I actually listened to an Adsense suggestion from Google and it worked

maxed out on ad units so I added a link unit

[Rodney]

So you know those messages from Google in the Adsense dashboard that we all ignore? ;)

I saw one that mentioned one of my websites specifically in the subject, so I clicked on it.

It basically said, since you're maxed out on the number of ad units you have per page, why not try adding a link unit.

My first reaction was "because link units kinda suck". But after I stopped talking to the screen, I figured, what the heck, I'll give it a quick trial for a few days.

On my site I don't show ads to logged in members, I only show AdSense to "guests" who aren't logged in.

I added a 200x90 link unit with 4 links per unit in the morning and checked back the next day. The ad unit channel earned a few dollars. I didn't think too much of it because I thought "it's only a few bucks". Then I started using my 3rd grade math skills and multiplied that by 30 and realized that I just added a couple hundred dollars per month to my check.

Since it was a new link unit, I tried a couple different color combination over the next couple of days, but the first colorway ended up performing the best so I went back to what I originally tried.

I had tried link units in the past, but never stuck with them because they seemed like an unnatural think for a web surfer to do (coupled with the fact that they didn't seem to perform very well).

So the moral of the story is, if you have a high traffic site and you're only using ad units, it may be worth testing out a link unit to see if it gives you a little boost in your monthly PIP :)

[HuskyPup]

Yep, ever since the AdLink was announced I introduced it and it has consistently yielded around 50% of my earnings.

[Rodney]

@HuskyPup I get it, so it was just me that was in the dark then :)

It hasn't reached 50% for me, but it does make me want to test out link units a bit more.

[HuskyPup]

I use the traditional inverted "L" navigation with home, contact etc across the top and all the product links down the lefthandside with the AdLink blended in at the top of the lhs navigation.

[netmeg]

I can't seem to get any play with the vertical link units, but the horizontal ones are killer for me. I have some sites where I have nothing else, and they rake in the dough.

[bwnbwn]

netmeg intresting comment on the verticals as I can't get them to work at all either and was just looking at a site I am going to get rid of the verticals and start inserting the units in the text.

[farmboy]

Yep, ever since the AdLink was announced I introduced it and it has consistently yielded around 50% of my earnings.

My experience has been that a large portion of that 50% was cannibalization of ad uits.


FarmBoy

[HuskyPup]

My experience has been that a large portion of that 50% was cannibalization of ad uits.

On my sites there is no doubt about it, remove the AdLinks and earnings drop proportionately.

I have no idea why they work so well on my sites other than the possibility of plenty of inventory but they are very consistent earners although not as good an EPC as the AdUnits.

Anyone who has never tried them should do since there is nothing to lose by experimenting however I do feel that it is critcal how and where it is implemented.

I see far too many sites with an AdLink "just chucked" anywhere!

[IanCP]

In another thread there was comment about the latest round of AdSense "Optimising Tips".

My first one received in years.

However, Mr, AdSnse's advice for this particular site, which essentially was "you only show one ad when you can have three" was initially pointless to me.

UNTIL

A friend on a different forum drew my attention to the fact that the "pennies" I earned on my main site for ad links, when transferred to an "old site" would translate annually into so many wines and cigarettes.

I listened. Happily, this can be instituted with a few lines amendment to a .txt SSI file.

Your situation might be vastly different.

[Lapizuli]

A resounding "me, too," here! Mostly I'm not in control of where my ads are because most of my content is posted on sites not my own. But I got an email from AdSense that my blogspot blog could be optimized better. I implemented the changes and also changed the color scheme. I also switched from using Blogger's automated ad insertion to using my own channels (makes for better formatting, too).

Today I've gotten more clicks in one day than I usually get in a week. Not that it's statistically significant, since I only get a handful of clicks on this blog. But my superstitious senses tell me it is because of the changes, and I always listen to those.

[wyweb]

...but the horizontal ones are killer for me.

Oh, no doubt. I have several sites where that's the only adsense presence period. I'm leaving some money on the table but extensive testing has shown me it's not much and I soooo much prefer the cleaner look of the pages.

[dataguy]

I've tested link units for years and was convinced there was no possible way for me to make any money with them until my ad rep told where to place an ad unit. Bottom line is that this one ad unit is adding $2.00+ to my overall page CPM, which translates into thousands of dollars per month.

I'm sure glad I listened to her.

[gouri]

Can you mention where you placed the unit?

[BillyS]

In my experience, when a rep from Google makes a design suggestion or you get an email suggesting you make a change, follow it.

[batteryexpress]

google ad is taking our money, the only way to stop it is seo, my websites are running well, and when i am doing seo, it does save a lots of money to place a google ad

[edited by: martinibuster at 4:16 am (utc) on Aug 25, 2010]
[edit reason] Removed URL. See TOS. [/edit]