I just got 2 PM's on this subject, while i find that odd, i did answer both of them but i just wanted to reiterate here in case someone had a lingering question as well.

Content network, basically the adsense portion of where the adwords is directed to, some ppl can use it to great effect some cannot. I don't suggest content network, you have limited control and you can only just specify your max bids anyway.(truely do you think you'll be anywhere on the content network if you bid .01?)

if you can obtain cheap clicks and it actually performs go for it, i avoid it, actually sometimes late in the nite when i'm make a few hundred campaigns i might forget to turn off content on a campaign, and my costs go x10 it's astronomical. Mind you my campaigns are highly focused and long tail keyword optimized, even then they can initiate content bids.

if you want to show your ads on adsense i suggest using placement ads(instead of keyword ads) it used to be called site targeting, same thing.

unfortunately placement ads/site targeting is a whole new subject matter, one that almost no ebook covers, i do know of 1 and forgetting another try adwords 180 if your truely interested in this underutilized area of adwords.

and yes there are a lot of underutilized areas of adwords, heck adwords is just getting around to changing their policy on mobile ads(which you can also use as well) why? probably cuz of misuse and early adopters benefitted, imo.

To anyone uncertain about opting into the content network, take a look through these forums, and you should find enough information as to why you should be careful with it, LOL.

Seriously though, Google has been making some good efforts towards giving advertisers more control over exactly where they show up on the content network. As the original poster stated, you can now specify categories or pick individual sites that you want to show up on.

If you are just starting out, I would probably start off with a category targeted campaign, then monitor the performance closely with the placement performance reports, routinely blocking sites that are performing poorly.

I have had some good luck in using placement targetting combined with keywords. The product you are promoting has a lot to do with it. I've found that zip/email offers work better than direct selling, seems the content network traffic loves freebies

I've had luck with zip/email offers on content network traffic myself.

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I Smoke Pot and I Like it a Lot!

I hate content network traffic.they simply suck for my niche.

@lazysurfer:can u tell me just which affiliate company are you using?