Low clickthrough rate.

thisisull · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 10:33 AM

I'm on Adsense and am a bit surprised how low the clickthrough rate is for 15 days on 5,389 pages only 51 that's 0.9% is this typical or low?

nickc · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 04:24 PM

People seem to be more wary of clicking on ads these days - I know that in my surfing habits, I rarely click on them. Are the ads tuned to the content of your site - is it likely to appeal to people who visit your site?

Nick

thisisull · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 05:03 PM

I am constantly going back to review pages but some ads just dont make sense.
Heres a football page with brain tumor ads
http://www.thisisull.com/sports/sundayfooty2.html
Heres Nightclubs - half empty
http://www.thisisull.com/nightclubs.html

Its confusing to say the least, with terrible returns.

fasteddie · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 07:44 PM

Hi

The football page is serving PSA's which always happens if mediabot hasn't come around and indexed the page, and also if there are objectionable, or trigger words within the page (such as murder, killing, terrorist etc).

The nightclub page only showing half ads would suggest that either there are not enough advertisers targetting the specific phrases on the page, or that mediabot cannot make a judjement as to the precise nature of the page. For instance although you have nightclucn specific text in the centre on the page there is also a lot of erroneous (to mediabot, not saying your text is erroneous to users) text in the side menus that does not relate directly to nightclubbing. This may be causing problems with precise targetting.

Hope this helps
f

thisisull · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 08:55 PM

Thanks for taking your time out to help me.
I really appreciate it. I'm looking into your comments and will continue to sharpen these pages!
Thanks again.
thisisull.

fasteddie · #6 (**permalink**) 01-06-2004, 08:03 AM

No problem at all, adsense is still a fairly new program so we're all still learning a lot as to how best to optimise for it.

Not sure if you've thought about it, but another (similar) revenue stream you might want to consider is PPC search results. Basically allowing people to search the web through your site and taking a percentage of revenue from paid listings. I'm not sure what kind of traffic you get but I would think both Mirago and Espotting would consider you.

Also at the sake of a blatant plug, you can submit your site to InterSearching.co.uk if you'd like another listing in a UK specific search engine!
http://www.intersearching.co.uk

Good luck with the site.

cheers
f

thisisull · #7 (**permalink**) 01-06-2004, 06:12 PM

Cheers for the advice, I joined your site, and I'm glad to say it looks top notch, and I'm really pleased to be accepted.

Best of all it's people that make a great business.
Check this out.
http://www.intersearching.co.uk

fasteddie · #8 (**permalink**) 01-06-2004, 09:00 PM

Many thanks for the kind words. Here's hoping for a successfull 2004 for everyone.

f

trsiyengar · #9 (**permalink**) 01-11-2004, 12:57 PM

After searching a lot for other mode of ads, I had to settle with AdSense; there is little scope for others to serve to the extent of Google AdSense does. Firstly, these are not annoying one in type, no pop ups and pop under; secondly, the ads are mostly connected to the subject posted in the pages. Finally, they are the one leading the market, with lots of resources, queuing advertisers in their doorsteps!

But what I found so nice about AdSence is, it’s placing the perfectly relevant advertisement in each page that deals with a specific subject. Of course, one or two ads that appear to be irrelevant, just because of it is mostly the ads from "Public services" and that of some Charities. (as everyone knows, no pay for the clicks on these ads.) I think it is a stopgap ad till a relevant one is found.

The general tendency of many net surfers, not to click on these ads and many people, as a principle, never click on these ads. I do now start doing so, clicking on these banners if it is really relevant to my subject or it is of any interest to me. Hope every one takes a peep on the subject in which they are interested.

The impressions that doesn’t bring money; but the clicks. Now, after placing these AdSense banners, I am wondering whether I will really get a chance to see my pay check! mmmm., let's wait and see!

TRS Iyengar
http://www.trsiyengar.com

fasteddie · #10 (**permalink**) 01-11-2004, 05:25 PM

Hi trsiyengar

I hope you have success with Adsense, it's been a revelation for many publisers it that it's really the first time that people can monetise purely content based sites without irritating and alienating users.

As you have found you will see PSA's (public service announcements - mostly charity adverts) untill mediabot comes around and spiders your page. The best thing to do is once you have uploaded a new page, to make sure you visit that page via a web browser which will trigger a visit from mediabot. This means that hopefully when your visitors arrive you will already have targetted ads.

