468x60 text ad

[surfer67]

I'm running the 468x60 ad code and I noticed that sometimes the text ad is left justified while other times it's centered. The ctr on my site is double when the ad is left justified compared to being centered. This probably has to do with the fact the being left justified makes the ad better integrated with the content on the page.

Any idea why it interchanges between left justified and centered, and is there a way to keep it left justified?

Thanks

[netmeg]

How can you tell the CTR is better one way or the other?

[farmboy]

I'm running the 468x60 ad code and I noticed that sometimes the text ad is left justified while other times it's centered. The ctr on my site is double when the ad is left justified compared to being centered. This probably has to do with the fact the being left justified makes the ad better integrated with the content on the page.

I see the same thing sometimes. Instead of showing 2 ads in that space, one ad appears and is left justified.

But I agree with netmeg. How do you know whether your visitor has seen two ads, one ad left justified or one ad centered?


FarmBoy

[surfer67]

How do you know whether your visitor has seen two ads, one ad left justified or one ad centered?

I can only report what I'm seeing and I'm seeing one ad. Perhaps Google has optimized the ad code for just one ad because it performs best this way. On days when it's left justified my ctr is high. On days when it's centered the ctr for the ad is cut in half. It make sense that the ctr is higher when left justified because it lines up perfectly with my content. Unfortunately, there is no way to force it to remain left justified.

Not sure why they would switch back and forth from left justified to centered. Perhaps they periodically test it for performance.

[Leosghost]

Perhaps there is not enough inventory for your, IP, locality, region "whatever" at the time you see this ..on that subject ..other visitors in other areas etc may well be seeing two ads..hence you can't be sure that what you see is what they see..and thus that single ads in that space perform better..it may be the case ..or not :)

Then again, as you say, they may be experimenting..with adsense it is always a partial mystery.

[farmboy]

On days when it's left justified my ctr is high.

That's not reliable, you may be seeing left justified but some number of your visitors are seeing centered and you don't know how many, where, what topic, etc.

It's almost the same as saying that your CTR is better on days you eat hamburger so you plan to eat hamburger every day.


FarmBoy

[ken_b]

Perhaps there is not enough inventory ...

That might very well be the case.

Here is another possibilty, I often see only 1 or 2 text ads in a 300x250 box. Yet if I clicke the little (more ads) arrow there are always plenty of ads to fill the box.

I'm guessing the single ad thing might be G making a guess that that ad is the "most likely to earn the most if clicked and also the most likely ad to get a clicke of those available.

I haven't seen the centered ads anywhere yet, on my site or other sites.

.

[Ammalgam]

Based on Google's own responses at an Adsense event, if you only see one ad in a 300x250 box, the price of that click would be as much or more than 3 vendors in the same space.

That was one of the questions that I asked at the event in LA.

[Leosghost]

Did they say what is going on ( cost / price wise ), when you see one ad and I see three, on the same site at the same time, in the same "box" but we have different IPs ?

Because that happens ..

[CMidd]

Google is Split testing, and using your traffic/money as the guinea pig.

After a change in the nature of some of my ad units, i had to switch them around to reset my CTR " 728X90 going from 3 columns to single row".

Sometime Google determines that the original placement was the best "Centering 300X2500 instead of left alight, then they changing it back to Left aligned".

Sometimes it's permanent "720X90 permanently left aligned"

Google does these test to basically try something new, and see how it will affect CTR "without letting you know, or taking into consideration various publishers' layouts".


When the 300X250 were being tested "Left to Centered" my CTR Dropped Big time and I lost a lot of money. I temporarily replaced them with a 200X200 "benefits of have an AdServer", and my CTR increased.

And when the 728X90 changed "3 column to 1" my CTR almost went to Zero, because my content was literally blended into the look and feel of the 3 column unit. I had to switch my content around to match the new look.

But during that testing phase your CTR will be affected, and if your content is blend with the ads it will probably be an negative affect, and make your site look Ugly and unorganized.

I personally didn't want Google Split Testing using my traffic, so i switch to other ad units.


Oh yeah, the Purpose of Split Testing is to determine the best performing layout with regards to CTR. If the Gamble works Google identifies an higher earning Ad Layout, if it doesn't YOU loss possible ad clicks from the impression using the layout change. Google on the Other had serves the inventory onto other sites, not being Split Tested.

Basically Google is taking a Gamble with your traffic by split testing Ad Layouts with your visitors, and causing you to loss clicks.

Tips: Switch to another Unit that fits the same look and feel while that unit is being split tested. I also noticed Google only seem to test one unit at a Time, so switch the 468X90 with a 234X60 and see how that works.

Note: Your site layout does have something to do with your CTR . If your content is optimized to blend with the layout of AdSense ads and there is a change in AdSence ad layout it will negatively affect your CTR, and yes you can tell, just look at the before Change CTR vs During Testing CTR "All Things else being equal", or Just Open your eye look at the page and see Ugly out of order Ads LMAO! Inventory is not the issue here.

[Leosghost]

Inventory may be..sometimes..none of us can know...for sure ...unless you are LYAO in the plex ?..say Hi! to Larry for me if that is the case :)

[CMidd]

Leosghost: Ad Blending doesn't Affect CTR LMAO.

Guess I can just put any ad up, any where, in any layout and
..............................................."Should perform the same" << Testing

inventory is not the issue. when the 300X250, and 728X90 where being test tons of webmaster were complaining about CTR and the ad not blending with there content/layout.


Also: This Split test is not network wide, it's only done to a certain percentage of traffic/sites. If it is successful and increases CTR it will be rolled out to the entire network. If it doesn't increase CTR or hurts it the testing stops.

It's the unlucky sites/pages that get hurt by these test, but some actually see an increase in CTR "Like myself".
My 468X60 that are centered below my content with centering of the ad layout looks better and is increasing my CTR. the one left adjusted units have dropped.

[CMidd]

i perform slpit testing on my site all the time for adsense and affiliate offers, but i never use my proven high earning pages that i depend on.

I know that the test could negativly effect my earnings, so I use low earning pages to test colors, placement, new ad units etc.

If it works i change all my unit, if not i set them back.

But Google is testing on some webmaster's high earning pages, and if it doesn't work, they are losing ad clicks and money from those test.

I'm not against testing for better performance.

But, I personally think those type of test should be opt-in, or at least warn webmasters ahead of time "like they did with the change to Link Units".

[netmeg]

Comes with the territory. AdSense is what it is.

[Leosghost]

Leosghost: Ad Blending doesn't Affect CTR LMAO.

Are you telling me ?

I'm curious as to why you mention it..( and why you mention so much that you laugh...it makes you harder to hear.. and makes one disinclined to read ..which is a shame because you do have some interesting insights and info ).

Because I didn't mention blending and CTR..

To paraphrase netmeg ..they are never going to let us "drive the bus" :)..opt out /opt in to the important stuff they want to try, will never be an option..

[surfer67]

The best thing would be to give control to the publisher. Allow the publisher to test between one or two ads per ad size, left or right justified. The individual publisher knows what works best for their site.

[netmeg]

That will never happen.