Adsense Interest-based Ads Preference WTF?

[JoshuaG]

I'm confused by the Interest-based Ads Preference.

There must be something I'm missing because to me it seems like all it does is make your ads more targeted to the visitor.

If thats the case, why is it a preference rather then being simply built into the default algorithm?

Anyone have any idea?
Am I missing something?

[JamesM]

It basically targets ads based on your visitors browsing history (on other adsense sites) rather than your own content. This is fine if you have a general/broad site theme, but if your site targets high CPC keywords then you want hot ads related to your topic to maximize your CPM.

[paulgl]

I have had mine on since I started. But recently, scott g had said
that he turned his off and his CTR soard. I did and it did.

I thought interest based ads made sense. But after scott g,
I decided maybe not. In fact, it now makes sense to turn them
off. People are going to your website looking for a specific product.
Not what they looked at joe blow's site a minute ago.

One rare item I guess the google default does not make $sense.

Paul

[L41db4ck]

I didn't know this could be turned off! And I definitely couldn't find the setting in the new interface, even by following the instructions under 'I need help finding something in the new interface'

Old interface > My Account > Account Settings > Interest-based Ads Preference

[yukon]

I hate to burst the bubble here, but I turned Interest based Ads ON, & I'm making more $$.

It's been about 24 hrs, I'll leave it on for a while see what happens.

[scott g]

Originally Posted by paulgl

I have had mine on since I started. But recently, scott g had said
that he turned his off and his CTR soard. I did and it did.

I thought interest based ads made sense. But after scott g,
I decided maybe not. In fact, it now makes sense to turn them
off. People are going to your website looking for a specific product.
Not what they looked at joe blow's site a minute ago.

One rare item I guess the google default does not make .

Paul

@Yukon
I guess it depends on what kind of site you have. If you have a niche specific, targeted search term/product term/buying term, it makes sense to have THOSE ads displayed on your site, since that is what the visitor is obviously looking for.

If you've done your CPC homework properly, then you don't want interest based ads on. You could get lucky, though, and get a click on an interest based ad that is worth way more than your targeted niche/product/keywords ad.

I don't do Adsense anymore, I dabbled in it, but from my experience if I have a Niche site about "refillable ink cartridges," I want my ads to be about "refillable ink cartridges" b/c I want the CPC for that ad and I know the visitors to my site are looking for refillable ink cartridges... Not scuba diving lessons if they searched for that a couple hours/days ago...

CHEERS!