Two sites almost the same: one makes money, other doesn't.

What is going on?

[littlecubpanda]

This is so distressing and devastating.

Two dot coms, both same format, same "look", same size, similar content, ads are even placed in similar places.

Traffic continues to rise for both.

Both were doing well up to May 22nd or so.

Then one just fell off the cliff, while the other continued to perform well/if not better.

Now one of them makes all the money, while the other has a CTR so low I have to squint to read what it is.

[jbayabas]

Why do you have 2 sites of the same content? It's against TOS to copy other site's content. Google bot may find the other site an infringer thus lower its ranking.

[littlecubpanda]

It's not the same content whatsoever. The format is the same. Layout. Content would fit into the same *category*, is what I meant to say.

[londrum]

it must be the content then. you say that the content is similar... but is one site focused on selling, and the other on information?

for example, you might have two sites about cameras. one gives reviews about which camera to buy, and the other gives tips about how to use them. only the first one is likely to make money, because it is attracting people who are prepared to buy something. the second site only attracts people who already own a camera, so they are less likely to click on camera-related ads.

[explorador]

Difficult to say, I had two sites showing that problem, they were in fact very small sites with great conversions, original content and "cousins" of other of my sites, still original content. I mean similar as talking about a widget site and a widget accessories site, or a widget and peripheral site.

I merged them, perhaps some searches become specific, like niche style allowing each site to exist independently with great conversions, while perhaps other kind of search evolution brings the need for those sites to be merged.

I believe that in the recent past many webmasters (like me in some cases) recurred to build specific sites, a lot of specialization around specific individual sites (tires, lights, motor, etc) and perhaps search evolution in some cases points to have all of that together "car widgets". I often think mobile traffic will thank a search engine on the site limiting search engines, I mean, searching once, finding one and staying there.

[jbayabas]

You answered your own question lilcub

It's not the same content whatsoever.

That explains your totally different earnings.