Advice about AdSense optimization

[Irongeek]

Hi all,
I would like some advice on optimization of my AdSense blocks. It's an information security site, so it's viewers are pretty tech savvy. Do you think tech savvy folks are more likely to ignore/block ads than non-tech savvy folks?

Currently I'm using mostly banners and skyscrapers. I hear that large rectangles perform better, but that would be harder to fit in with my pen-testing videos. Are the large rectangle formats that much better? Any other tips?

Thanks for any specific tips you can give.

[edited by: jatar_k at 3:54 pm (utc) on Aug. 8, 2007]
[edit reason] no urls thanks [/edit]

[Marcia]

Individual member site reviews are now available for WebmasterWorld Supporters in a special dedicated forum; but outside of that, personal site reviews aren't done.

[jatar_k]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld Irongeek,

maybe try some the threads from our library [webmasterworld.com] as a good starting point

maybe these
AdSense Herbal Remedies [webmasterworld.com]
Your Best AdSense Site Tips Changes [webmasterworld.com]

[Irongeek]

Ok, I understand. Still, I'd like to hear folks opinions on these two questions:

Do you think tech savvy folks are more likely to ignore/block ads than non-tech savvy folks?

Are the large rectangle formats that much better?

[greatstart]

Do you think tech savvy folks are more likely to ignore/block ads than non-tech savvy folks?

Not if they are targeted properly. I'm a tech savvy webmaster, and my visitors click the ads.

Are the large rectangle formats that much better?

That is what I'm using. The 336x280 large rectangle ads work the best for me. Just try one of them out per page without any other ad blocks. This will give you a good idea if you can achieve a decent CTR and eCPM.

BTW - Great articles on your site, Irongeek!

[celgins]

Do you think tech savvy folks are more likely to ignore/block ads than non-tech savvy folks?

In my opinion - yes. Many tech savvy folks visit informational or technical websites for specific reasons and know exactly what they're looking for. I think they are less likely to be influenced by catchy ad-copy.

Are the large rectangle formats that much better?

The answer is relative to each website. Some webmasters will tell you that the large ad space is more noticeable and performs better, but I have no such luck on my site (which is an online magazine).

[WeaselyOne]

How well rectangle ads do will depend upon the design/layout of your site, if there is good targeted ads for your page, etc...

Place the ad layout you think fits your site design best and test individual pages with different ad types to be certain you are correct.

[Atomic]

Are the large rectangle formats that much better?

It depends. What do you mean by better? Is more clicks better? What if those clicks drive earnings down? I used to have large rectangles blended into my content and got lots of .03 clicks. Now I go with skyscrapers on the side, clearly identified as ads, and make a LOT more than .03 a click. Not nearly as many clicks, however, earnings are about 5x what they were.

[greatstart]

Now I go with skyscrapers on the side, clearly identified as ads

A couple of questions for you Atomic:

1) Which side works best for you - left or right?
2) Which width works best for you - 120px or 160px?

[Atomic]

I decided on the right side because it's opposite the navigation. It also has a border that matches my site's primary color. I've used mainly 160x600 with a 720x90 on the bottom using the same style. None of them have any other links near them. Not as many clicks, true, but many are over $1 each. Since doing this my traffic has increased significantly. I credit this new layout for some of it. I wanted people to trust my site more. It's imperative that they do because of the subject matter. For me, unblending has paid off.

[wyweb]

I'm not atomic but I can give you my observations with several years of testing behind them... for whatever that's worth.

Right or left? Left. No question here. Left and high on the page.

120 or 160? 120. I've tried both with no noticable difference in either CTR or bottom line. The 160 width only mimics the 120, with a few extra pixels thrown in for adding a few extra words. It's still a 600px tall ad. In the beginning I thought 160 wide would be better. It's still an ad though. From what I've seen 160 wide usually has the same exact ads as 120 wide. Give that they're both basically the same ad content, I've opted for the lesser of two, um... ads...

[wyweb]

For me, unblending has paid off.

Roger that. Man, that was a hard thing to do though. CTR plummeted but after several weeks of this everything else came up. Make sure your visitors know that what they're clicking on is an ad. It works. Or at least it has for me.

I learned that one the hard way...

[greatstart]

Thanks, Atomic and wyweb! I will give both of your skyscraper layouts a test. I'm getting way too many .03 clicks, and would like to see better paying clicks.