I believe the only way to be successful in adsense is one word Traffic ... If you have traffic even the ugliest site will make you money
adsense success is the result of unique attractive content creating the potential to high traffic because all is fully SEO'd as well as fully adsense optimized resulting as ForgottenCreature said in happy webmaster! ravenplus lack of high traffic NOW is result of lack of HIGH work yesterday and the days/years before. I have VERY high traffic these days (like >1Mio hits/>15GB/>24k uv per day ) - but I had very high workload the last 10.5 yrs !! hence here very happy and always webmaster with one site only and zero cent advertising cost / zero link farming so avenplus kick ur A.. and get working / creating / producing something you LOVE from the bottom of your heart and soul and you see that having traffic actually is the reverse side of enjoying to WORK if you found a niche/job you LOVE to CREATE/work/produce !! the more fun you have while actually working - the more traffic you get = the more happiness you experience !!!
Yes, Traffic and back links are more helpful to gain the earning. Google Adsense is best way to gain the money online.
Do not break the Big Goo's TOS to share stats but is there anyone here who receives a check every month off Adsence who would like to shed some insite on their technique. (i.e. do you own one money site or have many..high paying niche...ect.)