Adsense: how many ad units per page work for you?

[Zivush]

I am an Adsense publisher since 2009.
As all publishers around the globe, I have listen and read many Adsense optimization tips (I understand that G Adsense hopes to help us maximize revenues as it maximize there's as well).
So we've tried, tested and monitored the results of these recommendations. And guess what? I am still not sure that the results translated in an increase in revenue.
It is fluctuating and confusing.
Must ad that a serious factor to take in consideration is the user experience, which include - time on site, BR and page/visit.

So far -
TYPES:
Types that I have tested so far are: large and medium rectangles, wide skyscraper and big leaderboard.
Link units and search form are site specifics - depends on layout and design.

Best performers:
Publishers always check ad revenues to learn now much each of Adsense Ad Units is earning. Generally, the first Ad Unit, above the fold, often gets the highest pay, while the second is much lower and the third is much much lower.

HOW MANY ALLOWED:
It is allowed to have 3 AdSense Units Per Page.
In certain cases, you may get an approval to put even 4 as long as single one is above the fold and the page is long enough.

Amount of ads:
This is the actual question here.
It varies. I have never came to a conclusion about the amount of ads to put per page.

Any inputs are welcome.

[Lame_Wolf]

In certain cases, you may get an approval to put even 4 as long as single one is above the fold and the page is long enough.

Please provide the source.

[Swanny007]

You need to be a premium publisher to run more than 3 ads, I see sites like that every day. Usually the ads look a little different than regular ad spots too. Sometimes slightly different sizes...

[Zivush]

Please provide the source

I get an approval at the annual Adsense conference in my country and i am not a premium publisher yet.
My site's average pages contain more than 1000 words.

[netmeg]

I put the optimal number of ads on each page, and then remove one, so it's not over the top.

That generally tends to work out to one, possibly two ad units and one link unit.

On a few very long pages, I have three ad units.

[Lame_Wolf]

My site's average pages contain more than 1000 words.

I've just checked one of mine and it has 4,015 words, yet only one advert. I've no idea why they would grant you extra adsense when it's just a 1000 words.

[JCKline]

I use two ads tops. Some pages just one, and I never use link units. They have never performed well for me. Three ads looks spammy to me.

[netmeg]

If you can get ahold of a real live rep, either in person or by email, you'd be surprised what you can get. I have been granted special dispensations for certain things over the years. (I keep all the emails though, just in case)

[Lame_Wolf]

If you can get ahold of a real live rep, either in person or by email, you'd be surprised what you can get.

No doubt you can, but it seems excessive to have more than 3 per page.

I went to the daily mail site and took an article at random. Not including the 100's of words down the side of the page, not including the menu or comments, and even ignored the boxes in the article that had extra info... 997 words... one adsense block.

[netmeg]

They may have better/other options to them. I dunno. I've rarely even run 3 myself, but I wouldn't be surprised if G made an exception if they thought it was to their advantage.

[Lame_Wolf]

I never use three per page, and would certainly not have more, even if Google offered it to me. 1000 words per page is nothing, so I am surprised they offered this.

[Lame_Wolf]

So far over 700 words are on this page as content. And as threads go, this isn't a large one. 1000 words take up less space than you think, which is why I am questioning this allowance of having more adverts.

[ken_b]

It depends on the page.

Some pages work best with one adblock, some pages work nicely with 3 adblocks and a link unit or two.

Then ther is the search box.....

oh my where does it end....

the angst of it all!

:)

[Lame_Wolf]

It depends on the page.

Some pages work best with one adblock, some pages work nicely with 3 adblocks and a link unit or two.

Then ther is the search box.....

oh my where does it end....

the angst of it all!

I know, but the OP says he's been given permission to add a 4th advert.

[ken_b]

I know, but the OP says he's been given permission to add a 4th advert.

I was responding to the question in the thread title:

Adsense: how many ad units per page work for you?

.

[netmeg]

Unless you can collar a live rep, LW, you'll probably never know.

[Sally Stitts]

Only one small ad, top center, on every page that gives good results.
I remove ALL ads from pages that do not perform well (low CTR, low EPC). Especially, if they are have high-volume impressions. My theory is that Google's formula for paying you involves going for the gold, and tossing all the puppy kibble. They really seem to like that.

