Associate Programs Newsletter #265
Forums are buzzing over a new AdSense tip which is producing dramatic increases in CTR and revenue.
CONTENTS:
1. Four-fold increase in AdSense click-throughs
2. Google holds AdSense Optimization Webinar
3. More footage from underground seminar
4. MaxBounty buys LeadCrunch
5. Microsoft/Claria deal killed
6. A newsletter so darn good we pay for it
7. Coming soon… Our new project
8. Thought for today: Build your database
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Four-fold increase in AdSense click-throughs
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Here’s an important AdSense tip, which in some cases has increased click-through (CTR) four-fold and even seven-fold in one case.
AdSense publishers have found that if you place graphics directly above AdSense ads, you attract attention to the ads and increase click-throughs – and revenue.
What works really well is placing a horizontal row of four images directly above a borderless 728 x 90 leaderboard.
You can see Before and After pages here…
https://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=17104
The tactic is also being discussed here…
https://www.webmasterworld.com/forum89/7961.htm
…where one webmaster reports a SEVEN-FOLD increase in CTR.
There are also brief discussions on the topic here…
https://www.associateprograms.com/discus/ftopic11918.html
Here’s an older discussion on pictures and AdSense…
https://www.associateprograms.com/discus/ftopic10412.html
Webmasters have at least three theories on why this AdSense tactic works so well:
Some say the graphics catch the eye, which then goes to the links, which are on-topic. Now that the links have actually been READ, they have a good chance of getting the click.
Some think the tactic makes the AdSense links look like captions.
Others think the links look like part of a site’s navigation. People click on them expecting to find more of the site’s content.
Whatever the reason, it works.
Fortunately for AdSense publishers, AdSense has decided that the tactic is acceptable.
This reminds me of a lesson I learned years ago while designing pages for a daily newspaper.
At newspaper design seminars, I was taught that, after the main heading on a page, the most important spot is under a photograph.
The eye is naturally drawn to the photograph. The reader looks underneath the photo, expecting to find words describing the photo.
“Always place a caption underneath a photo,” I was taught.
The same principle applies on the Internet.
NOTE: Using a leaderboard AdSense panel ensures that the words “Ads by Goooooogle” appear AFTER the ads, and do not get in the way, between the graphics and the links.
If you try this tactic, you’ll probably want to experiment using different graphics to see which ones attract the most attention. Dull, boring photos won’t do the trick, in newspapers or on the Net.
Some webmasters are rotating images to keep them fresh.
One webmaster has generously provided the HTML code you can use to display the graphics:
https://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=17104&page=7
(scroll down to find it)
You’re probably wondering if this tip obeys the AdSense Terms of Service.
On the WebmasterWorld Forum, AdSenseAdvisor says. “…placing images above AdSense ads is not necessarily prohibited by program policies. However, depending on the method of implementation this could be considered ‘encouraging users to click on ads’.
“Encouraging users to click on the Google ads appearing on your site is prohibited by AdSense program policies.”
So if you’re going to use graphics above ads, make sure you don’t do it in a deceptive way.
If in doubt, you can contact the AdSense folk and ask if your implementation is acceptable.
Happy click-throughs!
[UPDATE: AdSense has tightened its rules on the use of graphics adjacent to individual AdSense ads.]========================================
2. Google holds AdSense Optimization Webinar
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If you want to learn AdSense tips that work, one of the best sources is still AdSense itself.
A team of specialists from AdSense’s Optimization division recently held a webinar for 100 participants, all keen to learn about the latest AdSense optimization techniques.
The webinar also included three successful AdSense webmasters who presented their insights into what they believe rakes in the AdSense dollars for them.
The discussion was led by Phoebe Ho, “AdSense Optimizer Extraordinaire”.
The discussion was a bit long-winded. To save you time, here’s a quick summary of her tips:
Ad Position:
As you would expect, ads placed above the fold, in the middle of the page and close to the content do best.
Phoebe also recommended you bear in mind what your visitor is looking for when they visit your site, and place the ads accordingly. For example, placing an ad at the bottom of a long series of text makes sense – it gives your visitor a place to go next.
