Optimising Google Adsense

Many of us monetise our websites through Google Adsense - indeed, AdSense is one of the revenue streams implemented on Just Chat. I only place the ads on the chat forum pages; other areas of the site are monetised through other advertising and affiliate programs. I thought I had optimised and implemented AdSense quite well - until I was inspired by Google’s AdSense Optimisation Webinar.

Here is how my previous AdSense implementation looked:

Screenshot showing Just Chat’s previous AdSense implementation (click to enlarge)

I thought I had done a pretty good job - the colours were the same as the chat forum login box, which I hoped would attract the eyes of my visitors. However, after some experimentation and inspiration from the Google Webinar, I decided to change the colours and appearance:

Screenshot showing Just Chat’s new AdSense implementation (click to enlarge)

As you can see, I changed the background colour to match the site’s overall background. I changed the link colours to match the rest of the site, and removed the ad block’s border.

Now, I won’t reveal specific revenue or click through rate figures, but I will say that my daily revenue from AdSense TRIPLED after implementing this change.

My biggest regret? Not paying enough attention to AdSense optimisation sooner - I have been running AdSense for about two years now. It isn’t a good feeling when I think of all the money I have lost by not optimising this ad block earlier.

Don’t make the same mistake yourself - watch the Google Webinar and get optimising your ads! Post your success / failure stories here - it will be good reading, and inspiration for others.

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11 Responses to “Optimising Google Adsense”

2 BROS BLOGGING Says:
May 19th, 2007 at 2:53 am
Good post. I’ve actually never watched that Webinar and have been using Adsense for a while. I’ve having to view it this weekend.
Martin Reed Says:
May 19th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Thanks for your comment - I hope the Webinars are useful to you. This article shows that a little experimentation with your ads can reap large rewards!
The Happy Rock Says:
August 4th, 2007 at 3:39 am
I will have to give the blending tip a try. I am not getting many clicks, but I made the ads with a blue rounded border. They are quite obvious. Hopefully this improves click thru some.
Martin Reed - Blog Author Says:
August 8th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
The Happy Rock - I found that removing the border and matching the background of the ads to blend in with the rest of my site really helped my click through rate. Many other webmasters have found the same - try to blend the ads as much as possible so they look like the rest of your site and you should see better results.
Bollywood Says:
October 27th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
On my website there are many pageviews but not clicks .. i don’t know how to improve my Cclick rate.
Martin Reed - Blog Author Says:
October 29th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Bollywood - You need to continue experimenting in order to achieve the best results. Play around with where you display the ads, change their size, change their appearance. Keep on trying new things and never stop! You can always improve your revenue through experimentation and it should be a continuous process.
Revealed: My online community revenue breakdown » Online Community Building Says:
January 24th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
[...] Google AdSense - Not much to say here; the program either works for you, or it doesn’t. They key is to try them out and experiment with your ad placements and appearance - the smallest changes can yield great revenue increases. [...]
Tom Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Yeah blending the ad with the rest of the menu layout was definitely a good call. I’m amazed that it TRIPLED the number of clicks… I can’t believe people are affected by aesthetic things like this so much…
10 ways to make money from online communities | Online Communities | Build an Online Community Says:
September 26th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
[...] If advertisers are keen to gain exposure amongst your community’s audience, you stand to make good revenue. Just make sure you always experiment with the placement of your AdSense blocks, as well as their appearance. [...]
Martin Reed - Blog Author Says:
October 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Tom - Exactly; that’s why I always tell people to never stop experimenting! Even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences.
Chuck Says:
October 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
The webinars are key. They have saved me lots of time. Do you feel you have had success with Adsense. They are so many stories out there its hard to tell which ones are actually legit.

Leave your comment and earn some link love!

2 BROS BLOGGING Says:

May 19th, 2007 at 2:53 am

Good post. I’ve actually never watched that Webinar and have been using Adsense for a while. I’ve having to view it this weekend.

Martin Reed Says:

May 19th, 2007 at 11:37 am

Thanks for your comment - I hope the Webinars are useful to you. This article shows that a little experimentation with your ads can reap large rewards!

The Happy Rock Says:

August 4th, 2007 at 3:39 am

I will have to give the blending tip a try. I am not getting many clicks, but I made the ads with a blue rounded border. They are quite obvious. Hopefully this improves click thru some.

Martin Reed - Blog Author Says:

August 8th, 2007 at 1:29 pm

The Happy Rock - I found that removing the border and matching the background of the ads to blend in with the rest of my site really helped my click through rate. Many other webmasters have found the same - try to blend the ads as much as possible so they look like the rest of your site and you should see better results.

Bollywood Says:

October 27th, 2007 at 6:26 pm

On my website there are many pageviews but not clicks .. i don’t know how to improve my Cclick rate.

October 29th, 2007 at 9:54 pm

Bollywood - You need to continue experimenting in order to achieve the best results. Play around with where you display the ads, change their size, change their appearance. Keep on trying new things and never stop! You can always improve your revenue through experimentation and it should be a continuous process.

Revealed: My online community revenue breakdown » Online Community Building Says:

January 24th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

[...] Google AdSense - Not much to say here; the program either works for you, or it doesn’t. They key is to try them out and experiment with your ad placements and appearance - the smallest changes can yield great revenue increases. [...]

Tom Says:

August 29th, 2008 at 9:06 am

Yeah blending the ad with the rest of the menu layout was definitely a good call. I’m amazed that it TRIPLED the number of clicks… I can’t believe people are affected by aesthetic things like this so much…

10 ways to make money from online communities | Online Communities | Build an Online Community Says:

September 26th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

[...] If advertisers are keen to gain exposure amongst your community’s audience, you stand to make good revenue. Just make sure you always experiment with the placement of your AdSense blocks, as well as their appearance. [...]

October 6th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

Tom - Exactly; that’s why I always tell people to never stop experimenting! Even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences.

Chuck Says:

October 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

The webinars are key. They have saved me lots of time. Do you feel you have had success with Adsense. They are so many stories out there its hard to tell which ones are actually legit.

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