I have a campaign that I was bidding into the top spot for AdWords. My max bid was really high, so I pretty much got the top spot for each keyword. Recently I have experimented with bidding this campaign into the 3rd spot for all keywords. I was successful in getting most keywords into this spot, however I have run into a problem with my impressions dropping off almost 40%, I am almost positive none of my keywords were any lower the 5, much less off the front page entirely. I'm not opted in the content network, but I am in the search network. I have done a few tests in AOL & Ask, and the ads are showing there. Do you guys think the other search network sites could account for the missing impressions?
Yes many a times, you wouldn't know where the surprise may come from. In your case, the Other Search networks are definitely adding to the trauma of your impressions.