IN THIS CHAPTER

As you recall from Chapter 1, “Inside Google,” Google only appears to be a search technology company. Although it does develop and distribute all manner of search-based services, Google makes its money—and lots of it—by selling advertising.

In the previous chapter, you learned how Google’s AdWords ad network works. Through the AdWords network, Google sells ads on its own search results pages, as well as throughout its entire network of sites (Gmail, Google Maps, you name it). It also sells ads on other sites, both big and small. As I said, that’s where the money comes from.

And here’s the good news: If you run your own website or blog, you can share in some of Google’s advertising revenues. Google’s AdSense program lets you add Google advertising to your own site, and take a cut of all moneys generated.