After 8 years, February was my best month ever.
March was better than that.
April was better than that.

Today is my best day ever, having hit a large, all-time record number, with 6 hours to go. My top page is going crazy, for some reason I have yet to figure out.

I still believe that less is more. It sure seems to be working out that way for me.

Add more ads, and shoot myself in the foot? Ha-ha-ha. NO.
.

[Lame_Wolf]

I was responding to the question in the thread title:

You could have made it a little clearer when replying. ;)

Unless you can collar a live rep, LW, you'll probably never know.

True, but it's not my account, so I am not bothered. But if I ever come across a site that has more units than then TOS is allowed, then it will be reported.

It may well be true in what the OP says, but I do find it extremely hard to believe that they would allow more adverts for something that contains a 1000 words.

Reasons why I wouldn't do it...
1: Makes the page look spammy.
2: Less competition to appear on the page
3: Which will lead to lower CPC
4: More chances for off topic adverts.
5: Which will lead to less clicks.

[Swanny007]

It's not the # of words that determines whether you're allowed to have more than 3 ads. Think length of the page, but that's not the only factor...

[Zivush]

I never use three per page, and would certainly not have more, even if Google offered it to me.

I have never taken the offer. It looks to me spammy to put more than 2, sometimes 3. In some key pages 1 is the maximum I have.

1000 words per page is nothing, so I am surprised they offered this.

Correction: 1000 is the minimum on my site. The average is much more than 1000 however I can't specify exact # because the site contains 1200 articles and category pages.

The rep from Adsense told me that the reason there's 3 on their TOS is because they don't want publishers to push too many ads above the fold and because of their concerns on the ratio of ads per content on thin pages.
He even indicated this point, after talking to me, in front of many publishers during his speech at the stage.
My site is an articles site (long articles), so it seems reasonable.
I remember Adsense calling me once or twice "advising" me adding more ads.
BTW - The site is very close to get a premium publisher account.

All in all, # of ads is a decision that has to take revenues in one hand and user experience on the other (important) hand.
Again, never had the chance to get a rule of thumb on the optimal # of ads per page and that's why posted this thread.

[vivalasvegas]

It certainly depends on how much content your pages have (not necessarily text). I use one unit on most pages displaying ads, but my pages are quite small, plus I agree with Sally that "less is more". The most units I have seen per page - 7 on a popular weather site.

[Lame_Wolf]

The most units I have seen per page - 7 on a popular weather site.

For me, 21, and was later banned.

[Sally Stitts]

I once put AdSense on my RSS feed - it linked to about 200 files. EVERY file linked to had a 336 ad right after it. So, 200 ad block impressions for a SINGLE RSS file view. Times four ads per 336 impression, equals 800 ads total.

I immediately removed AdSense from my RSS file, my mouth hanging open throughout the removal. I'll never try that again.

Not trying to "one-up" anyone here, but I was blown away by this. Several years back now. I specified one ad block, and somehow it became one ad block PER LINK.
.

[netmeg]

I tried AdSense on my RSS once - it displayed alright, but I never got a dime from it, so it seemed like a waste; took it off.

[Chrispcritters]

I do not do more than 2 ad units and one link unit. Any more and it just impairs the user experience resulting in decreased eCPM rates for all add locations. I agree that in this case less is more.

The site is very close to get a premium publisher account

Curious... By what method have you determined this? I've not seen anything official from Google where that threshold is.

[nomis5]

For me it's one ad unit per page on 98% of my pages.

[tonyolm]

1 ad on the top of one of my sites that does the best for me. Had one top and bottom but it didn't seem to generate any more clicks so I removed it.

[Lame_Wolf]

Curious... By what method have you determined this? I've not seen anything official from Google where that threshold is.

You're not the only one waiting for an answer to this.

[netmeg]

I don't think there's anything in writing anywhere, but I seem to remember it in terms of "millions of pageviews per month" that I once heard from someone who was a premium publisher.

[Lame_Wolf]

...but I seem to remember it in terms of "millions of pageviews per month" that I once heard from someone who was a premium publisher.

I've heard that too. But i've also heard of people with less than that, and became premium publishers.

However, I cannot see a Google employee writing to someone to let them know that they are getting close to being a premium publisher.