Adsense Tips, Layout Optimization Tricks for Higher CTR
Google Adsense is perhaps the easiest way to attract advertisers from across the globe to your blog. Just submit your blog to Google for approval. If Google likes what it sees, it will place contextual ads linking to products likely to appeal to the readers. Each time a reader clicks a link, the advertiser pays Google a small fee, and Google splits that with you.
The next interesting question - How to Make Money with Google Adsense ? Here are The best Google Adsense Tips and Tricks for making more money (profit) from Google adsense program.
a. Strictly follow the rules mentioned in Adsense policies. You will always earn more revenue from Adsense by playing it clean.
b. Never modify the Google Adsense HTML code.
c. Don't ask your friends or visitors to click on your Google ads. Do not include incentives of any kind for users to click on ads. Don't label the Google ads with text other than "sponsored links" or "advertisements.".
d. Don't click on your own ads - Google is much smarter than you think. You should not reload your pages excessively. If you are testing your website layout with Google adsense, follow some precautions. Or you can use the unofficial Google Adsense Sandbox Tool that is accessible from Firefox, IE and other browsers to see what kind of Google ads will be served based on content (website address URL) or keywords.
e. Don't place ads in pop-up windows, error pages or even empty pages.
f. Don't start a "adsense asbestos" or "home equity loan rates" website merely to make money from accidental clicks (accidence). You will never make money out these "made-for-adsense-only" websites. Instead, write on topics what you are passionate about. Don't waste your money on high-paying adsense keywords lists.
g. For short articles, CTR is best when ads are placed just above the content
h. For long articles, CTR improves if ads are placed somewhere in middle of the content - visitors read the long content and then they are looking for more resources.
i. Use Text Ads instead of Image Ads as users get more options. If you still want to display image ads, consider ad formats that support image ads - Choose either the 300x250 medium rectangle or the 160x600 wide skyscraper - or both, if you display multiple ad units on a page.
j. Google Ads without background color and borders always perform better. Make the border color and background color same as your page background color.
k. Always put ads above the main fold. Make sure that the ad unit with the highest clickthrough rate is the first instance of the ad code that appears in the HTML. Since the first ad unit is always filled before the rest, you want to make sure that ad unit is located in the best placement on your page.
l. Try setting the ad link URL color to a lighter shade. If your text is black, you may make the adlink as light gray.
m. Go Wide - The large rectangle is the best paying adsense format (336x280) - The Google Adsense Publisher team also feels that the best formats are the wider ones - the ad formats that contain the widest individual ads. Try using the 336x280 large rectangle, 300x250 medium rectangle, or 160x600 wide skyscraper.
n. Placing images next to ads or above ads does help in attracting user attention.
o. Blend AdLinks with other navigation links or place horizontal adlinks at the top of your webpage. AdSense publishers are permitted to click on link unit topics on their web pages, provided that they do not click on any Google ads on the resulting page.
p. Organize an Adsense Party for your friends and colleagues - Request them to navigate your website, watch their activity - it will provide vital clues about which regions on your website draw more user attention. Try putting ads near those areas. (Thanks Darren)
q. You can put upto 3 adsense units on a page. Try putting a large skyscraper on the right navigation sidebar of your website. That area is close to the browser scrollbar. You can also add 2 AdSense for search boxes, 1 adlink unit and 1 referral button per product (i.e., 1 AdSense referral button and 1 Firefox plus Google Toolbar referral button).
r. The first few lines of your content are an important factor for determining what Ads are served on your webpage. That's the right place to put keywords in bold (strong or <b> tags) or header tags (h1, h2, etc).
s. Always select the setting to open Google Adsense search box results in a new browser window, so you won't lose your visitors. Click the Open search results in a new browser window checkbox and this add target="google_window" to your form tag.
t. Maximum people think the search box is on the top right corner. So you know where to put it.
u. Don't syndicate full content. If people can read everything from the newsreader window itself, why would they visit your website where your ads are.
v. Use URL channels to determine performance of individual pages. I track my most popular pages with Google Analytics, Statcounter and create a channel for each of the URL. You can even track Adsense Clicks with Analytics
w. For low CTR pages, try changing titles or adding more content to get better focused ads
x. Block low paying advertisers with Filters. Why to loose a visitor for 0.01 cents. Use Overture or Google Adwords Keywords tool to discover keywords that are less popular with advertisers.
y. The AdSense for search Top Queries report shows you what your users are looking for, by listing the 25 most common searches conducted through your AdSense for search boxes. Use this report to identify additional topics to add to your site, or to keep track of your most sought-after information. Focus and improve that content.
z. Not everyone has a RSS reader. Use RSS to Email services like FeedBlitz, Bloglet or Rmail to let users subscribe to your blog by email.
