My site is 95% teaching English to Spanish-speaking people (in Spanish) and 5% lessons in English aimed at the rest of the world - and it's free. I have made efforts to vary the content in, for example, comprehension exercises and I have a variety of articles on different subjects. But the Google Adsense computer - which I try to love - can see only one subject - "Learn English". I get some flotsam ads like dating sites, videos, travel etcetera but not enough to muscle out adverts for English lessons that students have to pay for. Adverts for learning abroad are of interest, however. Thankfully, I'm permitted to block most of the routine "Learn English" ads and I do, not because they are the competition but because in my opinion students at a free site are not looking for something they have to pay for, so these ads are a waste of time, space and money. It's like trying to sell migraines on a site for migraine sufferers. How can I tell Google I'd just like adverts relevant to young, intelligent, mobile and vibrant people who are going to be the high earners of the future (and may be now)? Any suggestions? John at ingles-gratis123.com
I don't know how to help you, but I would HIGHLY recommend you take down the two rectangle ads you have but in the TOP of your site. Leave the laderboard. Google AdSense ToS says: Ads that push MAIN CONTENT under the FOLD, are not permited! that means, you can't put big ads, and make the POST/ARTICLE go too much down, It has to be OVER the fold. So I'd suggest you try to put one rectangle UNDER the post, and the other one in the sidebar, or you choose.
Keep in mind that even though you may see irrelevant ads in your browser on an occasion, other browsers will show relevant ads all the time. It depends on many factors. There are thousands of AdSense ads in use every single moment. The ad you see today may never show up again, because that AdWords advertiser has decided to take a break. Also, usually the highest bidding ads win first. So, for instance, in your browser one ad's bid has won now, in a different browser it will be a different ad. And on and on and on. So, you can really never know what other people see in their tablets or computers. But I am pretty positive that the majority of people see relevant ads.
I would add the Visitors location and interes based on what he searches in google (interest based search) too.
Thanks very much for these comments. Back Y: I didn't know about the rule you mention and I'll need to follow your advice. The two rectangles are high up a) because I don't want to interfere with the readers' concentration on the text (obviously I appreciate that it's a premium position) and b) I'm too inept to move them about. They'll both have to go at the very end of articles - which I thought could be a good position but trials with putting the Leaderboard there were a failure. I can't put either one at the side because the template doen't permit it and it hasn't been an effective position in the past. I appreciate the quikad points too - I see local ads for Colombia so I assume that readers in Mexico etc. are seeing something else. Once again, many thanks. John at ingles-gratis123
Try to reposition one rectangle at the end of the post, that's my highest earning ad placement till now. You don't have to put 3 allways.
Thanks, Back Y. I woke up in the middle of the night and took down the two big boxes. I've used 2 towers on the right and they look pretty good, better than the 'bitty' ads I had there before. Maybe because I'm getting more visitors (now going over 6,000 a week). Also, raising my content above the fold gives a much better 'visitor experience', I think. I also bought an ad on qwikad.com, which could be great for me if it does what it says. So these forums do produce more business! John at ingles-gratis123.com