Is Online Advertising All About?

We’ve got a quick question for you: when you visit a website, what is the first thing that you are able to visually identify apart from the actual content- We are pretty sure that your answer will be “the ads”, and that is because online advertising is everywhere. We have grown so used to it that we just take it for granted, but what is online advertising really all about?

Online advertising is, in simple terms, using the internet to deliver a marketing message through paid solutions. And because of its online nature, it can basically take form on any possible placement that you can imagine.

And what that means is that online ads can appear on every online place or channel made available to advertisers, as they are the digital equivalent of billboards. In fact, once you start digging in, you’ll be able to find all types of parallels to real-world advertisements.

The most common form of online ads can be found on blogs and websites, and they can be compared to newspaper and magazine ads. You will also find ads on YouTube videos, which are the internet version of TV ads, as well as other types of online ads that go a step further, such as mobile ads and in-app ads.

Online ads have such a wide reach that they are also natively integrated on social media platforms such as Facebook, where you are allowed to promote your own content affordably and without much hassle.

And the best part- Online advertising is not limited to big agencies with inflated advertising budgets. You don’t have to produce expensive materials, or to go through a lot of paperwork. You’ll simply have to have an engaging message, a target audience, and a killer product or service to promote.

And that is why online advertising has vastly surpassed offline advertising: because there are more people paying for online ads than anywhere else.

And that is also why online advertising has become the fuel that fires content creation on the internet. Because if you are a content creator with a blog or a website getting good traffic, or have a YouTube channel with videos that are getting thousands of views on a monthly basis, you are pretty much guaranteed a stable income generated from ad revenue.

But! Here’s the catch: online ads don’t appear magically on websites or videos, and they don’t generate money for website owners by simply sitting there. Do you want to learn what’s the best way to generate money on your online property- Tune in to the following chapter to find out!

Chapter 2: What Is Google AdSense?

Hey there everyone! So we talked about what online advertising actually is in our previous chapter, and we happened to mention that, for all intents and purposes, it is all about generating revenue through targeting placements with ads.

Or in simpler words, that it is all about using online properties to serve ads that reach a defined audience with the purpose of getting engagement with the ads. It is a win-win situation because advertisers can use relevant placements on niche properties to promote their stuff and publishers can make money from basically renting placements on their properties to the advertisers.

Now, how do advertisers place ads on, say, a website- And how do publishers and content creators insert ads on their properties- The simple answer is: they sign up to an ad network, which works as a middleman between advertisers and publishers.

What ad networks do is to connect advertisers with a network of online properties where they can serve their ads, as well as to add online properties to those networks through publishers and content creators.

There are many, many ad networks around, but the most popular, and by extension, the largest one as well, is Google AdSense. And because of that, it is an advertising platform full of unique features and peculiarities.

For starters, the AdSense platform can be described as an online advertising program run exclusively for publishers by Google, which allows them to add their online properties to the “Google Network” of content sites.

Once publishers add their sites to this network, they will be able to serve online advertisements using automatic text, images, video, and other types of interactive media right on their sites. These advertisements, or ad units, are targeted according to a site’s content and audience.

These ad units are generated and managed by advertisers on Google’s own AdWords network, and they are administered by Google itself. In other words, Google serves ads on sites that are part of the AdSense network on behalf of advertisers that are part of the AdWords network.

Now, we all know that publishers and content creators are not going to lend their valuable online real estate out of a sense of charity; They’re in it for the money! But how do AdSense ads generate revenue on a site?

It is simple: advertisers pay Google to put their ads on the AdSense network, and then Google splits those earnings with the owner of the online property where these ads happen to appear, once again, based on the type of content on the site and its audience.