I've recently received many private messages from friends asking the same question: Is Adsense too competitive these days? Indeed, competition has become increasingly fierce in the past two years, with many complaining about the difficulty of acquiring traffic, declining RPMs, and unstable income.

To be honest, I faced these same issues when I first started. In 2018, my first tech blog was rejected by Adsense three times. After finally getting accepted, I only made $20 in my first month. Seeing those earning thousands of dollars a month at the time, I was truly envious and even wondered if I'd entered the market too late.

But after a few years of exploration, I've discovered that while Adsense competition is fierce, there are still many opportunities. The key is to find a differentiated approach. Now, my 12 Adsense sites consistently earn over $15,000 per month, with the best single site achieving an RPM of $12, far exceeding the industry average.

Today, I'll share how I found my niche amidst the fierce competition. These methods may change your perception of Adsense.

Why are traditional methods becoming increasingly difficult?

First, let's discuss why Adsense is so difficult now. I've summarized several key reasons:

Content homogeneity is severe. Currently, 90% of AdSense website owners are creating the same content: tech news, software downloads, and tool recommendations. I've previously analyzed over 100 websites and found that their content structures are nearly identical, even down to the titles.

Under these circumstances, how can search engines give you a higher ranking? How can users choose your website?

Traffic costs are skyrocketing. Previously, only a few dozen people were competing for a single keyword, but now there are thousands of websites vying for any given keyword. I remember in 2019, the competition level for the term "free software download" was 65, but now it's over 90.

AI content is rampant. After the release of ChatGPT, many people began using AI to mass-generate content, leading to an increase in spam online. While this content isn't high quality, the sheer volume has diverted significant traffic.

With tighter platform policies, Google's content quality requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, and many websites that previously passed muster are now being rejected. Furthermore, the RPMs for some of my older websites have dropped from $8 to around $5.

How did I break through?

Faced with these challenges, I didn't give up. Instead, I began to think about how to differentiate myself. After extensive testing and optimization, I found several effective paths.

1. Deepen your focus on a niche field.

This was my most important discovery: Don't build a large, comprehensive website; instead, focus on a very specific area.

I have an emoji resource website. Initially, I wanted to offer all types of design materials, but I found the competition too fierce. Later, I focused on emojis and holiday materials, and both traffic and revenue increased significantly.

Now, the site consistently generates over 5,000 daily IP addresses and generates $1,800 in monthly revenue. Crucially, competition in this field is relatively low, and user needs are clear.

How did I do this specifically?

When choosing a niche, I use the following criteria:

Has a certain level of search volume but isn't particularly competitive (KD value between 30-60);

Users have clear needs and pain points;

Suitable for advertising without disrupting the user experience;

Has long-term growth potential and isn't just a flash-in-the-pan trend.

For example, I'm currently testing the "AI tool reviews" niche. While the AI tool market is highly competitive, there aren't many websites dedicated to in-depth reviews, and this type of content has high advertising value.

2. Differentiated Content Strategy

Since everyone is creating similar content, I'll create something different. My content strategy has several key characteristics:

Depth > Breadth. While others might write a 1,000-word software introduction, I write a 5,000-word detailed review, including installation instructions, usage tips, pros and cons analysis, alternatives, and so on.

I have an article about video editing software that's over 8,000 words long, includes over 20 screenshots, and three video demonstrations. This article currently generates over 800 IP addresses daily, with high user engagement and good ad revenue.

Real Testing > Secondhand Data: Many people write software reviews by copying and pasting from other websites. I insist on downloading and testing each software myself. While this is much more labor-intensive, it significantly increases the originality and value of the content.

User Perspective > Product Perspective: I don't simply describe product features. Instead, I analyze from a user's perspective what problems the tool solves, who it's suitable for, and what alternatives are available.

3. Diversified Traffic Sources

I can't put all my eggs in one basket: Google Search. I've established a diversified traffic strategy:

Social Media Distribution: I simultaneously publish my website content to platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Reddit. For YouTube, I've created some simple software demonstration videos, which have been very successful.

YouTube now drives over 2,000 IP addresses to my website each month, and these users are very engaged.

Email Subscription System: I added an email subscription feature to my website and send out a weekly newsletter recommending the latest tools and tutorials. The mailing list now has over 30,000 subscribers, and each email generates a significant return traffic.

