europeforvisitors - 3:40 pm on Sep 2, 2006 (gmt 0)

On a forum, I am in the human interaction mode On an info site I could be in the seeking or buying mode

I think Hobbs summed things up nicely with the comment, " On a forum, I am in the human interaction mode.
On an info site I could be in the seeking or buying mode."

Now, there may be some forums where Adsense ads could be successful. For example, a site like Lonely Planet, which has a hugely active forum, might do okay because users are looking for ways to spend their money and the audience is always churning as new visitors arrive with questions about topics that attract advertisers and inspire clicks.

In other words, a Q&A forum where people are asking "Can anyone recommend a hotel in Chicago?" or "Does anyone here know a travel agent who represents Widget Cruises?" is likely to do better than a forum where people are mostly socializing, arguing, complaining, or commenting on the day's events.

Another example might be a forum about products that caters mostly to people who are researching purchases. If CONSUMER REPORTS had an online forum that ran ads (as it doesn't and probably never will), it could do very well with AdSense. Users would see that the Braun WhiskerSnapper electric shaver ranked #1, they'd see an AdSense ad for "Braun WhiskerSnapper on Sale," and CR would rack up another click payment.