Can the line between the image and ad simply be a bold border on the picture or does the line have to be separate of the image and ad?
I'll give a tip about ad formats. Always try to build your site to put rectangles (medium, large) and wide skyscrapers Never use banners, people have become "banner blind" Try to make ad link units look like ads example - http://www.worldvillage.com
Only have one block of ads on a page, well blended. Two (or worse three) and people see an MFA site and avoid all of them, AND the ads pay less as well, AND you get less returning visitors. My income has increased significantlt when I have reduced the number of ads. To avoid smartpricing, focus on any one site you have that has a much lower CTR than the others - remove them or improve them. I suspect (from limited testing I admit, so could be wrong) that tricking people with text links looking like the menu doesn't work, because people back-arrow as soon as they see they have 'made a mistake'.
The way link units work is that you earn nothing from someone clicking on them, it is only when the visitor makes a second click, on one of the ads listed, that you earn income. I think people back arrow often when they have done the first click but not the second. I know that a lot of people say these link units work for them, I'm just not so sure myself. They look as if they should do well, it just isn't my experience. Depends on the situation presumably.
Optimized your web site (learn SEO) > earn more traffic > learn and work your ads > Get HUGE AMOUNT FROM ADSENSE
Learning the basics of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is definitely mandatory. The only way you can make a lot of money from Adsense is by understanding it. Understanding something, on a deeper level, is the difference between a professional and an amateur.
Another contribution: I want everyone to give this a try. It may sound really corny but it really helps. An hour or so before you are ready for bed, I want you to get a glass of milk, hot tea, or something else relaxing. Turn the TV on, just loud enough so you can hear it. Now I want you to lay down somewhere relaxing, like on your bed or couch. Don't really watch TV, close your eyes and listen to the TV. You need to focus on it with your hearing only. Now slowly let the TV fade out and start thinking about your website. Keep your eyes closed, the TV should be a background noise now, and you should be thinking of adsense, marketing, and content. I want you to think about what you are missing content-wise, I want you to think about what you do everyday on the computer and come up with a few ways that you could be getting your name out there but aren't, I want you to vision your success. Picture yourself holding up ShoeMoney's $130,000 check! Why can't that be you? If you go on DP every day, and you have your website in your profile but not your signature, how much traffic are you missing out on? What if someone is trying to find something new to blog about, and your website is perfect for it, but they don't know about it? Every visitor makes a difference, what if Nintendo or ShoeMoney was one of those visitors and they thought your website was unique and blogged about it. You would go from 500 impressions to 20,000. Build your website one visitor at a time. Most importantly, VALUE THEM! They will ultimately be the power that makes or breaks your website. Brian