REVIEW OF
The Adsense Traffic Guide, by Joel Comm
The topic is building traffic something all websites crave and need to survive. This 30-page booklet has good content on building traffic online.
However I found more than lacking. Joel's claim to "show you how it is done' is not entirely accurate. He does provide the information. If you are needing a step-by-step process - then this book will not help completely.
In other areas Joel does not fully explain issues. For example:
1. "A high ranking on a search engine is going to depend on a combination of keywords and links - especially your links"
This is very true for every site - However, it not a concrete requirement for good Search Engine rankings. For my main advertising agency website, I have achieved top ten positions, many are #1, for many years iwth very little linking. I also do not promotoe Adsense or any other form of affiliate type marketing. Google must, therefore, see my site as worthy for a good ranking.
I do not claim Joel's information as wrong - on the contrary - he is right. But links are Not the only way for good rankings - a quality site will also achieve good rankings - it just may take a while.
2. "..."raise your PageRank not by trying to manipulate keywords but by focussing on what Google values most : links"
PageRank, that little green bar that gets everyone in an uproar every time Google does an update. Point of fact, there are sites with a Page Rank of 4 in the top ten, and those with PageRanks of 6 not even on the front page. So, if the PageRank was all powerful, then top ranking sites with top Page Ranks should be listed in the top, right?
I will venture to guess that sites that may have a lower pageRank, but rank well in the Search Results, are due to factors of content, keywords and longevity. If a site targets the same terms and doesn't deviate from it, and has a life of several years, then it shows the SE's that that site is consistent with the terms it targets. Don't equate PageRank with Keyword ranking in the Search results.
My last point will be about link quality - Joel makes a very good point "The quantity of links you pick up is important. But it shouldn't come at the expense of quality." He is right!
One good quality link is worth far more than 100 poor links. Avoid link farms or having your link placed on pages with 50 or more other links. Better yet, exchange content - articles that link back to your site, in this way you are sure your link is on topic to your site.
Also, the section on offline marketing was disappointing - devoting less than 3 pages and 3 offline options to this form of marketing. I have over 25 years marketing and design experience and found this section less than useless.
A quick checklist of off line marketing would have been more informative than the thin examples he provided. It appeared this "offline help" was more of an afterthought than a well thought out Offline Traffic Generating plan.
While most of the information is sound advice, there were a few grey areas that need further scrutiny. All in all, the book is a good addition to your traffic building arsenal - easy to understand and contains good traffic generating methods - though nothing earth shattering or new.
| Checklist |
Rating |
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| Easy to Understand |
5 |
| Affordability |
5 |
| Proven Method |
4.1 |
| Target Level |
Newbie+ |
| Overall Rating |
4.7 / 5.0 |
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| Our ratings are based on the simple criteria of acuracy of information, ease of understanding and useability for all our customers from Newbie to Advanced and whether the information will improve the overall business of the consumer purchasing the product. |
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