What is Blue area advertisement threshold

What CTR percentage do you need to get into the blue.

[vphoner]

When you are #1 on the right hand side of the google page, what is the approximate threshold to get over in the blue area? I believe I am doing about 2.5 to 3.0 % on the top right. Is that enough to trigger it?

Any comments, tricks, tips, insights to the blue area?

[nyet]

There is a formula at play which takes into account the "quality" of the ad, the sector you are in (I believe thought I don't know for sure), and max CPC.

It isn't good enough to have the best CTR or higest budget or clicks. You have to be willing to "risk" money to get the top spot.

You gotta want it.

For example we have a lot of "blue" ads where our max CPC bid is $2 even though we usually pay about .67

If we lower our bids to $1 we are still #1 but lose the blue spot (no one has it).

You gotta have a substantial bid.

[oldpro]

Bid high to begin with, but have a landing page which will draw repeat visits. This will drive up CTR. After a few thousand impressions start lowering your bid until you reach your desired threshold. A keyword sector will either have 2 or 3 premium (blue) positions. You want the one just above the first listing of the natural serps...either the 2nd or 3rd position...don't get sandwiched in the middle and the top position always has the lowest ROI.

[nyet]

"...the top position always has the lowest ROI."

Totally dissagree, it completely depends on what your selling and your audience. We have some campaigns where *only* the top position makes any substantial money.

You have to balance traffic *and* cost.

[eWhisper]

"...the top position always has the lowest ROI."

I must agree with the lowest ROI post above, but also, must remember that lower ROI doesn't mean less total profits.

1000 sales at 150% ROI can be much more profitable than 100 sales at 300% ROI.

ROI is not the end all number, it's just one measurement in a sea of many.

[toddb]

Give or take 10%.