Remember, you are the best judge when it comes to choosing ad formats. Even Google doesn't offer the best advise always. For instance, in the visual heat map, Google suggests that webmasters are best served by positioning ads on the upper left-hand side of a Web page. But on the Google homepage, you will find ads on the far right.
Related Links
Display only relevant Google Ads in Blogs
Google Adsense Layout Tips for Maximum Clicks
Guide for Google AdSense Publishers
AdSense is one of the best tools you can use to draw dollars to your site. Remember that there is no easy way to make money on Adsense... it takes a lot of work. Adsense publishers on blogspot.com can integrate Adsense directly from Blogger Interface.
Yahoo Publisher Network YPN and Chitika eMiniMalls offer interesting Adsense alternatives. You can use this free online Sandbox tool to compare Google Adsense, Chitika eMiniMalls and Yahoo Publisher Network (YPN) Program.
Enter any keywords or a website address (URL), choose a geographic location (for Google), customize ad colors or choose from an existing color set and click "Udate Ads Display". You can try the Adsense, YPN or Chitika Services without signing up for any of these services.
The next interesting question - How to Make Money with Google Adsense ? Here are The best Google Adsense Tips and Tricks for making more money (profit) from Google adsense program.
a. Strictly follow the rules mentioned in Adsense policies. You will always earn more revenue from Adsense by playing it clean.
b. Never modify the Google Adsense HTML code.
c. Don't ask your friends or visitors to click on your Google ads. Do not include incentives of any kind for users to click on ads. Don't label the Google ads with text other than "sponsored links" or "advertisements.".
d. Don't click on your own ads - Google is much smarter than you think. You should not reload your pages excessively. If you are testing your website layout with Google adsense, follow some precautions. Or you can use the unofficial Google Adsense Sandbox Tool that is accessible from Firefox, IE and other browsers to see what kind of Google ads will be served based on content (website address URL) or keywords.
e. Don't place ads in pop-up windows, error pages or even empty pages.
f. Don't start a "adsense asbestos" or "home equity loan rates" website merely to make money from accidental clicks (accidence). You will never make money out these "made-for-adsense-only" websites. Instead, write on topics what you are passionate about. Don't waste your money on high-paying adsense keywords lists.
g. For short articles, CTR is best when ads are placed just above the content
h. For long articles, CTR improves if ads are placed somewhere in middle of the content - visitors read the long content and then they are looking for more resources.
i. Use Text Ads instead of Image Ads as users get more options. If you still want to display image ads, consider ad formats that support image ads - Choose either the 300x250 medium rectangle or the 160x600 wide skyscraper - or both, if you display multiple ad units on a page.
j. Google Ads without background color and borders always perform better. Make the border color and background color same as your page background color.
k. Always put ads above the main fold. Make sure that the ad unit with the highest clickthrough rate is the first instance of the ad code that appears in the HTML. Since the first ad unit is always filled before the rest, you want to make sure that ad unit is located in the best placement on your page.
l. Try setting the ad link URL color to a lighter shade. If your text is black, you may make the adlink as light gray.
m. Go Wide - The large rectangle is the best paying adsense format (336x280) - The Google Adsense Publisher team also feels that the best formats are the wider ones - the ad formats that contain the widest individual ads. Try using the 336x280 large rectangle, 300x250 medium rectangle, or 160x600 wide skyscraper.
n. Placing images next to ads or above ads does help in attracting user attention.
o. Blend AdLinks with other navigation links or place horizontal adlinks at the top of your webpage. AdSense publishers are permitted to click on link unit topics on their web pages, provided that they do not click on any Google ads on the resulting page.
p. Organize an Adsense Party for your friends and colleagues - Request them to navigate your website, watch their activity - it will provide vital clues about which regions on your website draw more user attention. Try putting ads near those areas. (Thanks Darren)
q. You can put upto 3 adsense units on a page. Try putting a large skyscraper on the right navigation sidebar of your website. That area is close to the browser scrollbar. You can also add 2 AdSense for search boxes, 1 adlink unit and 1 referral button per product (i.e., 1 AdSense referral button and 1 Firefox plus Google Toolbar referral button).
r. The first few lines of your content are an important factor for determining what Ads are served on your webpage. That's the right place to put keywords in bold (strong or <b> tags) or header tags (h1, h2, etc).
s. Always select the setting to open Google Adsense search box results in a new browser window, so you won't lose your visitors. Click the Open search results in a new browser window checkbox and this add target="google_window" to your form tag.
t. Maximum people think the search box is on the top right corner. So you know where to put it.
u. Don't syndicate full content. If people can read everything from the newsreader window itself, why would they visit your website where your ads are.
v. Use URL channels to determine performance of individual pages. I track my most popular pages with Google Analytics, Statcounter and create a channel for each of the URL. You can even track Adsense Clicks with Analytics
w. For low CTR pages, try changing titles or adding more content to get better focused ads
x. Block low paying advertisers with Filters. Why to loose a visitor for 0.01 cents. Use Overture or Google Adwords Keywords tool to discover keywords that are less popular with advertisers.
y. The AdSense for search Top Queries report shows you what your users are looking for, by listing the 25 most common searches conducted through your AdSense for search boxes. Use this report to identify additional topics to add to your site, or to keep track of your most sought-after information. Focus and improve that content.
z. Not everyone has a RSS reader. Use RSS to Email services like FeedBlitz, Bloglet or Rmail to let users subscribe to your blog by email.
