Competitive Filters

How can I add bad URL's if I cant even see them in my Link Units?

[Hubie]

I'm running a link unit that displays 5 ads...I am getting so sick of some of them. But how am I supposed to add them to my 'competitive filter' if I cant see their URLs? Obviously clicking on these ads is out of the question. How do you guys do it?

Hubes

[fredw]

I'm pretty sure about this answer but someone could correct me if I'm insane...

The links you see in adlink units are NOT ads. They are links to google pages which contain ads that pertain to the title of the link.

So, the links in the adlink units are not ads, therefore, you cannot filter them.

[jumps up on soapbox]
This is, by the way, I cannot use adlinks on my sites. I find they usually link to stupid things, like (my niche celebrity) bowties, when bowties have nothing to do with my niche celebrity, and neither do the ads the link points to.
[steps down off soapbox]

By the way, you CAN click on a link in an adlink unit, to view the resultant page of ads. You CANNOT click on any of the ads in the resultant page.

[ann]

I try to manage it by adding any url I am blocking to the search block list as well. Since adlinks is as much a search box as the search box just prettier :)

Ann

[Hubie]

So ya'll are saying if someone clicks a link unit I dont get paid? ... they need to click an ad on THAT page for me to get paid?

I know I'm a newbie, but this doesnt make sense. Goodbye link unit

[Khensu]

Yep, it is a double move.

I ditched them 6 months ago, they really boost your page impressions and if they don't click that really drops your CTR.

You have to have the right audience for them and use them well.

[edited by: Khensu at 11:49 pm (utc) on Aug. 24, 2006]

[hunderdown]

Hubie, the ONE adlink unit I use is on my home page, and the CTR for it is generally above my site average. Take a look if you want--it's in my profile.

If you don't like the keywords it is showing, try using section targeting (search AdSense Help for info on that).

[UserFriendly]

Yeah, I agree that link units can actually be quite good earners on high-traffic pages. I guess it's because they offer a choice of topic to the visitor, rather than just a few high-paying ads.

One section of my site sees link units earn with an ECPM four times higher than the leaderboard ad units. Of course, it depends on the quality of the ads that show in the ad units of your pages. But it's worth doing some A/B testing.