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What's up with FastClick's eCPM?

As soon as my traffic goes up my CPM drops considerably

         

chris surfrider

8:39 pm on Apr 10, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Hi,

I have an entertainment site that recently got about 40,000 uniques in the last 3 days, and about 360,000 impressions according to my primary ad agency. This was a result of several portal and datafeed submissions (and long, late nights).

(Well, we're allowed to talk about Google and Yahoo ads so I'm sure I can mention my primary). I am using Fastclick.

My first "big" day (12,000 uniques) I got about 140,000 impressions at a rate of about $1.17 per 1000 impressions. (CPM was comprised of two creatives, one was 0.74/CPM, the other 0.43/CPM). So I made about $160.00 US that day.

Average of 12 pageviews per visitor, $0.01/visitor.

Anyway, the 2nd day, my traffic actually went UP a bit, but my effective CPM rate, or eCPM dropped to about $0.78 per 1000 imp, and even down from there. Even with 160,000 impressions, at the end of the 24-hour day it only made $65.00.

Now my traffic is receding a little as the press releases are aging, but my eCPM's are still way down, even with less traffic.

Why does FastClick do this? Any ideas? I have no idea.

The nature of my site does not work for affiliate programs or CPA's, or Adsense for that matter, so CPM advertising is about my only option.

Let me know your thoughts on this, especially someone who has used FastClick for more than 6 months. I'd appreciate that alot.

(Oh, and by the way, for any new publishers or AM'ers out there that seem discouraged, don't be. Remember that the internet is a volume-based market. It's just a matter of time and trial/error. But it IS a reality. You just have to persevere).

-Chris

skunker

8:36 pm on Apr 11, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I was getting over 5 million pageviews last month and I only made like $10/day using FastClick.

I dumped them and found some brand-new banner startup company and am now making around $35-40/day using them despite a drop in my pageviews this month.

I'm happy!

chris surfrider

8:46 pm on Apr 11, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



So with an average of 166,000 impressions per day, your eCPM was only $0.06

Are your stats accurate? Do you have FastClick on all of your pages?

That's unreal...

Anyone know why the rates are so unstable?

Please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions, and most of all: knowledge.

Thanks,

-Chris

skunker

1:03 am on Apr 12, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Chris,
Made a mistake. 5million was the total for ALL of my websites. I broke down the graph on FastClick right now and it seems I only received a total of $133.24 in the month of March for the site in question. Yes, the ads were on about 98% of my total pages.

In 4 days alone with the new company, I've made $220. However, this company sells and manages advertising for web publishers. But I haven't gotten paid yet....so we'll see...seem like nice dudes though.

chris surfrider

11:45 pm on Apr 12, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Well, it's just been a downhill spiral since I last posted.

The site is consistently getting anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 pagviews daily and is only making like at the most $10/day.

Sorry, but for how much work promoting a site is that's not even worth it.

What are the options of a self-respecting publisher that actually wants to be paid what he or she is worth?

Should I just abandon the low-paying entertainment industry and focus on targeted AdSense keywords? I mean, come on! As if FastClick doesn't amply bill their advertisers for EVERY impression - so why should we get the short end of the stick!?

My initial encouragement from the beginning traffic surge is quickly turning into a cynic outlook on e-business. At this rate, in order to make what I would consider a decent income off the net I'll have to build, maintain and market 40 websites each receiving 100,000 impressions daily.

Seems like alot of work for $10,000/mo. Seems like a lot of bullcrap, too, if you ask me.

Is there anyone that sees light at the end of the tunnel for agencies like FastClick? Right now it seems like the grass is greener almost anywhere and everywhere else.

-Chris

plumsauce

4:17 am on Apr 13, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member




Chris,

Will you sell direct?

chris surfrider

4:40 am on Apr 13, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Definitely. Direct sales will always generate more than an ad program or agency ever could (except maybe for Adsense with top-keywords).

Only trade off is time. I own a few niche-target sites for which I sell adspace direct, but this is basically just another form of ecommerce, and requires alot of time and customer service, even for one site.

I guess what my goal is (like any other Webmaster going this route) to develop a small army of sites that each make a certain monthly profit, being diversified in terms of ad campaigns, companies and aff. programs. This way I wouldn't be betting the farm all on one site or project, and it would hopefully get the point where all that would be required would be site upkeep and updates.

It goes without saying that income could be exponential... in theory.

But yes, the site in question does in fact have space reserved for individual advertisers, in the form of text links.

-Chris

boingboing

4:52 pm on Apr 13, 2005 (gmt 0)



I also run an entertainment site, not that well done I have to admit. I average about 28 000 unique visitors / day. Started out with Fastclick, then switched to Casale who paid quite a lot more. Recently Casale eCPM has been going down so much that I've started switching back to Fastclick.

The first eCPM that you stated seemed really high to me (unless it was interstital, halfpage or popup), no banners at Fastclick has ever been near your figures($0.74). Right now I have a eCPM around $0.4 for the medium rectange which I actually think is quite good (compared to what Casale payed me).

But I also bomb my visitors with ads, popups and three banners.

Zygoot

5:12 pm on Apr 13, 2005 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Skunker,

>I dumped them and found some brand-new banner startup company and am now making around $35-40/day using them despite a drop in my pageviews this month.

Can you tell us the name of the new banner company?
Thanks.

skunker

6:21 pm on Apr 13, 2005 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I'd like to, but it would get deleted by the mods.