Does it matter if I frequently log in to GAS to check statistics? Recenly, I add some pic on the top of ads as some seniors did and the ctr increases triple each day (thank DP!!!)
There is an extension for Firefox which shows your Adsense earnings on the status bar. By default it logs in to your account every 20 minutes, so I'm sure Freddy's right - no problem at all.
really? I saw many webmasters add pic close to the ads. I think this is basically to catch eyeballs from visitors. I didn't change GAS code.
As long as you're not directly or indirectly asking visitors to click on the google ads, it is fine. There are many threads on this on the forum - read them if you're not sure.
No, but you are misleading visitors into clicking, I have seen many webmasters been banned because of this. You can do so as you please but you risk being banned. I remember reading in the adsense T&C something like, you should not draw unnecessary attention to the ads, this definitely falls under that.
There is no harm in logging to your GAS account again and again but if you also click on your ads, or someone else clicks on your ads multiple times from the same IP from where you logged in, G might think you are clicking on your own ads. But in the case you or any other person will not click on the ads from your IP, accidentaly or intentionally, everythings alright.
If you are logging in via a script or program (ie. an AdSense stat checker) they ask you limit logging in to once every 15 minutes.
And there are many webmasters who received the "go ahead" from Google for putting images there. So please refrain from making so general statements.
I check my stats using the Firefox extension adsense notifier. It checks stats every 15 minutes in accordance with Adsense terms they say. You can try the Wordpress Beautifier plugin to add random images before you ads. You must always separate images and ads with a border to stay within the terms of service. The images should not be arrows or something which will incite users to click the ads.
I went to Google to specifically ask about this issue. As long as the images are not appearing to be a part of the ad itself, that is fine. They suggest a border around the images or the ad unit to prevent this. http://www.jensense.com/archives/2005/08/images_above_ad.html YPN, on the other hand, is definitely more vigilant on this and is generally telling publishers no images, even with borders.