Remember, you are the best judge when it comes to choosing ad formats. Even Google doesn't offer the best advise always. For instance, in the visual heat map, Google suggests that webmasters are best served by positioning ads on the upper left-hand side of a Web page. But on the Google homepage, you will find ads on the far right.
Related Links
Display only relevant Google Ads in Blogs
Google Adsense Layout Tips for Maximum Clicks
Guide for Google AdSense Publishers
AdSense is one of the best tools you can use to draw dollars to your site. Remember that there is no easy way to make money on Adsense... it takes a lot of work. Adsense publishers on blogspot.com can integrate Adsense directly from Blogger Interface.
Yahoo Publisher Network YPN and Chitika eMiniMalls offer interesting Adsense alternatives. You can use this free online Sandbox tool to compare Google Adsense, Chitika eMiniMalls and Yahoo Publisher Network (YPN) Program. Enter any keywords or a website address (URL), choose a geographic location (for Google), customize ad colors or choose from an existing color set and click "Udate Ads Display". You can try the Adsense, YPN or Chitika Services without signing up for any of these services.
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Reader Comments:
Good tips. However, I have some questions and would like you to explain or give me pointers.
(a) Eliminate the ad link URL - example needed.
(b) Don't syndicate full content - how?
(c) Block low paying advertisers with Filters - how?
Satish,
Here's how to do things:
a. Make the ad link URL color same as your page background color
b. Blogger gives you this option - Check the settings.
c. Use overture to determine low paying ads - block those URLs in adsense
Some useful tips there - just a couple of points I'd like to raise:
a) Does making the ad link URL the same colour as your page background (and therefore effectively hiding it) comply with Google's terms & conditions? I'm a bit unsure about this, but would be very careful with it.
b) I like the idea about having an "AdSense Party" to gather some useful feedback, but I'd be careful not to let your users actually click the Adsense links as this could be deemed to be fraudulent activity. O.K., it would probably only be a very small scale test, but even so, you wouldn't want to run the risk of being banned from Adsense!
Thanks,
Rob.
I agree with Rob Lewis on the "URL the color of bg" - it actually doesn't work btw. You will see it changing colors in the Google's ad preview, but it will show URLs in black on your site if you match it to your bg color.
Some very good information, and some I disagree with like blocking ads because they don't pay well. the bidding process will weed these out, in my opinion and by blockin ads you may lose even those lower-value clicks. A number of the ideas border on TOS abuse and just strike me as "greedy".
Many tips are encouraging people to blend ads in with content, but some like placing images next to or above ads may cross the line. I reported one site that had 4 small images directly above a 4 ad bar so that it really looked like the ads were the captions for the images. Clever. However, the abuse team quickly put a stop to that.
Chris
Please check out my blog as I have tips too.PI liked the article you had here.You should link to my blog at
http://techools.blogspot.com/
Come by as I have a good example of placing ads on blogs for your reference.
Your site is SUPERB!You placed the Adsense links at the top and I accidentally clicked on one,wondering if it was your navbar.I mean that is good work!Check my site out for My link setup on Adsense at
http://techools.blogspot.com/
This tip:
>>>x. Block low paying advertisers with Filters. Why to loose a visitor for 0.01 cents.>>>
I am not sure how you can block Advertisers based on low paying ads.
You really don't know how much the advertiser is paying to show that AD on your page.
Can you elaborate on that?
testimc,
You can use the overture inventory page to get a rough estimate about ad prices.
HTH,
Amit
Are you allowed to place images beside that ad unit under the page? I thought we've to place borders around it if we're to place images besides or on top of them.
Using images near (more often over) ad sense links is good for CTR, but very...borderline.
Google AND users missunderstand... ;-)
Your precaution on the testing part is very useful, because I do reload the site a lot during testing.
I have added your suggestion except for the static image as I am not quite sure how to do get the url with graphic file.
Thank you for your article.
You must follow all these precautions to ensure that Google never disables or cancels your Adsense account.
Familiarize yourself with the AdSense program policies and ensure that all sites on which you display Google ads remain in full compliance with these policies.
Other important guidelines are:
Provide a positive user experience.
Sites that contain excessive pop-ups, use sneaky redirects to obtain traffic, or otherwise attempt to interfere with normal web navigation aren't permitted in the AdSense network. Please make sure your site doesn't deceive your users in any way.
