How one Google Adsense settings doubled my CTR!

[rayan]

I have been using XFactor adsense strategy for about 5 months and always wonder how best can we maximize the CTR. And out of curiosity, I change one of the settings in my adsense account for a week to test out and I am delighted by the results =)

The setting is: Interest Based Ads. If you are doing micro niche, I would strongly advice you to turn this setting off! After disabling this setting, I have seen an increase in CTR, one channel even close to double (from 15% to 26%). This experiment is conducted without any other changes to the ads.

To change the setting, go to your google adsense acount under account settings, click edit the interest based ads and choose the disable option.



I have also attach 2 screen shots showing some of the improvements before and after.

BEFORE
Total Average CTR (on 8 channels) = 5.59%

AFTER
Total Average CTR (on 8 channels) = 8.3%

Edit: I removed the actual screen shot showing my adsense account due to the advice of the kind Warriors =)

Important Note
Before you go and change the settings, please understand this sharing is based on my personal observations. And I highly encourage to only change this settings for your adsense account if you are targeting micro niches.

Anyone has similar experience to share?

[AllanCollins]

Awesome tip! Thanks.

[Joseph Then]

Do you know that you're violating the TOS of Adsense by displaying all your CTR?

[x3xsolxdierx3x]

Yes, get rid of those CTRs ASAP.....

[Ernie Lonardo]

Has anyone else tried this..results?

I may have it wrong but it sounds like turning the setting off would make the ads less relevant?

[Underground SEO]

Great tip there, also it is against googles TOS but I doubt they will find out to he honest! Might be an idea to get rid of the screenshots though to be sure

[Spyros]

Interesting, i will test that thanx

[Fraggler]

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Has anyone else tried this..results?

I may have it wrong but it sounds like turning the setting off would make the ads less relevant?

In theory, it will make the ads relevant to what the user is searching at present.

If a person who is usually interested in cats starts look at dresses, they want to see ads about dresses - not cats.

[Filter]

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Has anyone else tried this..results?

I may have it wrong but it sounds like turning the setting off would make the ads less relevant?

Yup, I tried it about 6 months ago on an arcade site I own (don't ask!) and can confirm CTR increased by about 65% and eCPM by about 10-15%

As Fraggler said, it shows ads relevant to the content on your site rather than ads that Google thinks is relevant to the user based on their browsing habits

Cheers

[Ernie Lonardo]

Thanks guys *runs off to change setting*

[DrGUID]

Wow, great tip - I'll give it a go!

I've noticed more and more of these ads - I wonder if they are messing up our stats? If someone visits a low value site then goes to a high value site, will low value ads show up on the high value site?

[unlimitedwealth]

Great share.

Just changed my settings as well. Make sense that ads should be relevant to the micro niches and not the browser past behavior. Very logical.

[ahefner33]

I just want to bring this up and get some others opinion but does this interest based ads thing make any sense on Googles part? I just don't see how placing ads from previously visited sites on a site that you are CURRENTLY interested in could benefit the publisher, advertiser or Google. My mind set is if I am looking at a page about basketballs, I am interested in basketballs, then and there, not cruise vacations I was searching a day ago to help my mother in law find. Any thoughts?

Hefner

[Intrepreneur]

Under account settings I do not see this?

I chose account settings from the left hand column in my account. I'm on new interface.

[x3xsolxdierx3x]

Good job removing that CTR image

[x3xsolxdierx3x]

Is it possible to resize that one image here? Seems to stretch out the thread a bit....

[visit_faraz]

Okay, just made those changes now.
Will know the difference in a day or two.

Thanks,
Faraz

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by visit_faraz

Okay, just made those changes now.
Will know the difference in a day or two.

Thanks,
Faraz

How?

I do not see this in the setting page in my adsense account.

Thanks

[kevlah]

If you are having trouble finding the option in your AdSense account -

To opt out of ads that are based on user-interest categories:
1. Sign in to your AdSense account.
2. Visit your My Account tab.
3. Go to the Account Settings page.
4. In the Interest-based Ads Preference section, click edit.
5. Select the button marked Do not display ads based on user-interest categories and save your changes.

(as per the AdSense support centre, but I haven't enough posts to post a link)

[misterkailo]

Besides learning about XFactor method, this is another extremely helpful post! I will switch option and let you guys know my results as well!

[blogginginc]

Might this be, because when you have this setting on, many times just NO ads show up?.

