Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Therefore, I have been very interested in the idea of limiting who can see your ads.
I know for my site, I am the #1 visitor, since I'm always tweaking my code and making sure it displays right across different browsers. When I view a page, I'm being shown an ad, even though there isn't even a possibility that the ad can make me money, since I am prohibited form clicking on it. Therefore, each time I view a page, I am diluting my EPM. The more I view my site, the more diluted my EPM becomes.
What I have done
I have been using PHP to block my IP address. Now, instead of being shown an AdSense Ad, visits from my IP address will be shown my Alternate Ad.
This stops me from diluting my EPM, and neutralizes the chance of accidentally clicking on my own.
I have expanded upon this by using PHP to block all ads from the computers in my house, and from my University, where I periodically check my earnings from different open lab computers. I have been paranoid lately, fearing that some other student from my University might genuinely click an ad on my site, making Google think it was me trying to fraud the system. By blocking all these IP address, and showing them my Alternate, I can rest more easy.
The next level
I'm interested in taking this approach to the next level. I want look into seeing where my earnings are coming from. Are they coming from people's first page view? Or from their third or fourth page view, for example.
I'm wondering if, let's say the majority ad clicks comes from their first page view, if blocking ads for people who are on their third+ page view might prove beneficial.
Would anybody have any ideas how I can tell when people are click on my ads?
Has anybody tried similar experiments and has some results they would like to share? Or some caveats they would like to point out?
Thank you for any feedback.
I don't know if it's of much value to block ad displays based on what results page the user clicked from. Even if you can capture this information reliably, you don't have any control over it. The means of page/result specification might change.
I realize that by blocking ads to people from my University my earnings will probably be lowered. I view this as a small sacrifice to give, in order to not have the sword of click fraud hanging over my head.
As for blocking ads based on pages viewed, I see it this way. Assuming two standard deviations of my site visitors click on ads in the first three page views. (Something learned only from the type of data I'm trying to collect). And that smart pricing is effected by EPM and CTRs. Why not stop showing ads after views after their third visit (at least the third visit for the day).
Only testing will see if this is beneficial or not. If its not beneficial, then ones best interest would be to stop the block. If it is, then ones best interest would be to continue the block. One would only know if they did some testing.
I changed one of my sites a few months ago using the same scenario.
1) I blocked the ad's for myself
2) I blocked the ad's for my moderators
3) I switch Adsense off after 5th page view on the site for normal visitors
And yes, things improved. I would highly reccomend it. But you will have to trial what is the best number of pages to cut, your site visitors maybe different.
Don't forget, you will be cutting revenue from any CPM adverts that run on your site.
Mind if I ask how you are doing this? I would love to be able to do the same, but don't know how.
Thanks!
Why not stop showing ads after views after their third visit (at least the third visit for the day).
What type of tracking are you using? How are you counting visits?
What type of tracking are you using? How are you counting visits?
Simply use a cookie with php. Make the cookie expire after let's say one hour. For each page that you show, increase the value of the cookie by 1. If the cookie is higher than e.g. 5, don't show ads anymore to this visitor.
Mind if I ask how you are doing this? I would love to be able to do the same, but don't know how.
I'm using PHP. Basically I created one text file that I have all the other pages include when I want an add. This allows me one central access point for changes. I then use if/else statements to determine if the add should show or not show.
What type of tracking are you using? How are you counting visits?
Simply use a cookie with php. Make the cookie expire after let's say one hour. For each page that you show, increase the value of the cookie by 1. If the cookie is higher than e.g. 5, don't show ads anymore to this visitor.
That's exactly what I was thinking--with cookies. Its not perfect, but it would allow a good level of control.
On one site, I don't show AdSense to persons under age 18. In fact if I'm able to get any kind of demographic information on my visitors, I try to use that to target the most effective ads.
I'm interested in why you chose 18.
I really like the idea of collected demographic information, and using that information to control the ads. I would assume this would change some of the content on the page, to allow the ads to change, but then the AdBot wouldn't see the customized data though.
As I programme in ASP I just just a mixture of Session ID's & Cookies.
I'm interested in why you chose 18.
Trying to avoid smart pricing. I'm not sure teenagers convert for the advertisers on this site. I could be wrong.
I really like the idea of collected demographic information, and using that information to control the ads.
The more you can get, the better. For instance if you know someone is a 20something male, you might want to show a dating affiliate ad. Even better if you know their marital status though. If you have any forms where users submit info, you could ask a few demographic questions, leave them optional if you like, then set a cookie. Be sure to disclose that in the privacy policy, of course.
I would assume this would change some of the content on the page, to allow the ads to change, but then the AdBot wouldn't see the customized data though.
Yes, I wish there was a way to clue AdSense in to demographic info you may have. The AdSense bot is going to see only the default version of your page. I've considered the idea of redirecting users to different demographic-targetted pages but haven't tried it yet.
