Yet another potential web design client has come my way with Google adverts on their website. Promises of extra money, assumptions of better rankings and more professional look… tempted?

Don’t even think about it!

If you’re running the site deliberately to make money from advertising or a hobby site with advertising to pay for itself, fine. Even then you need one heck of a high hit rate for this to make any real money.

Google ads, and of course other automated advertising systems read the content of the site and choose relevent ads. If you’re an accountant, and trying to run ads on your business site, Google will quite happily pay you 20p to redirect your potential clients to your competitor’s website. Nobody wants that!… except of course your competitor.

When you’re discussing your design requirements with your web, graphics, or IT person, and you start to utter those words ‘Should I put those Google ads on my site?’ prepare to be shot.

• They don’t improve your Google listings
• They don’t look professional
• They don’t make your company or website look nice/big/clever/important
• They are links AWAY from your site and do not bring visitors in
• They will show up your competitors
• They will lose you business