400 page views, 0 adsense clicks :(

[ichl13]

So i've made a few websites, and they're all ranking pretty good, and I get pretty good traffic. Been making money from clickbank but the sites that I use for adsense isn't making me any money even though the sites now get around 50 unique visitors a day each but haven't had a single click.

I have experimented with ad placement and stuff but nothing seems to help it :/

[trevesty]

Keep experimenting. Are the ads extremely targeted to your niche, or?

[Gaston Wolf]

It might depend on the keywords you're targeting, if they are buyer keywords people are more likely to click. For example I have a website about Patio Slabs, very targeted traffic, a buyers keyword... Then on the other hand I have a website about smart drugs and nootropics.

The website about nootropics gets 2500 uniques per monthg and makes about $2.00 from adsense, where as the website about patio slabs gets 800 uniques per month but makes $100 a month from adsense.

Keywords can play an important part. If you've had success with clickbank maybe give that a whirl ? Themes can also play an important factor, have a look for High CTR themes. You can find some good ones for wordpress free. I find sometimes changing the themes help.

Good luck, hope you earn some money!

[yukon]

Originally Posted by jason009

It might depend on the keywords you're targeting, if they are buyer keywords people are more likely to click. For example I have a website about Patio Slabs, very targeted traffic, a buyers keyword... Then on the other hand I have a website about smart drugs and nootropics.

The website about nootropics gets 2500 uniques per monthg and makes about $2.00 from adsense, where as the website about patio slabs gets 800 uniques per month but makes $100 a month from adsense.

Keywords can play an important part. If you've had success with clickbank maybe give that a whirl ? Themes can also play an important factor, have a look for High CTR themes. You can find some good ones for wordpress free. I find sometimes changing the themes help.

Good luck, hope you earn some money!

I think just about any keyword/niche can be monetized with Adsense, it doesn't have to be a buyers keyword.

Site design/layout/colors are very important & all depend on the type of traffic OPs site is getting. Examples of Adsense Ad tweaks, text for adults & image Ads for kids sites.

It's all about testing...

[xylement]

Most likely your ad placement is wrong. Try to switch around and see which is the best location for your adsense =)

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by yukon

I think just about any keyword/niche can be monetized with Adsense, it doesn't have to be a buyers keyword.

Site design/layout/colors are very important & all depend on the type of traffic OPs site is getting. Examples of Adsense Ad tweaks, text for adults & image Ads for kids sites.

It's all about testing...

Yeah, very true. This is the exact reason that I decided that the one type income stream that I would be focusing on would be Adsense. It makes keyword research less constrained and allows me to branch off to very different types of niches.

[atomasini]

You might wanna try the 336x280 or 300x250 rectangles just below the post title. They usually have the highest CTR.

But it's not set in stone, other formats may work better for you.

[kiwiviktor81]

I recently went 800 page views without a click, so I wouldn't worry too much. Small sample size.

[owenlee]

the problem might be due to the lack of content on your page...some user who visited the website with only a few post might just close the window...you can look at the average time spent on your website...this may give you some clue on what is happening..

[jtotani]

Do you have a high bounce rate on the site ichl13? Maybe people aren't staying too long on the site. Or maybe are all your visits centering on the first page of your site only?

I usually try to match the color of the Adsense links to the same color and font size to the rest of my site. I usually get more clicks when I do this. If Adsense ads were different from the rest of the site, they stand out too much and people avoid them.

Also, I find that the top 300x225 box on the right-side gets good click rates, as does the top-left within an article (assuming that you have articles listed on the left side and have your widget boxes on the right).

Of course, make sure that Adsense is showing relevant ads to your site, of course, first.

[beatingthebulge]

You probably need more pageviews. CTRs maybe very low in you niche because of low ad relevance.

[mikeleonard]

I think You have targeted wrong keywords.check your keywords you have targeted.

[ichl13]

Thanks for the information guys, I looked today and made my first 75p on adsense! lol maybe adsense isn't the right monetizing technique for me :/

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by ichl13

Thanks for the information guys, I looked today and made my first 75p on adsense! lol maybe adsense isn't the right monetizing technique for me :/

LOL! Adsense is not for those without patience who think they will get instant
riches on the first 400 visitors!

So yes. Your mindset is ripe to go and monetize in another way. You don't have
the stomach to improve visitors, content, test ad colors and placements, and
allow google time to optimize the ads.

Paul

[ichl13]

Originally Posted by paulgl

LOL! Adsense is not for those without patience who think they will get instant
riches on the first 400 visitors!

So yes. Your mindset is ripe to go and monetize in another way. You don't have
the stomach to improve visitors, content, test ad colors and placements, and
allow google time to optimize the ads.

Paul

to be honest, I did expect more than 1 click in 500 visitors.

and I do think its a bit harsh saying I don't have the stomach to improve visitors because thats not really the problem here is it, its more the CTR that I need to improve

In terms of content, surely selling clickbank products would require more work in the content and adsense sites only need readable articles? or am I wrong?

I have and will continue to mess around with colour and placement but would each website have different optimal settings? or will I be able to use the same general layout layout for all my websites (once I find one that works?)

How would I know if my problem is in the keyword or in the layout?

Thank you for the criticism and I will keep working at it...

[ichl13]

Thank you for all the comments guys, just to put things into perspective I have 3 300x250, one under the post title and two in the sidebar

[Bulldozer]

My Blogger blog has 3,500 visits and 19 clicks, resulting in ~$3 USD revenue.

Super low CTR, combined with super low PPC can do this to you.

Conclusion: find a better keyword/niche. I did that with my web sites and I'm expecting much better results from them.

