October 2015 AdSense Earnings and Observations

[RedBar]

My AdSense life is almost over, good luck to those who are still earning.

[vegasrick]

My traffic seems to be fine, but the Adsense page views are down to their lowest point all year. I've noticed that I see a lot more text ads where I barely ever saw them in the past, so maybe they are unable to fill the demand. I'm making more money when compared to last October (or any other October) but that's because my traffic is stronger.

[Mentat]

I have a lot of those:

Ad unit "XXXXXX-Channel Name, 728x90 ATF" is only seen 24% of the time it is loaded. Making an ad unit more viewable can increase your revenue.

It cannot be possible, as it on the header of the page :(

[magician]

It cannot be possible, as it on the header of the page :(

It may be possible if the users scrolls down before the ad is even loaded (if you are using async ads). I see this on my website a lot - specially on mobile. My site loads very fast in comparison to google ads and a person will be down fast on the content within a sec. Best place is to place the ad just above the fold.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) defines a viewable impression as an ad that meets the following criteria: 50% of the ad’s pixels are visible in the browser window for a continuous one second. Not sure, if google follows this or relaxed/tighter time?

[woody midrib]

It may be possible if the users scrolls down before the ad is even loaded (if you are using async ads). I see this on my website a lot - specially on mobile. My site loads very fast in comparison to google ads and a person will be down fast on the content within a sec. Best place is to place the ad just above the fold.

I have the same problem on mobile. My site loads really fast and the topmost ad takes another 1-3 seconds to load. This is often enough to make users scroll past the ad before it's loaded. I'm also thinking about moving the topmost ad down a bit, but it would require a lot of manual adjustment on my site.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) defines a viewable impression as an ad that meets the following criteria: 50% of the ad’s pixels are visible in the browser window for a continuous one second. Not sure, if google follows this or relaxed/tighter time?

Google follows the IAB definition.

[Ironside]

Today has not really got started, not sure why, there's no red bar in my account. Anybody else experiencing hardly any earnings today?

[azlinda]

Anybody else experiencing hardly any earnings today?

I experienced extremely low earnings every day. That's why I dumped AdSense completely.

[jimh009]

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System: The following 3 messages were spliced on to this thread from: https://www.webmasterworld.com/google_adsense/4772106.htm [webmasterworld.com] by martinibuster - 6:44 pm on Oct 13, 2015 (utc -5)

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Like many webmasters, I've noticed a steady decline in Adsense earnings over the years (I joined the program in 2002). However, despite the drop from the early years, my Adsense earnings stabilized over the past three years or so, and followed a regular season pattern - often with earnings matching almost exactly month to month on a year over year basis.

That changed this month, when earnings have easily dropped in half so far, despite no changes whatsoever in traffic. Moreover, I noticed the ads being served on my large, very content rich site were, to put it politely, garbage.

I've always had several theories on why Adsense earnings have dipped since the early years. Among them are:

1. Banner Blindness - People learn how to tune out the banners and know where they are located.
2. Adblockers - No explanation needed
3. Behavioral Advertising - To me, I always thought this was a large reason I saw for the drop off. While I can see where behavioral advertising would work well for, say, a "general news site," for a content heavy, niche website such advertising I always felt behavioral advertising backfired. Visitors to my site, instead of seeing ads for services/products closely related to the pages content (aka...contextual advertising) were now seeing ads that had no relation to the pages content at all. Moreover, I always thought people just got sick of having the "same ad" follow them around the Internet.

While I still believe all three of the issues above are in play, I think another factor might also be at work that needs closer examination.

A lack of ads for Google to serve.

After seeing all the garbage ads on my websites this month, I decided to do some searches on Google for search terms that I know, from past experience using these search terms, once had endless amounts of ads associated with them.

I was very shocked to find large amounts of common search terms (at least terms related to pages on my own websites varied topics) on Google aren't showing any ads whatsoever. Search terms that once brought up dozens of ads scattered across multiple pages of Google search results now have, well, none - or at best, one.

Now, I fully recognize that what I'm seeing might be "site specific" or "niche specific." So my results might be very different than yours.

However, I think all webmasters who run Adsense might do well to turn off their adblockers and do a Google search (at google.com) for terms related to their websites topic as well as search terms related to specific pages of your website. You might be surprised...err, disappointed...to see the ads (or lack there-of) that Google brings up.

Jim

[explorador]

I've seen the same trend, sometimes better, sometimes worse

I was very shocked to find large amounts of common search terms (at least terms related to pages on my own websites varied topics) on Google aren't showing any ads whatsoever. Search terms that once brought up dozens of ads scattered across multiple pages of Google search results now have, well, none - or at best, one

Sounds familiar. I have some sites with good traffic and specific articles (with many visits) but not actually seeing good ads, or many of them. Some are actually totally unrelated. It seems the ad inventory is very low, as if the advertisers gone to other networks or options. Or... sites are also being labeled on performance and not getting access to some ads.