The other think I would say is don't under any circumstances click on adsense adverts on your own site. Many, many publishers have been booted from Adsense for fraudelent activity and Google's fraud control is much better than most networks - even a test click from the same ip you use to log into your adsense account is enough to get you a warning email or a ban.

Good luck with your site
f

trsiyengar · #11 (**permalink**) 01-11-2004, 10:20 PM

Hi fasteddie,

Thanks for the reminder about not to click on the ads from one's own IP. This is where many people err to get booted out.

Hope things improve to grow more clicks n checks!

TRS Iyengar
http://www.trsiyengar.com

Tog · #12 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 06:11 AM

Mine is much lower at 0.2%. I think that banner adverts are getting fewer response as time goes by. Perhaps because people have become conditioned to ignore them now.

Regards

Tog

fasteddie · #13 (**permalink**) 01-14-2004, 06:16 AM

Tog

Is that your adsense click through rate or banner ads? That does seem particularly low - are you running a forum type site, with lots of repeat visits and high page imp to visit? How do you think the targetting is? Alow which of the 4 ad formats are you using.

I won't post by CTR as it's against the TOS however it is orders or magnitude higher than 0.2% Perhaps we can all help you improve it by offering advice?

f

trsiyengar · #14 (**permalink**) 01-15-2004, 02:32 AM

I think discussing the click rates and other vital informations on this or in any other forum would invite trouble for the webmasters. I am afraid, if anyone reveals the the data over this forum might even get out of AdSense.

fasteddie wrote:
"I won't post by CTR as it's against the TOS however it is orders or magnitude higher than 0.2% Perhaps we can all help you improve it by offering advice?"

This is where I really need some advise to start with. How to get more revenue earnings with AdSense? If it is a violation of the terms of this forum or the Google's Adsense, then I hope to get some PM.
Thanks,

TRS Iyengar
http://www.trsiyengar.com

john678 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-17-2004, 03:00 PM

0.9% does seem quite low. I guess the average is around 1.5% - 5%.

I won't say how much mine is as it's against Adsense TOS.

GlobalLifestyles.com · #16 (**permalink**) 01-21-2004, 11:51 AM

Hi,

I thought I would just mosey on over to your se and add my site but (as usual) I found that my category was too difficult to place in the available categories. My site is for people who want to restart their lives overseas as entrepreneurs. Hmmm.

This is not the first time, I've run into this problem (having a REALLY teeny niche) but still... Any suggestions?

Kind regards,

Anne

fasteddie · #17 (**permalink**) 01-22-2004, 02:16 PM

Hi Anne

Sorry, but in which site were you looking for a category to add to? Also in an ideal world what category would your site be included in?

thanks
f

mediahound · #18 (**permalink**) 01-22-2004, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisull

I'm on Adsense and am a bit surprised how low the clickthrough rate is for 15 days on 5,389 pages only 51 that's 0.9% is this typical or low?

Well, I visited the page you mentioned in another post, further in the thread. I noticed two blocks of google ads. This is against their terms. In addition, if you were to remove one of the blocks of ads, you may see your CTR jump twofold.

As far as the value of the ads as well as the clicks, My portfolio sees anywhere from 2-3% CTR, so you should re-consider what your doing right/wrong.

I'd also like to point out this thread where I discussed some numbers.
Google Adsense Talk

A T Best,

Jarred

thisisull · #19 (**permalink**) 01-23-2004, 05:09 AM

'I noticed two blocks of google ads. This is against their terms.'

Yikes I didn't know that! Must have missed it in the small print somewhere...
I'd better take off the second..

thanks again Mediahound.
thisisull.

mediahound · #20 (**permalink**) 01-23-2004, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisisull

Yikes I didn't know that! Must have missed it in the small print somewhere...
I'd better take off the second..thanks again Mediahound.

Surely.
I'm sure it'll help your CTR issues you've been having sitewide, as well.

Hey everyone, it's FRIDAY.
I'm up early for a trip to the Keys, here in Florida. Taking some family in from Europe to see some sights.
Hope everyone else enjoys their weekend!

- Jarred

trsiyengar · #21 (**permalink**) 01-23-2004, 07:43 AM

Hi fasteddie,

I have pasted the AdSense ads in my other web site also and for this no need to take any permission, I was told. Also, in my another mirror site. I did post the ads as listed in the main site. ( http://trsiyengar.tripod.com & http://www.trsiyengar.com/srivaishnavam )

Can it make any diffierence? - CTR really not encouraging as of date. Hope to see the golden day harvest. Had every visitor had the sense to click!!

TRS Iyengar
http://www.trsiyengar.com