Ouch! eCPM is half the usual amount since maintainance

August 2008

[realmaverick]

I woke up to a shock this morning to see my adsense eCPM only half it's usual amount.

I hope it's just a coincidence and everything returns to normal.

Yesterday was also a lot lower than usual.

You'd think eventually some of these changes would be in the publishers favor.

[robzilla]

What changes? :-P If you're seeing any shifts in revenue, I doubt the recent maintenance has anything to do with that. Yesterday was better than average for me.

You're saying "yesterday was also a lot lower," does that mean that your "shock" was caused by today's stats, i.e. stats of a day that has not past fully yet? Only stats of completed days are representative, so there's no need to panic when at 2 in the afternoon your stats aren't what you think they should be.

[signor_john]

Maybe some stats got delayed?

I didn't check my eCPM yesterday, but today it (yesterday's eCPM) looks normal. Today's is looking a little better than usual, but that's meaningless at 7:15 a.m. Google time.

[robzilla]

Also, check your log files for unusual activity. This morning, for example, I noticed a big surge of direct, seemingly automated traffic, apparently with javascript enabled, so Google Analytics stats are way off and Adsense might be too.

[realmaverick]

According to analytics traffic is normal. eCPM is still way down.

Yesterday was a very very bad Saturday. Seems a bit coincidental but we'll see over the next week or two.

[incrediBILL]

Don't forget that many people worldwide are watching the Olympics instead of the internet.

I think we're in for a couple of bad weeks.

[andrewshim]

Don't forget that many people worldwide are watching the Olympics instead of the internet.
I think we're in for a couple of bad weeks.

think so too. sigh.

[frakilk]

Oh dear this isn't pleasant at all. I think it's best not to log into my account for a few days.

If someone had told me I would be making less than a year ago with almost double traffic I would scarcely have believed them. But alas it's true. Depressing.

[incrediBILL]

If someone had told me I would be making less than a year ago with almost double traffic I would scarcely have believed them. But alas it's true. Depressing.

Is this double the traffic according to AdSense or your server logs?

The decline can be from a variety of different reasons ranging anywhere from changes in supply and demand in the advertising channel, seasonal or economic downturns, to something as simple as the quality of the traffic you're bringing in causing smart pricing to kick in.

I think I'd do some research because some of those issues can be corrected.

[frakilk]

Judging by server logs the site has almost double traffic but yes to be honest judging by AdSense impressions it's a third more than last year. Which means that eCPM took a beating in the space of a year. I put it down to increased competition within my niche and perhaps some refinements to the AdSense algos. I'm not going to worry about it too much however and keep on improving the site. Thanks.

[stormshield]

It's been the first time in 2 years that I have so many bad days in a row... by "bad" I mean below 40% average. You say it's the olimpics? I hope so! But how would explain smaller eCPM? I understand CTR being off (mine -0.30% only) - because people are less "click-happy", but why eCMP?

[realmaverick]

If CTR is down, usually eCPM will be down too. Lower levels of traffic wouldn't usually effect either figure. You'll just have less impressions and less overall revenue.

[stormshield]

@realmaverick

Yes, you're right but 0.30% makes up for about 10% of my current CTR. So it should reduce my earnings (and eCMP) by 10%, while it's 40%. I do hope it's just a coincidence and everything will be fine soon. I wish the same to you and to others.

[mainspot]

Yeah... Me outch too.
Traffic down around 15-20%, and revenue also down with bigger percentage.

Luckily, I have a new site with this Beijing Olympic topic. Well... At least I maintain the overal traffic rate.

[martinibuster]

>>>At least I maintain the overal traffic rate.

Right, agreed. I can't imagine there's too many clicks in that.

[realmaverick]

I have noticed my CTR for my search go from 4-5% to 1.5% since maintenance. Massive drop. I'm just losing hope.

[honestman]

The Olympics.

That and seasonal issues - the "dog days of August" are vacations for Europeans and a time when many others Americans are away as well.

Thank God people get away from their computers!

[HowYesNo]

well i'm already at bottom (of bottom lol) so i can't get lower ecpm than now

august is awesome month for earnings ... NOT