Mobile vs Desktop performance

[knoddie]

For the last three months my Adsense Performance Report shows my mobile Page CTR is only 60% that of Desktop, and my mobile CPC is likewise 60% of desktop. Is this others experience also?

Going to get a mobile version of the site done, any tips as to best ad sizes and placements?

[jpch]

My site does have a responsive design but I don't use it because I have more stuff on desktop version than anyone wants to see on a Phone or Tablet. So, I use a Plugin (WPTouch Pro) to show a different layout to mobile and tablet visitors.

[1script]

@jpch: in other words, the URL stays the same but the layout does not adapt but gets completely different for mobiles? My guess is that in this case you don't even need the responsive ad units, right?

[netmeg]

WP Touch is a WordPress plugin that serves on the same URL but with different CSS, based on device type. You add your pubid to the Pro version, and it will serve up a 320x50 mobile ad.

I used to use it, but had to give it up because my webhost says it was dragging performance on some of my higher traffic sites. It's a nice idea though, and it maybe have improved in the two years since I've used it.

[jpch]

@netmeg...they're on Version 3.0 now and continue to improve it.

@1script...correct. I'm using the Async Beta Code but not the responsive code.

One thing that is nice is you can turn it on/off for tablets. So, if your responsive design looks OK on a tablet you don't have to use it but can still display it for mobile.

OK...here's the key part for anyone that does decide to use it. Don't limit yourself to just the single ad you can show using their option. They have areas where you can add custom code and that's where you can serve other AdSense ads...or whatever other mobile network to use.

It's a decent plugin but you have to spend some time really figuring out it's limitations.

[slobizman]

As with many here, my tablet CPC and RPM also significantly outperform my desktop, which outperforms my mobile. (I have a responsive site, but set a tablet to show non-responsive).

I'm curious, does anyone know why this is? Why would advertisers bid higher for tablets?

(Side note: I tried "responsive" ads for two days and the results were HUGELY worse than regular ads (mostly large rectangle), even on mobile as bad as they look, that I had to stop my A/B testing as I was losing too much money. Maybe when they are out of beta I'll try again.)

[1script]

This all makes me curious if the better performance of ads, especially for mobile users on non-responsive layouts, actually comes from ads literally blocking everything. Even a small(er) 300x250 ad will essentially cover half of a smartphone screen and could perform very well if it comes up high enough on the page. What do you guys think?

[netmeg]

Advertisers don't bid higher for tablets. Up until earlier this year, you could be separately for phones AND for tablets, but with the new AdWords "Enhanced Campaigns" you can bid separately for phones, but NOT for tablets - they're now lumped in with desktop. A lot of pro advertisers are pretty ticked off about that.

[slobizman]

I wonder why tablet ads pay so much better for me. At first I thought it might be due to a user trying swipe the tablet with their fingers and clicking an ad. But my CTR is not higher, just my CPC.

[RedBar]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this however do NOT rely on AdSense reports for Tablets/High-end mobile devices as being accurate ... quite simply they're from Google fantasyland!

Just trust me on that one:-)