[Leosghost]

Adblockers don't block adwords at Google search..not just at the dot com, but also on other country's Google versions..

That said..I agree, some sectors that previously had many adwords associated with the search terms, now have very low ad inventory..So, far fewer adwords are shown when certain searches are made..and some searches have no adwords at all..

I have also noticed other behaviour at G SERPs, but as I do not wish to "hi-jack" your thread I'll run some more tests on "it", and if "it" is consistent , I'll post elsewhere..

[RedBar]

A lack of ads for Google to serve.

Yep, I've been saying that for quite some time now and, in my widget industry's case, after attending a recent global conference and exhibition, many advertisers are pulling their ads owing to a very low ROI mostly due to irrelevant widget enquiries.

Some of this is undoubtedly, as netmeg may say, understanding AdWords, however insofar as my widget industry is concerned, the reality by the advertising widget suppliers that they cannot supply competitively over a very lareg area/country, financially it makes it impossible due to the weight and the specialist handling required ... obviously I am not talking about drop shipping here!

How many other widget industries are like mine, I have no idea, however I would have a bet and say that the later 90s/00s fest has well and truly gone except for easily handled items. One only has to look in the UK and see the proliferation of high street shops offering same day and next day product deliveries to the shop, many from their competitors!

[koan]

jimh009, this has also been my general observation for 2015 on my sites, the contextual CPC types of ads ("Clicks") really decreased in impressions while behavioral CPM type ads ("Views") increased drastically, resulting in a sharp decline in earnings. It seems to be an inventory problem, maybe from lack of advertisers, or because Google doesn't deliver it to my sites as much anymore.

[Portland79]

It started May 22nd or so for me.
Ad revenue tanked hard out of nowhere even though my traffic was up and I was at an all time high.
Across multiple sites, not just one. All around tank.

My other earning methods have actually tripled due to the traffic increase while Google tanked.
I have removed Adsense from all performing articles on my other affiliates because why have those slow loading junk ads on a page that is bringing in so much money from another source? They used to make ad money but now Google just doesn't count clicks.

I will soon remove them from entire sites. Researching other options now.

I've had a lower and lower patterns daily to the point of I stopped checking my Estimated Earnings much at all. I used to check all the time because it was exciting.

[Ebuzz]

They've really ravaged Adsense haven't they?

Meanwhile, Admob is still performing very steady and strong. I have a friend (App programmer) who received a complementary gift from Google the other day. What do ya know? Just like in the old old old days of Adsense......for those of you that remember.

That's the phase that Admob is in now. It doesn't matter that I believe the conversion rate is bound to be very poor for mobile, and with so many repeat visitors, logically speaking, those mobile Admob ads will not convert much, if at all....Google is still keeping the gravy train going for Admob guys. Google is really HOT for all things mobile, their new money pit.

And on the other hand, it's clear they are killing off Adsense after milking it dry. They will make sure every single click is "valid" and "legit" and then do further clawbacks every new month, while they close one eye in Admob. In fact, it's harder to get banned on Admob than Adsense, because they give a grace 30 day suspension for 1st time offenders! Everything is tailored for Admob and Android.

Effing Google.

[edited by: Ebuzz at 5:13 pm (utc) on Oct 15, 2015]

[MrSavage]

I have no idea what happened, but my one pony, that runaway winner on a regular basis has TANKED. Not a day or two, I'm talking weeks now. A massive tanking. I checked to see if it's offline or some technical issues. Fact is, it's like a Panda effect, except the Adsense version of it. I'm still scratching my head. It's one of the most incredible collapses that I've seen in Adsense from when I started on this. I just don't see a technical reason and I don't see a tanking of traffic that reflects this. It's Adsense Panda for me.

[EditorialGuy]

Our AdSense revenue has been tapering off somewhat (the usual slide from October through December), but yesterday it was up.

I'm guessing that one of our better advertisers (in terms of relevance and clickworthiness) is back in the game at the moment. The advertiser I have in mind has been advertising on our site for several years, but in bursts rather than all the time.

[breeks]

A very strange day. Already double yesterday's total for the whole day.

Must be a glitch :)

[SEOPTI]

A real life example.

The auto industry is booming in the US but the CPC is a joke. No one wants to advertise on the display network any more. The budget is there but they willl not use the display network at all.

A few years ago I remember all the big brands, Ford, Toyota where spending huge amounts but it is over.

So whoever is responsible for creating the "smart pricing" system failed.

[Ebuzz]

I am on track for my LOWEST day ever, in 9+ years since I started with Nonsense.

