Google launched their AdSense Certified Partners program back in 2003 to help publishers get more from the Google AdSense product range. OKO are very proud to have been invited to be part of that program and become the first UK company to successfully certify as Google AdSense Certified Partner.

The program aimed to help web publishers by giving them a means to identified trusted, expert companies who specialised in AdSense.  The AdSense partner program was closed in December 2015 and replaced by the Google Certified Publisher Partner program.

Farewell AdSense Partner. Hello Publishing Partners

One of the limitations with the AdSense Partner program was that good partners often progressed their publishers set-ups beyond AdSense alone. Google’s other monetization products, including DFP and DoubleClick Ad Exchange offer a huge opportunity for publishers trying to grow their business and partners found themselves working as much in these products as AdSense.

To reflect this the new Google Certified Publishing Partner program was launched and the old AdSense Partner program retired (or “sunset” to use Google’s more poetic term).

How do Certified Publishing Partners and AdSense Certified Partners differ?

Many Certified AdSense Partners went on to re-certify as Certified Publishing Partners, including OKO. The new program is more selective (there are fewer GCPP than there used to be GASCP) and covers AdSense, DFP, and Ad Exchange rather than AdSense alone which is good news for publishers who want to grow. Certification also seems to include more emphasis on the businesses demonstrating customer service and added value to the publishers that they work with: All valuable benefits to publishers.

Should I work with an AdSense Partner or a Certified Publishing Partner?

The AdSense partner program no longer runs. Any companies advertising themselves as Google AdSense Certified Partners have not updated their certification (or their marketing materials!) since 2015. Companies lists as Google Certified Publishing Partners will have been re-assessed every 12 months to ensure that their knowledge and practices reflect currently policy and product changes.  You can learn more about GCPP here or find a full list of all certified companies on Google’s website here.

What can OKO offer AdSense publishers?

OKO work with publishers who are looking to either grow revenue, solve problems or reduce their work. Every publisher we work with is partnered with a named, certified expert who will manage their ad monetisation and support them to find and make the most of opportunities to grow their revenue. We also provide access to our own tools and premium demand to help our publishers earn more and worry less.  Find out more about our services here.

Mat Bennett

Mat has been supporting content creators on the web since 1996. As Co-founder of OKO Digital, Mat became the first person in the UK qualified to AdSense partner status and repeated this first with Google Certified Publishing Partner programme.