Understanding Channels

[stevelibby]

I am having a little trouble setting up the right channels for my site.
I have setup 2 ads that are 300x250 and 160x600. These ads are on all pages on the site. Lets There are 25 categories and i want to set these up for placement. The way i am reading and watching it on various adsense help pages is that i have to create (25) 300x250 and (25) 160x600 ad units and add a channel to each.
Have i got this right? Is there not an easier way?

[icedowl]

You would have to create 25 of each ad unit.

I have mine set up so that each ad size that I use has a channel and each of my site categories has a channel. When I get a new ad unit I assign two channels to the unit, one for its size and one for the category where it will be displayed.

Just be sure to give your channels enough of a description so that you know what you're looking at in the results.

[stevelibby]

Thank you for that, i have created an ad and then added the name channel,size,above the fold,below the fold,left and right.
How many ads and channels can i create? I have a few sites. I fear i may not have enough! can i place one ad unit of 2 different sites?

[icedowl]

There are currently 200 channels available for Adsense and 200 channels for Search for Adsense according to:
[google.com...]

Plenty to get started.

For different sites, I might add 2 or 3 letters to the category channel name. Examples: ABCbluewidget, ABCredwidget, ABCgreenwidget, LMredgadget, LMpinkgadget, XYZredwidget, XYZorangewidget, etc.

You might do the same for the ad size channel if it helps.

When I get a new ad unit, down at the bottom of the page just before you go to get the code, I usually edit the name to give the unit a good description of site, category and size. It helps to locate a unit if you need to make a change in the 'manage ads' page.

[stevelibby]

thank you, just a quick question, what browser setting is it if you are told an ad is above the fold?

[icedowl]

Above the fold? My best guess is top of the page. You never know how your visitor has their browser set to open. It could be full screen, or just a little square down in a corner. I know at least one person who only opens their browser so that it takes about 1/4th of a 17" screen. Silly, but that's how some folks do it. Makes it real hard to determine exactly where that fold is going to land.

[stevelibby]

yeah i know quite often i see and hear 'ads must appear above the fold' which is fine but what setting is it. Do you find that what you have done with your channels it has been worth it and profitable?

[netmeg]

I use channels heavy duty for testing. Every ad on every site has a channel for color, size, page and placement.

[ken_b]

Channels are a great tool. But that's what they are, a tool, not a magic bullet. I use them extensively to track and test ad formats and placements.

Above the Fold is pretty hard to nail down. With so many visitor controlled options, it's a real guessing game for the webmaster.

Use your stats program(s) to get an idea of what it means for most visitors to your site.

[super70s]

I'd be curious to know the experience of others with 468x15 "keyword" ads. I'm currently running them at the bottom of most of my pages but I'm not using channels and I have no idea if they're worth it. Would it possibly help my CPM if I removed them and just ran the 728x90 leaderboards at the top of the page? I know that sometimes "less is more" when it comes to Adsense.