Provide a good environment for advertisers
Sites showing Google ads should not present a poor opportunity for advertisers. Sites that use tricks or deceptive practices in order to trigger inadvertent clicks on ads are prohibited.
If Google finds that one of your web pages is in violation of their policies, Google will send you a email notification requesting that you make changes to your account in order to become compliant. Google Adsense will also disable ad serving to web pages or accounts.
After making the requested changes, you should respond to the notification so Google reviews your site again and update your account records to indicate compliance with Google Adsense program policies.
so good so nice an article to tell Google Adsensers!!! Welcome more tips!
Very informative and lately i've notice quite a number of website are having a picture beside the google adsense, its really look nice.
On publisher for Adsense,i've learn something here, and from previous, Never Never try to cheat nor try to ask someone to click for you. Play fair and you pay fair.
I really appreciate your tips on Google Adsense and SEO. I have incorporated these tips into my blogs and I have seen a dramatic increas in CTR and my earnings over the last several months.
http://strategiesforlife.blogspot.com
your site is very helpful, and i am glad i found your site.
I like the idea of hosting an "Adsense Party", however, you have to be VERY careful when doing this.
For example, if you have your friends come over to your house (or anybody's location in particular), and they start clicking on AdSense links, you will almost certainly get caught by Google, as everyone will be surfing out via the same IP on the router. That's a big no-no!
Make sure your friends know NOT to click on the Adsense links.
Excellent thought Bill.
Yes an Adsense party could immediately get you kicked out of the program if your friends are not aware of the issue.
My suggestion would be to either temporarily switch to adsense testing mode. But yes, it may mean that you won't make money from people outside the party.
nice article amit...thanks
Thanks amit , i am very new to this blogging and adsense concept have got a blog ready with adsense on it but do not know how to publicise my blog.Any tip on this please
Hi nasty, You are setting on the Horse now you mustRide it. As you have created your blog it should be search engine friendly i.e relevant keywords. Now to get many visitors to your blog you should be ranked High in search engine and to do this BACK LINKS are very very necessary. As you can see this blog is having page rank of 6 that is Awesome thats why it is getting lots of traffic. This blog has around 1870 Back links in Google & Inlinks (21,282) in yahoo
Amit is riding the money game " Good Game AMIT"
I am not sure how you can block Advertisers based on low paying ads.
You really don't know how much the advertiser is paying to show that AD on your page.
This is an excellent post!
Nice post
very good one amit...thanks
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nice tips although the "fraudulent activity" idea pretty much is a bad thing IMHO.
i mean, anyone can practically screw up your revenues and get you banned from AdSense just by spam clicking your ads. it might just be a pranksted doing it just for the fun of it or maybe someone who hates you. any ideas to avoid this?
i have just started blogging recently i have to learn a lot the info seems very useful ,still some things r unclear such as blocking ads and placement of ads and large display ads
It's nice that i found this blog during my first day on adsense two days ago. Thanks Amit for this nice blog about adsense and it really helps a lot to everyone. Sorry for posting my site though it's not a blog, and just want to show everyone if i created adsense correctly.
Tell you something great!!
With your tips and some tips i get from the URL
below, im able to triple my adsense revenue this month.
Good job both of you.. Thanz ya
http://adsensepajamas1.blogspot.com/
nice post amit,but as i think google adsense should be of profit for both advertisers and publishers if its not then adsense may die a day, i dont think its better to block ads
I work in company of 30000 employees, most of them use same proxy server. Google is not counting any visits and clicks coming from this proxy, though they're done by different employees. Any solutions?
Hi Amit, your bolg is a treasure for all the bloggers out here. Thanks for this great contribution to the bloggers community. my blog
i can't get my site's adsense generate useful ads. there is nothing i can do?
superb content buddy i liked and read whole of it :)
Thanx Amit. Great Article for Novices like me.
I am a beginner and have a new blog, too.
I learned many tips such as blocking ads and placement of ads and large display ads.
Thank you very much!.
Inresting post, added it to stumbleupon. I think it more productive for sites (blogs) with high visitors. Now we try change adsense ads for adsense 2.0 (cpa) And it more productive, because more money for low click.
Thanks Amit, very usefull information.
Amit,
You said, "1 adlink unit " we can place in a page!
But Google says at their policy, "Up to three link units may also be placed on each page."
Please corrct me.
yeah i think i heard google allows three text/image ads, three link ads and three referral on a single page. so the total is nine.
Hey thanks for the tips, I think that different blogs with different topics will have different adsense earnings result.. for example my money making blog, don't really yield lots of cash for each click...
Some the tips are unique and cannot be found anywhere. Great informative resource for Adsense Publishers.
A very helpful customisation guide. Though I knew most of the things already, they were somewhere at the back of my mind, but never really implemented them. Thanks for sharing the info.
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