Google Enables Better Traffic Arbitrage

New Adsense integration seems to be a lift for Adsense arbitrage.

Huh.

That was my reaction upon learning today that Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) will be integrating Google Adsense data into Google Analytics:

In addition to the wealth of metrics already available in Analytics such as unique visitors and visitor language, you’ll now have access to granular reports that break down AdSense performance both by page and by referring site. Armed with this new data about user behavior, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions on how to improve the user experience on your site and optimize your AdSense units to increase your revenue potential.

I thought perhaps I was the only one to think this might be used for Adsense arbitrage. But apparently Google thinks it’s a good idea, too:

Drive high-earning traffic to your site. Use the ‘Referring sites’ report to determine where the users who are making you the most money are coming from. Focus your efforts on getting traffic from these sources.

One of the difficulties with Adsense arbitrage — buying traffic from a site with hopes that those visitors will click on Adsense ads and generate more revenue than you paid — is that you have to have sophisticated systems to track which ads and content sites are driving the right traffic. Now it seems Google is giving that to you for free.