Just wondering. In my case I always have this off.

[inter123]

I am not going to change anything for the time being because click through rate is high.

A question for the OP or others: what was the efect in terms of payment received after changing the option to 'Do not show ads that are based on user-interest categories'?

[jimkirk1943]

Originally Posted by inter123

A question for the OP or others: what was the efect in terms of payment received after changing the option to 'Do not show ads that are based on user-interest categories'?

Can i ask what makes you think there will be any effect ? Why should there be do you know something or have read something that makes you think there will be a effect in payout ??

[inter123]

If your website is on gardening and the user has a big interest in cooking then there will lots of ads on cooking. The cost per click is going to vary depending on niche.

Gardening might be paying £2 while cooking might be £0.50. With cooking ads, the payout is going to be less, I am assuming.

(Unless I totally misunderstood what the OP is talking about).

Originally Posted by jimkirk1943

Can i ask what makes you think there will be any effect ? Why should there be do you know something or have read something that makes you think there will be a effect in payout ??

[rayan]

Originally Posted by Filter

Yup, I tried it about 6 months ago on an arcade site I own (don't ask!) and can confirm CTR increased by about 65% and eCPM by about 10-15%

As Fraggler said, it shows ads relevant to the content on your site rather than ads that Google thinks is relevant to the user based on their browsing habits

Cheers

Wow, that's a great improvement! I think this setting is a MUST for arcade websites =)

Originally Posted by DrGUID

Wow, great tip - I'll give it a go!

I've noticed more and more of these ads - I wonder if they are messing up our stats? If someone visits a low value site then goes to a high value site, will low value ads show up on the high value site?

Yes, you are right. And it has vice versa effects as well. If you have a low value site and it will display high value ads if your visitors are coming from there.

Originally Posted by ahefner33

I just want to bring this up and get some others opinion but does this interest based ads thing make any sense on Googles part? I just don't see how placing ads from previously visited sites on a site that you are CURRENTLY interested in could benefit the publisher, advertiser or Google. My mind set is if I am looking at a page about basketballs, I am interested in basketballs, then and there, not cruise vacations I was searching a day ago to help my mother in law find. Any thoughts?

Hefner

Till date, I find that it does more harm than good for my sites but I believe it really depends on the type of sites that you are running. Some site owners may find it better to have this option enabled..

Originally Posted by Intrepreneur

Under account settings I do not see this?

I chose account settings from the left hand column in my account. I'm on new interface.

Have you found it? It is under Account >> Account Settings. Look for Interest Based Ads settings.

Originally Posted by visit_faraz

Okay, just made those changes now.
Will know the difference in a day or two.

Thanks,
Faraz

Look forward to hear from you =)

Originally Posted by misterkailo

Besides learning about XFactor method, this is another extremely helpful post! I will switch option and let you guys know my results as well!

Cool! Let us know how it goes for your sites!

Originally Posted by blogginginc

Might this be, because when you have this setting on, many times just NO ads show up?.

Just wondering. In my case I always have this off.

I have the many ads shown all the time several are relating to other niches before this setting was enabled. If you have this setting OFF for your site, you may want to turn it ON to test (if you are not targeting micro niches) and see the results.

Originally Posted by inter123

I am not going to change anything for the time being because click through rate is high.

A question for the OP or others: what was the efect in terms of payment received after changing the option to 'Do not show ads that are based on user-interest categories'?

My payment increased by 25% to 50% averaging across all 8 channels. I guess it is because I run profitable niches site (in terms of Adsense clicks) and really cannot allow other ads to take away my valuable space =)

[Ernie Lonardo]

Hmm I may change it back soon, my profit per click decreased big time.

[Joseph Then]

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Hmm I may change it back soon, my profit per click decreased big time.

I believe we should let it run for about 5-7 days before we make any conclusion.

I see an increased in about 1% CTR for myself but that's just one day. I can only conclude after 7 days if this setting will help me.

[jimkirk1943]

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Hmm I may change it back soon, my profit per click decreased big time.

How can you tell that so quickly ?

[Ernie Lonardo]

Because after changing it my next clicks were lower than ive ever had before.

Originally Posted by jimkirk1943

How can you tell that so quickly ?

[nettech]

Right, settings changed, lets see what happens!

[jimkirk1943]

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Because after changing it my next clicks were lower than ive ever had before.

