Mine is the opposite, provide poor quality information and a poor design with an attractive Ad above the fold. Visitors actually "want" to click the Ads to get away from your site and find something better looking and with the content they need. My sites with excellent content and killer designs have lower CTR because people come and leech the info they need and leave.
hard work+quality content+patience+frequent update+SEO = traffic+blending+knowing TOS = adsense revenue
The "secret" is traffic. If you don't have traffic, no amount of time spent on ad placement, blending, and keyword relevancy will help much. Spend all your time getting traffic first, then worry about all the other stuff later.
every secret already been revealed here, but the TRUE secret is FOCUS. Some people already build a good site but unable to make money from adsense because they ignoring this term. It just like a salesman have a good product but unable to sell it. You must create a site that good enough in order to generate income. So, keep focusing on traffic generate since without visitor your site will become a rubbish site. Focus to bring your site far enough and don't easily give up.
Don’t know if it will help, but here’s what I’ve learned in the last year. Focus primarily on the content and building a reputation for your site rather than on making money and the money will come in time, but only with constant hard work (don’t shy from working your butt off). Always look to be your own harshest critic and try to see the site as one of your readers would whilst never being afraid to make changes in order to build a better user experience. I have completed 3 redesigns in the space of this year – each the result of me being honest with myself and realising that things could be (and should be) better. I did loose some readers as the changes were implemented but my traffic is now better than ever (in the long term). Study your reader’s use of the site with some sort of stats program. Look at how they navigate the site and try to make it easier for them to find more of the content that you have in your archives that could be of interest to them. Whilst increasing traffic is the key, many overlook the important matter of trying to keep users in the site once they are there. The longer they stay in the site the better as the greater impression your site will make and the more likely they are to come back (double edged sword here as these repeat visitors will become ad blind, but they will help you establish a firm reader base that, in turn, will help establish your standing with new visitors). Blend ads, but no to the point of trying to ‘trick’ clicks out of people. If your site looks like its only there to gain Adsense clicks this will be picked up by most – and this will be to your detriment. Also, if you overly blend your conversions will be poor – so whilst you may get clicks, you won’t be earning as much as you could. Believe in yourself. And, one those days where your confidence is wavering (we all have those days) ask yourself why. Are you setting unrealistic targets? If so, try to be a little more realistic whist still taxing yourself. Finally, avoid any ‘quick schemes’ offering traffic or get rich quick promises but do keep reading forums to learn from others. Look at ‘competing’ sites – what are they doing better than you? What are you doing better then them? (if there is something, draw more attention to it). Help others with sites when they ask for it – you never know where their site will be placed in a year or two (that small site could leap frog your own). Be genuine. Have a pride in your work that is infused with passion. Dull prose never inspired anyone. Finally, wear sun crème (sorry, couldn’t resist this one).
I have tons of experience with affiliate sales and all other aspects of monetization, but I just recently completed my first month with adsense. My earnings were just over $150. The site is about 3 months old and it has only been running adsense for a month now. Every week I run a new test and waht I have seen so far is that the large squares, especially when in contrasting colors to the rest of the site, perform extremely well.
Having fun with writing content. I figure if I make good content then some people will find it helpful to them. Providing valuable information to my readers is what is important. The extra money is just a little side bonus.