Adsense Category Filter

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  • SEO
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I was just checking out the Inside Adsense blog and noticed that they are increasing the Category Filter from 5 to 8 sites that allows you to block underperforming ads from appearing on your site. This was apparently implemented several months ago but I must have missed this and I haven't noticed anyone else on here talking about it either.

To get to the filter you login to your Adsense account and browse to "AdSense Setup" > "Ad Review Centre".

Here you will see a breakdown of your AdSense impressions along with the percentage of revenue each category is providing your site. You then select the categories that you don't want to be shown on your site as your market doesn't respond to these ads and in theory the filtered impressions should now come from your most profitable categories.

I haven't tried this yet but it does look like it gives another method of controlling your AdSense income.

Due to the limited number of categories that you can filter, I wouldn't waste the selection on one that is getting minimal impressions in the first place. Find the ones with the largest differential between % shown and % earnt and filter these out. You would expect at least a 1:1 ratio but anything greater must have higher paying or converting ads.

For example (from my stats):
Drugs & Supplements - 3.5%($revenue) from 8.1%(impressions) [0.4:1]
VS
Weight Loss - 80.9%($revenue) from 65.6%(impressions) [1.2:1]

I am going to try filtering the Drug & Supplement category (and some others with similar differences) which should then hopefully push or funnel the impressions back into the weight loss category. The Drug ads maybe bidding more per click to be shown on my page but they obviously don't convert/attract my visitors so it is pointless keeping them there.

If the conversion rate for weight loss remains statistically consistent and the impressions do move into the weight loss category it should increase my earnings by 6.2%

I will let you know how it goes

Please note that this will be a lot harder to do if you are running AdSense sites across multiple niches. You will have to find out the highest performing category per site and not compare these categories between sites.
#adsense #category #filter
  • Isn't it great that adsense won't just let you have access to what is really earning and what is not. You used to be able to run tracking scripts and know exactly what was being clicked on. Made testing pretty easy. Now it's just all guesswork.

    And I totally agree with you on multiple sites... how can you know what is running where?

    And is typical of Google

    "Categories you filter will no longer display Recent Earnings or Ad Impressions estimates."

    doesn't mean that Google will stop running those ads... Google likes to do whatever the he%$ THEY want.

    It appears this tool is for filtering only 3rd party networks not ADWORDS advertisers.

    I simply don't believe they will actually block the ads if it makes them money they run them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fraggler
    I can't find anywhere that mentions it only applies to the 3rd party networks. It actually says it is for Placement Targeted campaigns - those that are targeting your site or demographic without having relevance.

    The tool actually helps Google make more money as it keeps the bests ads on the site while the duds are filtered out.
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