Link Unit Performance Getting Worse

Link units used to do great, but recently see decline in CTR and CPM

[Erku]

Hello everyone.

My link units used to perform wonderfully until about 5-6 months ago I noticed gradual decline in CTR and in CPM.

Don't know if it's the MFAs or just good advertisers opt out of link units?

Any comments I can improve the performance?

What has been your experience?

[netmeg]

I have a new network of sites I put up for Halloween, and the only AdSense I have on them (besides search) is a single link unit. Those are doing amazing well, I never would have guessed it, specially since it essentially takes two clicks for it to register. But (apart from two low days this month) I've had double digit CTR and double or sometimes triple digit CPM.

I have some link units on my other sites, and they perform middling well to not very.

Color seems to matter when it comes to link units - or at least, blending. I've found that if I blend them in *too* well, people don't click on them (probably don't notice them). They require a good matching, but contrasting color.

[martinibuster]

Have you checked for a change in the keywords used to access your site? How about referrers, any changes there?

Have you tried implementing AdSense for search? If your site visitors aren't finding what they want on a quick scan of your site and are backing out, a search box will help to monetize those who would otherwise bounce out. Remember, if a surfer is searching ineffectively ("local widgets" instead of "Springfield Widgets") and landing on your site, the chances of them clicking on an ad for Springfield Widgets will go down.

Correlating your AdSense performance with your log files can reveal important data that can help you better increase your earnings. Check your referrer stats, keyword stats, discover which pages are the top entry pages, review which are your top fifty pages, and take a look at your site's bounce rate. Before you assign blame, do some research to discover the real reasons your site is not performing as well as you'd like.

[edited by: martinibuster at 2:59 am (utc) on Oct. 22, 2007]

[Erku]

thank you guys very good points. will look into them.
best wishes