[ahang]

I recommend placing a link unit above or right under your nav bar. Here is an example: Click Blog in my signature, see the link unit under the nav bar?

When I added that to my blog I started earning about $5 to $10 more per day from my blog alone. I added it to all my sites and same results. Very helpful.

I think people mistake for a link within your site and they click which is ok with me. lol

[Nero Arcnumé]

Originally Posted by ichl13

I have and will continue to mess around with colour and placement but would each website have different optimal settings? or will I be able to use the same general layout layout for all my websites (once I find one that works?)

It depends on what kind of site it is. I sometimes see people advocating to put all ads above the fold (at the top of the page so they're all visible when a page opens in a browser).

But I have been getting some of my highest CTR with a 336 or a leaderboard below my content. I think this is because readers are looking for a place to go and you need to lead them somewhere interesting. You could also post something like "Related topics" to lead them to another page on your site but I prefer letting Adsense do the contextual targetting (since I have some longtail specific pages that I can't really lead to other pages).

If you're going this way, I suggest you keep the ad above things like "posted in: tag1, tag2,...", categories, any sources or photo credits,.... From what I've noticed on my sites (decent informational topics), the CTR is much lower if the ad is placed below terms, categories, date of posting or anything that might "alarm" the reader that post is over. Like they automatically shut down reading anything below that "line" and go back up or click back button.

[ichl13]

checked my adsense account again today and I've made £3 so far today! and all I've changed is putting an ad box under the post title! Great

Thanks for all your advice guys!

[ahang]

Hope everything gets better for you bud! Need any advice check out my blog.

[JamesGw]

Work on optimizing your website and making sure that the content is targeted. That said, 400 is a pretty small sample size. You might get 15 clicks in your next 100. You have no idea.

[eubertmo]

As what's been said, adsense income is all about experimentation & patience.

[Resultz]

Ad placement is probably wrong

[drvosjeca]

dont worry, sometimes this kind a day comes and there is just noone there clicking on your ads...

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by ichl13

to be honest, I did expect more than 1 click in 500 visitors.

and I do think its a bit harsh saying I don't have the stomach to improve visitors because thats not really the problem here is it, its more the CTR that I need to improve

LOL!!!! You get that by testing, tweaking, adding, subtracting, looking,
creating, ....even IMPROVING the quality of visitors!!!! Exactly what I said!

Improving CTR does not just happen.

Targeted and quality traffic go a loooooooooooooooooooooong way in improving
CTR.

Don't rely on just "traffic."

Paul

[ichl13]

Originally Posted by paulgl

LOL!!!! You get that by testing, tweaking, adding, subtracting, looking,
creating, ....even IMPROVING the quality of visitors!!!! Exactly what I said!

Improving CTR does not just happen.

Targeted and quality traffic go a loooooooooooooooooooooong way in improving
CTR.

Don't rely on just "traffic."

Paul

Well nearly all of my traffic is from organic search traffic from google so that should be quite targeted right? As I said I am now trying out different things and the adsense block under the post title has worked wonders, and I've made £5.10 on that site today so thats absolutely great.

I do appreciate your suggestions, but you are a bit patronising

[chakik]

Originally Posted by jason009

It might depend on the keywords you're targeting, if they are buyer keywords people are more likely to click. For example I have a website about Patio Slabs, very targeted traffic, a buyers keyword... Then on the other hand I have a website about smart drugs and nootropics.

The website about nootropics gets 2500 uniques per monthg and makes about $2.00 from adsense, where as the website about patio slabs gets 800 uniques per month but makes $100 a month from adsense.

Keywords can play an important part. If you've had success with clickbank maybe give that a whirl ? Themes can also play an important factor, have a look for High CTR themes. You can find some good ones for wordpress free. I find sometimes changing the themes help.

Good luck, hope you earn some money!

hi,
I was thinking about something and maybe this thread give me some insights...

Looking for niches where keywords are 1500 local search volume AND CPC ~$1 is not the best solution. My thinking is that it is better to find a niche with keyword having local search traffic of about 200 BUT where the CPC is high (like $5). Don't think? when the CPC is high (even the average local search volume is small ) gives that this keyword is mostly requested by searchers.

I would like to say (and hope to correct me if wrong) that CPC cost is what we have to look for before looking for local search volume. and we have to look for HIGH CPC even if search volume is small.
If I have the choice between two niches:
1st one having volume search 2000 and CPC cost = $2 and,
2nd one having volume search 200 and CPC cost = $20
(the volume search x CPC cost is nearly equal for the two situations)

someone should prefer the 2nd as it is must likely more requested by resarchers and publishers.

No? Any Comment?

-Fadi
www.optimizing.se

[ichl13]

Originally Posted by chakik

hi,
I was thinking about something and maybe this thread give me some insights...

Looking for niches where keywords are 1500 local search volume AND CPC ~$1 is not the best solution. My thinking is that it is better to find a niche with keyword having local search traffic of about 200 BUT where the CPC is high (like $5). Don't think? when the CPC is high (even the average local search volume is small ) gives that this keyword is mostly requested by searchers.

I would like to say (and hope to correct me if wrong) that CPC cost is what we have to look for before looking for local search volume. and we have to look for HIGH CPC even if search volume is small.
If I have the choice between two niches:
1st one having volume search 2000 and CPC cost = $2 and,
2nd one having volume search 200 and CPC cost = $20
(the volume search x CPC cost is nearly equal for the two situations)

someone should prefer the 2nd as it is must likely more requested by resarchers and publishers.

No? Any Comment?

That does make sense, as competition should be a lot less for the $20 keyword