eCPM in the tank

Seasonal, permanent or tied to bug?

[fearlessrick]

My eCPM the first four days of this year is about half of what it was over the past 4-5 months, and while I realize that there's some seasonality involoved, it's a pretty drastic hit, so I'm wondering if it's just me or is anyone else seeing really low eCPM. Also, could it be tied to the bug in the Adwords API quota (on the Adwords thread). Some of the advertisers sound pretty tweaked out, but I really don't know what that has to do with AdSense performance, if anything.

If anybody knows, please tell.

[whbiz]

As always with Adsense, one publisher's low point is another's high point. My eCPM since end-December is the highest I ever had since joining the program at the very start. Revenue is sooooo good.

[dibbern2]

Its a zero sum: your eCPM goes down, mine goes up. My eCPM goes down, your's goes up.

You won't find a reason why it happens.

[ann]

No, but I am getting "tweaked" out to!

My ctr is going up but eCPM is going down and taking the earnings with it.

I wish Google would straighten this crap out.

[fearlessrick]

ann, I think maybe we've been "smart priced."

I'm with you. A little stability would be nice, but, since that's not going to happen, I've added other ad services and don't depend solely on the Big G.

[ann]

I have never just depended on Google but it is still a major player. :)

I figured some of it out. I just filtered 5 ads that sounded like they would be just the ticket for my site but in reality they were off in left field when I visited the sites. Maybe that will help some.

[LeChuck]

It could also be that a lot of adwords managers / mom & pop's have taken some extra days off at the end of the holidays and haven't gotten around to activating their adwords campaigns yet. Fewer bidders==lower bids.

[creepychris]

Things are up nicely here. With all of these radical changes (both up and down), it looks like there has been a significant change somewhere.

[europeforvisitors]

Things are up nicely here. With all of these radical changes (both up and down), it looks like there has been a significant change somewhere.

It could just be seasonal. (My travel-planning site has had a significant jump in traffic and eCPM since December 26, but there's nothing mysterious about that--it happens every year at this time, when advertisers and travelers are looking forward to the spring and summer vacation season.)

[OptiRex]

fearlessrick

I thought you were giving up with this crazy roller coaster?:-))

I'm with EFV about this, I had my steady decline throughout December to "throat-splitting" Xmas Day and now I can afford a beer again:-))

Joking apart, it really is about one's niche, IF one has a niche and not the scattergun approach.

fearlessrick - do you really know what the problem is?

We are so all intense about what we do yet 99.99% of the world couldn't give a damn!

I have cut my working hours back to 60 per week and intend cutting them further since the return on effort just is not there...until I find that "something"!

Yeah:-)

[fearlessrick]

ah, it's difinitely my niche to some degree and smart pricing to another degree. I'm thinking that when I start banning the cheapskates who get to advertise on my site, it's going to be a different story.

Basically, I'm getting less than $1.20 CPM with two ad blocks per page when I should be getting at least $4/1000 per block.

It may finally be time to kick out all the advertisers I know are benefitting from super cheap advertising on my site and sell the space to them myself. Google simply undervalues my space.

I'll give it another three-four days and if it doesn't improve, changes will be made. Tired of working for peanuts.

[fearlessrick]

Just figured it out. I've been really busy and haven't had time to "monitor" what Google's been up to, but they've begun filling the big rectangles with 2 ads instead of 4. Kiling me. And themselves too in the process.

From another thread:
This drivel from Google is pure BS:

Showing fewer ads works to your advantage,
allowing the better-performing ads to draw more user attention and click-throughs.

I've been wondering why my eCPM was so low recently. All the ads that are big rectangle are showing only two ads. They are in prime locations. Google is hurting me and themselves with yet another brain-dead move.

[jonathanleger]

Kiling me. And themselves too in the process.

Back to the "you're down, I'm up" stuff--the two ads in my large rectangles has raised my eCPM by 70%.

[europeforvisitors]

I haven't noticed any ill effects from 1- and 2-ad leaderboards.

[jetteroheller]

My eCPM the first four days of this year is about half

Why do You think, I just started the thread about section targeting?

Never change a winning team, but when eCPM goes down by 30%, there has to be a new solution.

[ann]

I guess they are too busy with their new toy, their TV show called current TV and it is all about goofy searchs, at least what I watched of it tonight was. (on Direct TV)

Maybe can't spare the man power to help us kiddies.

[alika]

My eCPM increased by more than 200% beginning Dec 27. And no, I am not in a seasonal sector where demand year-end surges. So I suppose I am benefitting from all you folks whose CPM are tanking :o)