Fewer ads and poorer targeting

Multiple sites - Is this just seasonal?

[whats up skip]

I have noticed on several of our sites using Adsense that there are fewer ads showing (ie the alternative starts showing) on some pages where there have always been ads. This is even happening on the home page. Similar pages on the same site continued to show lots of ads. This started two weeks ago, so I doubt that it was the post Christmas shut down already.

On another site I have noticed that it is not targeting the ads as well any more. This is a forum site and it has started showing ads for web hosting and forum systems on the home page, yet other pages show the ads fine. Previously there had been no problem and it was providing many highly targeted ads.

I contacted Google about this and just received a standard response that did not explain the situation.

[Jenstar]

Even if you go into Google search right now, many advertisers seemed to have paused campaigns eight now (probably until after Christmas or New Years). Others might have lowered budgets if they can't keep a close eye on them over the holidays. The same thing happened last year as well.

[webmasterworld.com...]

[Chico_Loco]

This must explain revenues being as much as 50% down recently

Jenstar, would you say a drop of 50% is average for the situation right now? (granted it's based on inustry, some might be up - but as an everage what would you say?). Say for example a niche area of electronics, which would not be soaring at christmas!

[ca3le]

November 19th was the evil day for me. My revinue dropped 4X lower than it was trending, and it still in the toilet, it did pick up to (almost) normal for three days though... only to depress me again when it fell. December has been historically lower for me as well. Last year though January '04 almost quadrupled December '03 ---

I guess I am going to be scared every year around ths time.

The thing is though... my clicks are UP, my impressions are UP, but my revenue is taking a fat dump... why do they have to stress me out durring the holidays EVERY YEAR... :lol:

Maybe I need to stop refreshing my stats every two hours and start wraping gifts...