I run a computer related website. I get a pretty good CTR from what I understand (unfortunately I can't put it here). The only problem I can see is that because the users coming to my site are pretty computer savvy, they'll just skip right over my Ads because they are so use to seeing them on the Internet. Are there topics out there that get generally higher CTRs because of the types of people who click through, the types of Ads that are displayed, etc? For example, I would think an Ad for "free money" would bring a high CTR if that Ad was placed on a Casino site. Anyone have any personal success/failures with different subject matter or topics?
ALL topics can get a high CTR, it depends on how targeted your visitors are and how well the ads are integrated into your site.
Although almost any topic can get a high CTR with elbow grease, some topics inherently have very high CTRs. You want winners? You want me to put my KBCafe hat on and just discuss what my site is doing today to try to make money tomorrow and the next day and the next? You want my top 2 topics for how to make it in the New World? You know what? I am going to give them to you. Right here. Right now. OK. Here goes. Write them down -- no handouts here!: Jobs and shopping. BTW, that's a modified quote from the Jim Cramer during the Internet bubble (Feb 29th 2000).
I also run computer related website and my visitors is more smarter because they using adsense blocker for firefox.
On top of my head, consumer items can get decent CTR - eg mobile phones, or laptops, PDAs. Things that people can easily identify with. "Mesothelioma Lawyers" will not. I run 2 travel websites and do get double-digit CTR sometimes. I guess same goes with airfare-related websites. I guess things that cost between $100 to $2,000 of consumer products and services can get decent CTR.