eCPM Rate With AdSense

This isn't good... is it?

[cabbagehead]

I have a community + content website. I decided to start trying to monetize with with advertising. I've started with Google AdSense since its so easy to setup.

After about 1 week of tracking, my eCPM rate (cost per 1000 impressions) is $1.73. Frankly I'm stunned at how BAD that is. Am I expecting too much or something?

Can you guys lend me some context so I know better what I should be expecting? Is this as bad as I think it is, or par for the course? What can I do to improve it? Other ad networks? Ad positioning? Other?

Thanks.

[hunderdown]

You might do well to post your question in the AdSense forum.

Also, you shouldn't be so specific about your eCPM--Google does not allow AdSensers to reveal any information except overall earnings.

But to answer your question--that's not great, but it's not unusual if by "community" you mean you host forums. Browse the library and old threads in the AdSense forum and you should find some threads about AdSense on forum sites.