I only ask because my clicks are always up and down i belive the advertisers pay different amounts per click at different times of the day i dont think i monitor my clicks so closely that i could tell in a 24 hour period if my clicks where paying less or not maybe i have to watch things more closely

[jimkirk1943]

Ok i`ve just changed it back i too have never hads such low paying clicks scary !! But i`ll follow this thread to see what happens with you guys !

[jimkirk1943]

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Because after changing it my next clicks were lower than ive ever had before.

Think your right Ernie screw that i was doing fine before today ha ha

[mejohn]

I just changed my settings. My normal CTR is around 6%. I will post my results.

[FiverrGuru]

thank you very much.

[Fraggler]

Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo

Because after changing it my next clicks were lower than ive ever had before.

From what you have been saying in some of your previous threads, Ernie, you aren't getting many clicks yet so it will be a bit premature to judge. The change in eCPM could have happened regardless. I would wait a week to get enough data before comparing the positive or the negative of the change. You will want at least 100 clicks to get a decent idea.

[Ernie Lonardo]

Fair enough, I'm willing to try it again when I get more clicks.

This is what happened... changed the setting

and my next few clicks were only 15 cents each.

Where previous to changing the setting....I was averaging 0.50 - $1+ per click

But I see your point I could of gave it more time I agree

Originally Posted by Fraggler

From what you have been saying in some of your previous threads, Ernie, you aren't getting many clicks yet so it will be a bit premature to judge. The change in eCPM could have happened regardless. I would wait a week to get enough data before comparing the positive or the negative of the change. You will want at least 100 clicks to get a decent idea.

[Vexo]

Thanks for the tips will try it now

[kokkada]

I think this tips will increase CTR but it reduces click value. You chance to get less value click.

I suggest all warrior forum members to avoid this tips...

[Kay King]

You need to carefully test this yourself before getting too excited. I gave it a try and my CTR did not change but my payments decreased.

When I changed it back the payments went back to higher amounts.

It might work better for some types of sites than for others - but don't just look at CTR - look at the profit, too.

kay

[misterkailo]

My CTR is reduced and average cost per click was also reduced. I think it is better not to change it. For example, if someone was visiting a plastic surgery or lawyer website, and then came to my niche site that pays about 25-30 cents per click, I might get clicks that cost over $2+ because it is an ad about plastic surgery.

After changing it, one of my site was getting about 4-5 cents per click, but before the change, it was averaging about 50 cents per click.

[misterkailo]

I don't believe in coincidence, but simply changing it back to interest-based ads for me has increased my CTR back up to 24% for today. Yesterday, I turned it off for the whole day to see if there is any improvements in CTR and cost per click, and it was 13% and the cost per click was about 22 cents per click.

I'm not saying turning it off is a bad idea, but it is only good for certain niche. If you are doing XFactor style stuff, then turning it off is a very bad idea.

[mejohn]

After day one, my ctr and pay are both up just over 50%. Too soon to tell for sure, but I will continue to report as time goes on.

Are you around, John from XFactor? If you were to try this with your Adsense account, we could know pretty much for certain if this works on a large scale or not.

[SyndicateMarketing]

I have a lot of sites with good ctr and click prices up to 7EUR, I've turned this thing off and will report you results after 1 week

[lisaann]

I really appreciate this tip and that Rayan brought it to my attention, but my earnings dropped about 3 to 4-fold with just this one change.

So do be careful with it. I get a lot of traffic and Adsense clicks so I was able to figure this out over about a 3-day span. If you're not getting much traffic I'd leave this test alone for now. I was shocked to see my earnings drop as much as they did just by checking off a tick box.

Lisa

[cagliostro]

Guys it is impossible to tell the difference in 2-3 days. You need at least a month to be sure.

[Kay King]

If I make a change for 72 hours and my income drops quite a bit - I'm not going to wait a month. Especially not when the numbers return to "normal" quickly when I change it back.

If you were to try this with your Adsense account, we could know pretty much for certain if this works on a large scale or not.

This is a setting you should test for yourself - rather than proceed on the results of someone else's testing. It may work for some niches - may not work for others.

kay

[tahersaid]

Thanx I will test this

[misterkailo]

I am with Kay King on this one. I am not going to wait a month because this change has hurt my CTR from 24% to half of that, and clicks were no more than 20 cents.

[Filter]

Well, a very interesting set of results here. In the interest of testing, I'm going to do the reverse and turn mine back on for a few days (has been off for 6 months) and see what happens....