Backwards L

[vabtz]

I posted about this earlier asking for opinions. I have since tried it and it doubled my click throughs.

-------

I have articles that have a large square adsense block in the top left side of the article.

I wrapped the adsense block in 3 divs. The right and bottom of the div blocks all have 2 pixel borders, with alternating colors ( I use red, white, and blue ).

On the left border of the whole article I have a a similia red, white, and blue border.

My idea was to catch the users eye with the left article border and lead it into the adsense region when they scan. The readers eye is then "trapped" in the red white and blue border basket around the adsense.

Here is a representation of this layout:
- the "c" are the adsense block:
- "blah blah" is content
- HEADER is the sitewide navigation header

HEADER HEADER HEADER
HEADER HEADER HEADER
¦blah blah blah blah bl
¦blah blah blah blah bl
¦ccccccc¦blah blah blah
¦ccccccc¦blah blah blah
¦ccccccc¦blah blah blah
¦--------blah blah blah
¦blah blah blah blah bl
¦blah blah blahblah bla
¦blah blah blah blah bl
¦blah blah blahblah bla
¦

[RonS]

Doubling of CTR is nice!

2 questions:

1) What did your layout look like before?

2) What did a doubling of your CTR do for revenue/ eCPM?

Thanks!

[vabtz]

- My layout before was a same as above except with no borders. I use colors that blend with the background and the rest of my content.

- My epc dipped slightly but was more than made up for by the volume.

Please note:
- I only have one site with decent traffic ( 1500 uniques daily )
- My smaller sites had similiar changes but the CTR on them is to wild to really determine anything definitive.
- My test was done over the last 5 days in an AB format.

I can't discuss the actual CTR's but the change in CTR was 200% on the highest day to 150% on the lowest day, when compared to my average CTR.

I would be interested to hear what results others have with this since my tests are limited.

[Rodney]

can you post an example of your html div structure/css formatting?

[vabtz]

Sure thing, I'll just post the stuff for the backwards L part. The line along the left edge of the article is set up using the same techniques you should be able to figure it out from this. ( also I am testing with out the left line right now )

---

<!-- This is for positioning --> 
<div style='float: left; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; display: none;' id='article_block' > 
<!-- These are for the L shaped strip --> 
<div style='margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 2px solid red; border-left: none; border-top: none;' > 
<div style='margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 2px solid white; border-left: none; border-top: none;' > 
<div style='margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 2px solid blue; border-left: none; border-top: none;' > 
ADSENSE CODE GOES HERE 
</div> 
</div> 
</div> 
</div>