Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible

JTringer · 12-11-2011, 11:11 AM

Hi Warriors,

I have started ranking on the first page for several of my terms which I am very happy about. Unfortunately for the first just over 400 visitors that I've had to my site my CTR is <<1%.

The site in question is the one in my signature, if you could navigate to any of the pages and take a look at my ad set-up I would appreciate any advice you could give me to improve the layout.

Thanks!

RutledgeGroup · 12-11-2011, 11:30 AM

You might want to consider putting an opt in form on the home page above the fold. I didn't see any opt ins forms with out clicking to another page.

DeskCoder · 12-11-2011, 12:41 PM

Do some split testing ... I always had better CTR with the ads on the right of the content.

Also, go find Joel Comm's Adsense guide ... It should still be somewhat relevant. He details all the top ad positions.

packerfan · 12-11-2011, 12:59 PM

You need to test, and the first thing I'd test is ad link color.

There is a reason all of Google's links are blue. Don't over think things. People like clicking blue links.

lovboa · 12-11-2011, 01:16 PM

Why not make the title of that 336x280 ad block a different color other than black so it stands out?

JTringer · 12-11-2011, 01:21 PM

@ DeskCoder
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look into it. I plan to do some split testing once I get a few #1-3 rankings that'll give me a few hundred UV per day or so to play around with.

@ packerfan and lovboa,

Thanks for the responses, maybe this is a misunderstanding I have. All the resources I have read have said to 'blend' the ads in with the content to achieve the best CTR, is this not true?

I really struggle with this part of having a website just because I don't understand people who click on ads, maybe I should ask my parents if I can just watch them browse the internet for a few hours lol.

packerfan · 12-11-2011, 01:29 PM

If it were me I'd make all the links on my site blue, that way your ad links would blend in. People are used to clicking on blue links.

You're not trying to trick people into clicking your ads. You want them to see them, if they're interested they know it's a link they can click.

Right now yours just look like text. I have no way to know that I can click for information about what the ad is offering.

JTringer · 12-11-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packerfan

If it were me I'd make all the links on my site blue, that way your ad links would blend in. People are used to clicking on blue links.

You're not trying to trick people into clicking your ads. You want them to see them, if they're interested they know it's a link they can click.

Right now yours just look like text. I have no way to know that I can click for information about what the ad is offering.

I totally agree they blend in...lol, seems like I was very wrong to think this way. In the process of reading adsense secrets 5 as we speak.

mrgood · 12-13-2011, 03:41 AM

Yes, they say to blend the ads, but you can even "overblend" it, like in your case. Take a look how it looks like in my page : hxxp://no1tutorials.net .
Even with a site and ads like this, it is impossible for me to achieve CTR over 1 %.

GGpaul · 12-13-2011, 03:47 AM

First of all the top page with the pictures and what not. It's overlapping some text so that looks very tacky. Try having the link ad units at the very top of the page as well.

12-11-2011, 11:11 AM	#1
JTringer Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 28 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible Hi Warriors, I have started ranking on the first page for several of my terms which I am very happy about. Unfortunately for the first just over 400 visitors that I've had to my site my CTR is <<1%. The site in question is the one in my signature, if you could navigate to any of the pages and take a look at my ad set-up I would appreciate any advice you could give me to improve the layout. Thanks!
	Trying to start a website and want a free month of hosting? Sign up at hostgator using the coupon code: 1MonthFree_JTringer OR get 25% off using: 25Percentoff_JTringer If you have any questions send me a PM!

12-11-2011, 11:30 AM	#2
RutledgeGroup Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible You might want to consider putting an opt in form on the home page above the fold. I didn't see any opt ins forms with out clicking to another page.
	I'll show you 3 things anyone can do... That will get people to Fall In LOVE with Buying Stuff from You. Page One for local businesses. Find out how to get there! See how I got 5 spots on Page One of Google for this local buying keyword. See Video.

12-11-2011, 12:41 PM	#3
DeskCoder HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 159 Thanks: 27 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible Do some split testing ... I always had better CTR with the ads on the right of the content. Also, go find Joel Comm's Adsense guide ... It should still be somewhat relevant. He details all the top ad positions.

12-11-2011, 12:59 PM	#4
packerfan Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,165 Thanks: 38 Thanked 210 Times in 144 Posts Social Networking	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible You need to test, and the first thing I'd test is ad link color. There is a reason all of Google's links are blue. Don't over think things. People like clicking blue links.
	Keyword Mastery Exposed For Free at Goalyard.com Go See The Video Now. Guaranteed To Blow Your Mind. Click Here By The Way There Is Some Other Cool Stuff Too In This TOP SECRET category.

12-11-2011, 01:16 PM	#5
lovboa Advanced Warrior Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 747 Thanks: 119 Thanked 82 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible Why not make the title of that 336x280 ad block a different color other than black so it stands out?

12-11-2011, 01:21 PM	#6
JTringer Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 28 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible @ DeskCoder Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look into it. I plan to do some split testing once I get a few #1-3 rankings that'll give me a few hundred UV per day or so to play around with. @ packerfan and lovboa, Thanks for the responses, maybe this is a misunderstanding I have. All the resources I have read have said to 'blend' the ads in with the content to achieve the best CTR, is this not true? I really struggle with this part of having a website just because I don't understand people who click on ads, maybe I should ask my parents if I can just watch them browse the internet for a few hours lol.
	Trying to start a website and want a free month of hosting? Sign up at hostgator using the coupon code: 1MonthFree_JTringer OR get 25% off using: 25Percentoff_JTringer If you have any questions send me a PM!

12-11-2011, 01:29 PM	#7
packerfan Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,165 Thanks: 38 Thanked 210 Times in 144 Posts Social Networking	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible If it were me I'd make all the links on my site blue, that way your ad links would blend in. People are used to clicking on blue links. You're not trying to trick people into clicking your ads. You want them to see them, if they're interested they know it's a link they can click. Right now yours just look like text. I have no way to know that I can click for information about what the ad is offering.
	Keyword Mastery Exposed For Free at Goalyard.com Go See The Video Now. Guaranteed To Blow Your Mind. Click Here By The Way There Is Some Other Cool Stuff Too In This TOP SECRET category.

12-13-2011, 03:41 AM	#9
mrgood HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 141 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible Yes, they say to blend the ads, but you can even "overblend" it, like in your case. Take a look how it looks like in my page : hxxp://no1tutorials.net . Even with a site and ads like this, it is impossible for me to achieve CTR over 1 %.
	Liquid Diet Weight Loss - We gathered everything you must know about liquid diet weight loss. Liquid diet weight loss plus many of the most effective weight loss diets and strategies from all over the web!

12-13-2011, 03:47 AM	#10
GGpaul HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 484 Thanks: 56 Thanked 42 Times in 34 Posts Social Networking	Re: Starting to get traffic, but ad CTR is absolutely terrible First of all the top page with the pictures and what not. It's overlapping some text so that looks very tacky. Try having the link ad units at the very top of the page as well.
	Watch It Backwards! - Join the fun! \| I.B.studios - Construction and Industrial Design