Community Management: I created a software recommendation group on Reddit, where I regularly share valuable content. While you can't directly promote your website, you can build your personal brand and indirectly drive traffic.

4. New Approaches to Technical Optimization

Technical optimization isn't just about site speed and SEO; there are many more details that can be optimized:

Smart Ad Layout: I don't simply insert ads into articles. Instead, I optimize ad placement based on content type and user behavior data. For example, for tutorials, I place ads between steps, and for reviews, I place ads before the conclusion.

Through A/B testing, I found that this layout increases click-through rate by 30% compared to traditional methods.

Personalized Recommendation System: I developed a simple recommendation algorithm that recommends relevant content based on a user's browsing history. While the technology isn't complex, it does improve user engagement and reduce bounce rates.

Deep Mobile Optimization: Currently, 70% of traffic comes from mobile devices, but many people still understand mobile optimization as responsive design. I optimized the page structure specifically for mobile users' reading habits, using larger fonts, shorter paragraphs, and more subheadings.

5. Data-Driven Operational Strategy:

I now base all my decisions on data, not instinct:

Keyword Mining System: I've established a systematic keyword mining process, using tools like Ahrefs and Semrush. I regularly analyze competitors' keyword strategies to identify new opportunities.

Every month, I spend a day doing keyword analysis to identify keywords with growing search volume but low competition; these often represent opportunities.

User Behavior Analysis: I carefully analyze Google Analytics data to understand user behavior paths on the website. For example, if I find a particularly high bounce rate on a certain page, I'll re-optimize the content and layout of that page.

Revenue Optimization Testing: I regularly test different ad types and placements to find the combination with the highest RPM. For example, I've discovered that in-feed ads perform better on certain pages, while search ads are more effective on others.

After covering so much theory.

Let's share some specific execution techniques:

Content Creation Process

1. Topic Selection: I consider search volume, competitiveness, and commercial value simultaneously. I only execute on topics that meet all three criteria.

2. Research Collection: I don't just search online; I also download and test the software myself, and sometimes even contact the software developer for more information.

3. Content Structure: I have a standard content template, including sections like problem description, solution, detailed steps, precautions, and related recommendations.

4. Quality Control: After writing each article, I check grammar, verify links, and test the code to ensure accuracy.

Managing Operational Rhythm

I currently operate 12 AdSense sites, and without a sound cadence, I wouldn't be able to keep up:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: Focus on writing new content;

Tuesday and Thursday: Optimize existing content and update outdated information;

Saturday: Data analysis and strategy adjustments;

Sunday: Learn about new technologies and industry trends.

This schedule allows me to maintain high-quality content production without being overwhelmed by the workload.

Risk Control Mechanism

The biggest fear with AdSense is getting blocked for violations, so I've established a risk control system:

1. Content Review: Before publishing each article, I use a tool to check for copyright issues or illegal content.

2. Traffic Diversification: Instead of investing all your resources in a single website, spread them across multiple sites to reduce single-point risk.

3. Backup Plan: Each website has other monetization methods as a backup, such as affiliate marketing and paid memberships.

4. Regular Health Checks: Check your website's metrics monthly to identify and address any issues promptly.

Advice for Newbies

If you're just starting out with AdSense, my advice is:

1. Don't try to be all-inclusive: Choose a niche you're familiar with or interested in and delve deeply into it. This is much more effective than trying to do everything.

2. Content quality always comes first: It's better to write five high-quality articles a month than to post ten pieces of junk content a day.

3. Patience is more important than skill: AdSense is a long-term project. It takes at least six months to a year to see significant results. Don't expect to get rich overnight.

4. Continuous Learning and Optimization: This industry changes rapidly, so maintain a learning mindset and adjust your strategy promptly.

5. Build your own moat: Whether it's expertise, content quality, or user relationships, you must have unique advantages.

Final Note

AdSense is indeed highly competitive, but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities. The key is to find a differentiated path and avoid doing the same thing as everyone else.

My success in this fierce competition isn't due to some sophisticated techniques, but rather to focusing on niche areas, providing truly valuable content, developing diversified traffic sources, and using data to guide decision-making.

These seemingly simple principles are not easy to implement and require a significant investment of time and effort. But if you persevere, I believe you will find your niche in the AdSense market.

Remember, in any competitive market, differentiation is the key to success. Don't try to compete with everyone; instead, find your own unique value and provide services that specific user groups need. This will help you stand out from the competition and generate long-term, stable revenue.