How many ad blocks to insert per page? Less is better?

I wonder what is the optimal number of ad blocks per page to put.
Many changes I have mad and can’t come into final conclusion based on ecpm – it varies.

In my experience, most of the times the less is better, but it still seems strange for me that Adsense suggest putting the maximum possible – 3 ad blocks per page+ links.
What is your experience?

 

0 is the optimal number of ad blocks per page

 

Man I am rolling! Less is more, right? That is rich!

I used to think less is more. Then I saw what a particular site was doing.
Using all 3. One side bar, then 2 300X250 in content. I went and did likewise.
My CTR has increased. If someone passes the top ad without a click, why
no give more choices?

I saw someone take this less is more to the extreme. They had one little ol' link unit
on the page. And they swore it worked. So, to each his own.

You need to experiment. One size does not fit all.

Stephen C

 

If you only have one ad block, you will be displaying the highest paying ads on that one block.

 

I think that if a webpage is well organized you'd have 2 ads. Some editions place even 3, but you must be sure you have high quality publications to add 3 ads. The best you can do is one. At the same time I have seen many quality blogs that run 6 - 10 different 125x125 ad buttons.

 

My experience so far (10 months):
I have started with 3 got X ecpm then reduced to 2 and got x+Y ecpm (big Y).
Then reduced to 1 got X-z ecpm. Panic! So added the one again got X-w ecpm.
Got confused so I changed ad sizes and got again ~ X cpm.
Then, added another ad block and remain the same X cpm.
So, lowered again to 2 (the same ad sizes as pervious) and remain +/- X ecpm.
I have never got back again that x+Y ecpm…. Say – higher than 6 or 7 ecpm.

 

I think the less ads on your blog the better. More ads that appears on you blogs is possible that low-paying ads will be click by visitor.