opinion

Google’s ruling on AdSense and adult

Disclaimer: this is a topic where for conventional business reasons, I have a definite bias. Our company manages the sales of adult advertising on high traffic sites & domains. We feel that we are in a good position to help industry peers that have been or will be impacted by the Google AdSense adult domain policy change.

There are days when your brain gets thrown into action the minute you start reading your e-mails and industry news. The 18th of this month was one of those days for me. It appears that Google is no longer Kosher with letting adult domain owners and managers use their affiliate traffic partner revenue program called AdSense anymore. The immediate effects of this include various adult domain portfolio managers needing to find replacement income sources for the traffic generated by their domains to offset the loss of Google AdSense income.

The reason why AdSense works well for all online media verticals, including adult until recently, is simple. For companies and webmasters who have high quality & steady traffic flow, sending that traffic to an ad selling system versus affiliate compensation based offers is a reduction of financial risk. Advertisers pay for clicks or placement per day/month, impressions, etc. Measurable ad units that accountants can audit. Advertisers pay from an invoice, whether prepaid or postpaid. Affiliate programs pay for a share of the net effect of traffic performance, based upon revenue generated as determined by the technologies and program rules that govern each program.

The goal for most high value domain owners is straightforward – steady income. In some cases, domain owners are not looking to develop their domains into web site projects requiring technical and human resources, therefore overhead. If the traffic generated by a domain portfolio is solid, then making the income through an ad sales business model is more steady and premium value than just signing up for various affiliate programs and seeing what sales can be made through affiliate links.

To achieve steady revenue, a domain holder can: 1) sell the ad space directly, potentially requiring staff, billing, legal support, ad servers, contracts, liability insurance etc. 2) use an automated ad sales program such as AVNads.com, AdultAdWorld.com or formerly Google’s AdSense program to sell your ad space; as Google has demonstrated, if the policies of the automated ad network program change, you get a form letter and the urgent need to find a replacement revenue stream. Most people prefer to buy ads and have them supported by live, knowledgeable and courteous personnel in the long run. 30 hire an agency to sell your ad space, where the agency is accountable to do everything from sell, collect and place ads, to serving them, providing indemnity and having a track record/references you can call upon to validate what you hear.

In the long term, Google’s policy change for AdSense will only impact ‘how’ the adult domain holders will monetize their highly valuable traffic, not ‘if.’ These domain holders include some of the very smartest people in our industry and beyond. As such, whatever methods can be used to sustain or exceed the income the owners were seeing before the AdSense ruling will be tested and put into action. The quantity and quality of consumer eyeballs these domains see from interested type-in traffic has not changed, only the route to steady income has been altered.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements

The supplement industry is big business. In 2024, Future Market Insights estimated it to be valued at $74.3 billion, and other market research firms anticipate that number will grow to upwards of $170 billion in just 10 years.

Rick Magana ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business never quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings

As someone who regularly communicates with manufacturers, retailers and consumers, I’ve seen how this ambiguity can do a disservice to both the customers who use these products and the businesses that sell them.

Alicia Sinclair Rosen ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Tips for Sexual Wellness Brands to Win Over Gen Z This Summer

As summer rolls around, the excitement in the air is palpable, especially for one particular demographic: Gen Z. College and university classes are over, vacations are booked and it’s time to let loose.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

The Barcelona Job: A Diamond Heist Drenched in Sweat and Seduction

In a city famed for its architecture and allure, something far more seductive is about to go down. The priceless NakedSword Diamond is nestled deep within a heavily fortified Barcelona museum, and master thief Sir Peter has his eye on the prize.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Community With Inclusive Packaging Design

Pride Month is a time of visibility, joy and self-expression. In the pleasure industry, projecting that energy can start with something as simple as a box. Market research shows that 72% of U.S. consumers say product packaging influences their purchasing decisions.

Matthew Spindler ·
profile

Sara Loverays on Tapping Her Goddess Energy

When Sara Loverays first turned on her webcam, she didn’t know it would change her life — or unlock a side of herself she’d been waiting to set free. What began as a way to make extra cash between travel physical therapy contracts soon became her full-time passion, a platform for self-discovery, and a ticket to building her own brand based on sensuality, self-discovery and “goddess energy.”

Jackie Backman ·
profile

WIA Profile: Pettus Ashley

Pettus Ashley brings her A game to the world of authentic adult branding, flitting between airports as the American face of U.K. brand Bathmate. As a company brand ambassador, Ashley personifies Bathmate’s dedication to the retail world, showering staff with equal amounts of appreciation and sales education.

Women In Adult ·
Show More