About 2 weeks ago, I recommended using AlternateURL to replace Google AdSense’s PSA. To refresh our memory, AlternateURL is an affiliate program that claimed to be made specially to replace AdSense’s PSA. By using given AlternateURL code in our AdSense ads alternate URL section, you won’t see the usual PSA, instead, you’ll get ads from AlternateURL. The same with AdSense, it’s a PPC ads. You get paid everytime someone click the ads. The minimum payout for AlternateURL is $50, and currently, it only pays via Paypal.

Today, I admit. I’ve made a mistake with the recommendation and I take it back. Using AlternateURL affiliate program is NOT recommended. I already remove it from some of my sites, and will soon dump it completely. I’m not doing this without reason. Here’s why:

1. AlternateURL is not a contextual ads. Ads is based on our site category that we choosed at the registration process. If we put our site into Technology category, we supposed to get ads related to Technology stuff. The fact, most of the time, AlternateURL shows ads that’s not related with our preferred category. Why would I want to display ads about Cialis or Phentermine in this non-medical site?
2. The CPC is really really bad. From about 200 clicks, I only got less than $1.5. Go figure the CPC yourself.

Let’s calculate it. $1.5 in 2 weeks, $3 in a month. Great, I’ll reach the $50 minimum payout in 16 month. But nope, I’ll pass.

Right now I’m using my own ads to replace the PSA. From the site stats, it seems to work quite well )

But for sure, AlternateURL sucks.