No clicks are registering at all, except for a few. This has been the trend for the past week. Hours and hours will go by, and no clicks at all (according to Nonsense).

Nonsense will be dead within 5 years, and Google will help it along. They've transitioned everything to Admob, so perhaps you should be studying on app programming now (if PPC is still your thing).

[eek2121]

Can't complain here. I'm doing great. Revenue per thousand is higher this quarter than the same quarter last year. Also, another surprise: Disqus revenue has tripled. Gotta love having multiple sources of income. Hope it lasts...*knocks on wood*

[netmeg]

it's clear they are killing off Adsense after milking it dry. They will make sure every single click is "valid" and "legit"

Just leaving that out there.

I'm about where I expected. I won't have another peak until NYE.

[trebuchet]

My earnings this month are slightly above average, though that be attributed to an increase in traffic. Nothing else to report, except that CTR continues to be down while CPM ads have increased (which has been the trend for three months now).

[Automotive site]

The last couple of days have been horrible. So few clicks compared to normal to the point I am thinking if there is something wrong. If it goes on like this for couple more days then I might need to generate new code.

Adsense, please show ads related to the content of the page, at least three quarters of impressions. This ensures best click through.

Sometimes I worry if Adsense is approaching a time when we are going to see lower and lower income compared to how it was in the years gone. I just wish I had made a killing in the years when it was really hot. However, I fell ill and therefore not been able to focus on the sites very much. Don't get me wrong, I have earned good amount from Google over the years for which I am very grateful, but I do wonder if I could have earned enough to build up my stock portfolio to a size where money worries would have disappeared. I am now in a position I don't know if it is worth building up my sites. It's so difficult to monetise without Adsense. Affiliate throws up a sale here, a sale there but doesn't provide the consistent income Adsense has. It takes time and thinking to come up with content and I wonder if it's worthwhile, if you can't monetise.

[EditorialGuy]

No one wants to advertise on the display network any more. The budget is there but they willl not use the display network at all.

A few years ago I remember all the big brands, Ford, Toyota where spending huge amounts but it is over.

The ad business has changed a lot in the last few years. As recently as five years ago, my ad-rep firm was begging me to publish more pages on [topic] because it couldn't supply enough inventory at $20 CPMs. Our CPMs were routinely in the $4 to $5 range for run-of-network display ads (and often higher).

Today, programmatic (a.k.a. automated) ad buying has made media buying much more efficient. Instead of going to lunch with an ad rep and signing a contract for a year's worth of ads or X,XXX,XXX impressions, advertisers are letting software ferret out inventory at cheap rates in real time. Such programmatic buying would exist even if AdSense didn't. In today's online media world, "premium ads" are now "remnant ads."

[netmeg]

Adsense, please show ads related to the content of the page, at least three quarters of impressions. This ensures best click through.

That's probably not ever going to happen. For lots of people (myself included) the interest based ads provide better click throughs. One has to think that Google is going serve whatever they think is most likely to produce a click (they want to make money too), but again, it's all an algorithm, and if your site or audience falls outside the algorithm, you're collateral damage.

As an advertiser, in nearly every niche I've seen a lot more growth in interest based advertising than in contextual advertising. But I admit I don't advertise much in the Display Network (other than remarketing) myself.

[ember]

Good month so far. IBAs have double the RPM of the contextual ads. The CTRs are the same, but the IBA epc is higher.

[RedBar]

Across multiple sites, not just one. All around tank.

Me too, I have gone from a Jan-June 2015 CTR of 2.32% to less than 0.5% these days, it's utterly fubard and I lay the responsibility firmly at G's feet, this is nothing less than totally intentional.

[Whatagreatdayitis]

If someone visits my website directly from my adwords ad and then clicks on one of my adsense ads, is that click worth less in value when compared to a click on an adsense ad that resulted from an organic search result or referral?

Does anyone here use adwords to drive traffic to an adsense site?

[SEOPTI]

Do Americans sleep or rest on Saturdays and Sundays? Just curious because the traffic and earnings are just at 25% for years on these days across several industries. This would mean from Monday-Friday they visit the web from their work.

Do people in the US own a personal computer plus internet connection at home? I don't think so.

[trebuchet]

Do people in the US own a personal computer plus internet connection at home?

My wife's relatives in California have a house rule that the PC, router and wifi all go off on Saturday morning and stay off until after dinner on Sunday. Not sure if that's common but I suspect a lot of Americans have other things to do on weekends.

[toidi]

A lack of ads for Google to serve. 

as an ex-advertiser, i can say that in my niche, which is very large, i am not alone in stopping online advertising. Not long ago, myself and my competitors would be bidding against each other. Not anymore. The ROI is no longer there. I am sure there are niches where online ads work, but my niche is dead.