Which was bigger, Adwords or Adsense? The latter changed more.
The Webby Awards has put out its “Ten Most Influential Internet Moments of the Decade“, and I take issue with one of the listings. The list includes this entry from 2000:
Google AdWords launches (2000)
With the launch of AdWords in October 2000, Google turned advertising on its head. The self-service ad program opened up the marketplace to any business, no matter how big or small, and allowed advertisers to target their customers with laser-sharp precision.
Although Google Adwords has certainly transformed the industry, Adwords was merely a copy of GoTo’s innovative system from the late 90s. Google didn’t turn advertising on its head; GoTo had already done that.
I’d argue a more important moment for the decade would be the introduction of Google Adsense; that is, syndicating Adwords ads across millions of small publishers’ web sites. Before then, it was very difficult for small publishers to monetize their sites. Adsense gave them an amazingly simple way to monetize their sites, even if the topic was as niche as the Barton Springs Salamander in Austin.
Alan says
agreed
Alan says
Without adwords there would be no adsense. Google helped millions of small business engage in profitable ecommerce. The impact of ecommerce to the economy is enormous. The impact of millions of tiny publishers making a few pennies a day won’t change the decimal point in a GDP report.
Andrew Allemann says
Alan – the point is GoTo/Overture/Yahoo had done that well before Adwords came into existence.
Alan says
Alan,
Andrew’s point is on the money. Adwords was not new but just an extension of what we already had.
You are right as the impact on ecommerce from Adwords is enormous however the idea of people making money online from Google has driven 10,000’s of people to create some of the most loved and content worthy blogs and websites around. One could even make an argument the web would never be as full of content if Google never opened up Adsense.
It is this content that continues to help small business and companies find new clients not Google. Google is merely the godly tool we use to find content but without content there is no use for Google.
Providing an additional advertising outlet to small companies and global giants may add to the GDP quite nicely however making dreams come true for entrepreneurs worldwide has inspired not just this generation but teens and seniors alike.
Giving GM another ad spot may sell a few more cars but having a story of a how 12 year old can make 10k a month online writing about war games … well, thats why Adsense was far more important than Adwords.
Dreams inspire content.
Johanne says
“Adsense gave them an amazingly simple way to monetize their sites, even if the topic was as niche as the Barton Springs Salamander in Austin.”
That is so true.
Alan says
Andrew – damn you 🙂
I now have to spend 5 minutes trying to figure out what the Barton Springs Salamander in Austin is …. stuck in my head.
It is a fish right? lol
Andrew Allemann says
Alan, it’s a favorite protectionism topic of local environmentalists…
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/bartonspringssalamander/
Steve M says
I’m w/you, Andrew.
Though Google (like Yahoo, Microsoft, and others) has made many improvements over the years to the basic model, GoTo.com’s “bid on words” was truly revolutionary.
Without GoTo, Google would have been “gone-gone” years ago.
yanni says
My first paycheck in mainstream was from GoTo. I still have the mousepad with GoTo’s logo they sent out to publishers.
The article brought back memories…
Agree on the main point of the article, but it’s really a chicken-egg question. One would not exist without the other.