It's not all about blending... (HUGE CTR increase)

NOTE: This article has been taken from http://www.ad-sensing.com - Planet's Best AdSense Tips


I've been doing some research lately on how to increase AdSense CTR. Click-Through-Rate is a very important factor, probably even more important than traffic, because what's the purpose of having high traffic with low CTR => low earnings (in the meaning of AdSense of course).
Since I know for myself, I've been writing about (and doing so too, of course) blending your ads' colors to match your content, or using complement colors. But, I've made a sensational discovery few days ago. Read on!
Please click "Read More" button to continue reading.

So, what have I done? On one of my websites (did I tell you about it? www.rammstein-online.com) I had only one AdSense for content unit, and it was 468x60 (banner) located right beneath the header image. It was in center. It did not perform well from the beginning, but I didn't really pay AdSensing attention to that website because, even when I receive a click, it has really low payout rate. I have been searching for some ancient screenshot of the old version of ad (made to blend), but I haven't found it, so I'll have to describe it: it was orange titles, white text and URL and black background and border. Made to blend my site's colors. The CTR was waaay to low, somewhere about 0.6 %. But I didn't mind it a lot, as I said.
Then, suddenly, following my always-in-head AdSense motto, I told myself: experiment. I made a totally new Ad Block. It was also 468x60 banner, but the properties are different: it had black background, red very rounded border, red titles, orange URLs and light yellow (almost white) text! And guess what? My CTR increased for no more no less than 2 %.
All of that happened two months ago, and now I have a CTR of about 2.2%. And steady.
So, I've been doing a research on when does this happen, because I tried to apply the same thing here (ad-sensing.com) but my CTR fell for about 0.2-3 %.
1. Make sure your visitor doesn't know what AdSense is. Many visitors have some "adsense auto blocking" system in their brain and eyes, so they simply ignore AdSense. But make sure that your visitor doesn't know, or knows a little about AdSense. It's good on sites which are dedicated to topic like flowers, music etc. More or less, AdSense blocking users are mostly on webmasters, web design and similar sites. So, this method probably won't work if you have one of those.
2. Make sure the ads are relevant. Already discussed here. The equation is simple; when the ad looks "attractive" (ie you've placed some "interesting" colors), visitor (who, btw, doesn't know what AdSense is) will look at them, but will click on them only if they are interesting.
3. Don't "over-color" it. Experimenting with different colors is crucial here, but never place some too attractive colors. For example, I would always leave the ad background color the same as my page's background color. Don't place e.g. red-backgrounded ad on black-backgrounded page. It won't work (unless you are complementing colors).
That's it, more or less. Try these methods and tell me how you did


NOTE: This article has been taken from http://www.ad-sensing.com - Planet's Best AdSense Tips

 

If you take an article from another source use the [ QUOTE] bbCode, it is used to show where you gotten the source text from.

1) How can you control if your visitors know what adsense is?
2) The service you choose makes sure the ad's are on point unless you get to pick the category yourself.
3) Yeah that is correct do not be to flaming!

 

I believe it's his website so it doesn't really matter.

Good tips, I'll be sure to change my colour scheme on my blog and see if I get any improvements.

 

Yeah, it is my website. Thanks, crystak

 

A lot of people think blending is the way to go. I'm not saying it's not, but it depends on the website. I've had success with blending and success with having funky AdSense ad colors. I've tried it all.

 

I definitely agree with you on that. I have been testing different ways to put my ads on my site and watched how my CTR and RPC fluctuates. On one site I have gray background, a blue banner, and a white 728x90 link ad (right below, for the illusion of a horizontal nav. menu.) which works wonders. I guess it depends on the site. What the niche is. who your target audience is. Blending is a safe way, though its not the end-all be-all, in my opinion.

 

That's exactly what I am saying

 

some nice point there, making your visitor, dont think its adsense. then what about your most visitors are webmaster?

i think webmaster is not adsense blind. but they sure can scan adsense, and notice it, and wont click it lol.