Ad Format:
According to the AdSense team, the large 336 x 280 rectangle is the most successful, followed by the 300 x 250 medium rectangle and then the 160 x 600 skyscraper.
So bigger and wider is better.
Obviously these formats don’t suit all websites, so the advice was to fit the size and placement of your ads to the format of your web page.
Ad Colors:
The color palette you choose is an important factor. Phoebe suggests that the most successful palettes are those that harmonize with the colors of your website.
To avoid what the AdSense team call “ad blindness”, they also recommend rotating your color palette to add variety and freshness.
Which Pages Should Include AdSense:
As long as they comply with AdSense guidelines, you can place your ads on any and every page of your website.
Using Channels:
One of the most important factors in determining the success of your AdSense campaign is tracking what works and what doesn’t. This can be achieved by using Channels to test, track and change your ads until you get a format that suits.
Each of the chosen webmasters…
Brad Berman – HybridCars.com
Mauricio Freitas – GeekZone.co.nz
and Tim Carter – AskTheBuilder.com
…then spoke about what they believed worked for them.
It was pleasing to learn that they all focused on quality content as their number one priority, with their AdSense ads simply adding value to their pages.
The other important point they all raised is the need to continually experiment, test and track different formats. A simple change like moving a skyscraper format from the left to the right side of the page can make a dramatic difference in AdSense revenue.
If you want to read the full report, go to:
https://www.google.com/services/adsense_webinar.html
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3. More footage from underground seminar
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Yanik Silver has released additional video footage from his much talked about, sold-out “Underground Online Marketing Seminar”.
The first clip features Richard Beaty talking about portals. Most people think you can’t make money with a portal – well guess again – Richard’s portal generates over $250k in revenue (and that’s in a town of less than 10,000 people).
The second video is of Morgan Westerman. Perhaps you’ve heard of Morgan’s website TheInterviewWithGod.com. In less than two and half years Morgan’s site had over 25,000,000 unique visitors without spending a cent on advertising. (More importantly, he’s turned that free traffic into a 500,000+ mailing list and $1M in orders.)
You can watch him talk about “Buzz Marketing” tricks on the video.
I hope these video clips will still be online by the time you get there.
Yanik has already removed the first sets of clips so I suggest you go there fast.
[UPDATE: This offer sold out. Yanik now has a superb physical newsletter, Maverick Business Insider, which contains in-depth interviews with Maverick entrepreneurs. He launched it with a fantastic introductory offer – the first edition FREE. All you pay is postage and handling. Plus he’s giving away his superb “34 Rules for Maverick Entreprenurs” book and other goodies. Here’s my Maverick Business Insider review.]========================================
4. MaxBounty buys LeadCrunch
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JP Suave’s affiliate network MaxBounty has bought Brian Welch’s LeadCrunch network.
Brian says he’s going to concentrate mainly on running his network of online niche stores.
Story:
https://www.leadcrunch.com/user.html?news_id=82
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5. Microsoft/Claria deal killed
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Commonsense prevailed. Microsoft has listened to reason and avoided a public relations nightmare. Hooray!
Story:
https://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3519521
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6. A newsletter so darn good we pay for it
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I’ve been a paying subscriber to Planet Ocean’s Search Engine News monthly newsletter for several years.
It’s one of the most important tools in my toolkit.
For up-to-date, in-depth, carefully researched news on what the search engines are doing and how to rank well in them, Search Engines News is absolutely essential reading.
There’s none better.
Planet Ocean’s President, Stephen Mahaney, is a very smart guy – and enormously successful.
I reckon it makes sense to pay careful attention to anything he says.
In an interview with Ros, he offers some self-promotional stuff, but also very important insights…
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7. Coming soon… Our new project
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I’ve hired a really talented new assistant who also has about 10 times my energy.
He’s working on a new project, spending hundreds of hours on research, and he’s finding out stuff you’re going to want to know about.
I’ll tell you more about it soon.
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8. Thought for today: Build your database
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“The smartest of all affiliate marketers are striving to build a database of customers.”
– Stephen Mahaney, Planet Ocean.
https://www.searchenginehelp.com/signup/
All the best
Allan Gardyne