In this Part II of our weekly Adsense Optimization Series, we will try to to improve the Adsense Layout of Youth Curry with the goal of increasing Ad revenue without impacting the visitor experience.
First, take a look at the left screenshot which depicts the current Adsense layout. As the red arrows point, Rashmi is using three ads on each of her blog pages - a 468x60 unit at the top of the blog post and two 160x600 skyscrapers in the right sidebar.
Let's try to understand why this is not the most optimized layout for her kind of a blog:
1. Most of her blog posts are lengthy and carry enormous number of visitor comments that further elongates the webpage. Now users would typically read the full post and then look for pointers to extra reading but there're none in this case.
2. The longer adunits on the sidebar do not blend with the blog color scheme and therefore are more likely to be ignored by site visitors.
3. Also, if you consider the Adsense Heat diagram, you would know that visitors rarely pay any attention to the blog sidebars.
4. The 468x60 ad at the top will serve the highest paying ads but it's current location makes it less visible [as the pages have lot of content]
Now in the "after screenshot", we have applied minor tweaks to the layout which can possibly push the Adsense income by as much as 50%, if not more.
Here's the logic behind the new layout and why it would result in better CTR. [the points are numbered in the screenshot above]
Point 1: There isn't any search feature on the blog. Using Adsense for Search or Google Custom search, Youth curry can generate extra revenue. The top right corner is the most visible location for a search box.
Point 2: As stated earlier, visitors look for extra information when they finish reading a long post - so an ideal location for placing an ad is just where the post ends. We suggest using a 300x250 Ad unit since wider rectangle perform better plus they can accept text, image as well as video ads. [Always give more choices to the advertisers as he may want to target and place CPM ads on your blog]
Point 3: New visitors to a blog are also interested to know more about the blog author so their eyes will automatically search for "About Us" or Profile section of the blog. So it makes sense to place a small 200x200 ad just below the profile section since that space receives lot of attention from new visitors.
While the above three tips will boost the ad revenue, there are couple of extra things that might be done to get more relevant ads. One - use section targeting and second - if possible, add a horizontal ad link unit either below the blog heading or in the space that's currently occupied by the 468x60 unit.
Related Reading: More Adsense Tips and Tricks
Reader Comments
Spot on!
Ot's a different ball gmae, but I have picked up lots of goodies from you on Adsense. I am sure it takes time for results to pour in. I am not worry about it now, but the content. I am concentrating on content and nothing else ;-)
Cheers!
Alpesh
Written on 8/12/06 5:26 AM
Hmm...is that free online consulting for Rashmi ?
Thanks for the link !!
Written on 8/12/06 9:10 AM
Those are really good suggestions amit. I wish if only tou gave rashmi the code amendments too.
Also, i suggest that rashmi place a horizontal Ad-Link unit beneath the header part on the top fold. I wonder why u ignored the adlinks part.
Cheers!
Written on 8/12/06 11:25 AM
@Alpesh - Spot on - Nothing can beat great content.. these suggestions are only applicable when you have content, not before.
@Gautum - I think Rashmi's blog was a good candidate since she uses Adsense, is popular and has a general layout. So everyone with a 2-col blog template could benifit.
@Manikuttan - Am not sure if you read the complete article .. there's mention of an a horizontal ad link unit a the top.
Written on 8/12/06 11:35 AM
Implemented ur suggestions..
Also I think that putting a 300*200 ad unit below the post title would help a lot. :)
Written on 8/12/06 7:50 PM
It's a very good series started by you & gives very good tips, how to optimize 'adsense' in your blog. About two column blog, this article is also very good. I would like to share my experience about my blog http://weirdindia.blogspot.com/. If you put a 728x90 horizontal 'ad' at top front of your blog with perfect colour combination matching to the colour scheme of your blog, then your 'click through rate' increases phenomenally. I also picked up this advise from some article on the net & 'click through rate' increased on my blog from 0.5-1% to 3-7%. I think when 'ad' gels with the colour scheme of your blog & appears immediately on the top of your blog , it makes all the difference on CTR.
Written on 8/12/06 10:27 PM
Hello Amit. I have been following your adsense series particularly closely and have come to the conclusion that a three column layout is best suited for adsense as it lets one surround the content with ads. I am on blogger beta and using an unconventional "widebar" layout. I applied some of your suggestions on my blog. Please pay a visit to the same and tell me what you think. I have different ad layouts for blog main page and post pages. Thanks.
Written on 8/12/06 11:56 PM
Hi, how do I add the advt at the end of the post? Currently I display the small banner in the top of the web page and picture ad in the side of the page.
Written on 9/12/06 6:50 PM
Blog readers are developing ad blindness so ads should be changed time to time. Optimization of ads are basically for new visitors.
I do not know whether blogspot allows ads in between the posts. Some of the best ad placements are in between the content. 336 x 280 - The large rectangles are very effective.
Written on 9/12/06 10:56 PM
If it has 20 mil pageviews per month, you are eligible for Google Ads in XML.
Written on 11/12/06 4:29 PM
I bet she'll appreciate this advice although I don't think blog revenue is at the top of her mind right now.
Written on 11/12/06 10:30 PM
could you please check this blog http://www.musicalwave.blogspot.com/
Written on 12/12/06 10:28 PM
Hello,
I have the same question as
posted by Bharathi -- how do I add AdSense Ad at the end of a post?
Thanks.
Judy
Written on 22/12/06 1:20 PM
Sound advice. The idea of placing AdSense ad unit between posts is recommended on the official AdSense website but Blogger doesn't lend itself to doing that very easily. I find it is a real nuisance having to paste the HTML at the end of each post.
Written on 29/12/06 5:50 PM