Thanks to the heroic efforts of GunUp and our stable of unpaid writers, TTAG is on track to break even in year three. Props to Google, whose search engine delivers just over half of our traffic. At the same time, a big raspberry to the big G, who bans firearms-related websites from its advertising affiliate network. Despite the march of progress on the Second Amendment front, the internet giant is expanding the ban. “Google announced to publishers late last month that the Google Affiliate Network will no longer collect or pay commissions on weapons-related merchandise,” mercurynews.com reports. What’s weapons-related merch you ask? Go figure. Meanwhile, how’s this for common sense gun control . . .
Google will partner-up with you for Adwords if your website is “promoting” stun guns, flare guns, antique and non-working firearms replicas and paintball guns. Hunting gear’s OK, but, as Ms. Heyser points out, the difference between a hunting knife and a kitchen knife is a camo handle. Or something like that. And you can use Google Adwords to sell firearms magazines, ’cause reading about them’s cool.
Google will tell you to pound sand if your site is “promoting” guns. Including but not limited to “pistols, rifles, BB guns, sporting guns, air guns, and blow guns.” Click here to read Google Adword’s “anti-violence” policy.
That’s us out. And how. Maybe someday someone somewhere will convince Google that the Second Amendment gave them to ability to do business. Period. Meanwhile, TTAG soldiers on. Wait; can I say that? [h/t to Tim Tritt]