Optimization in using Google Adsense relates to the size, place and color of your ads to get the best click through rates.
Adsense Ad Types
- Leaderboards-stretches horizontally typically used as a header, footer, or between paragraphs.
- Skyscrapers-narrow vertical columns, up to 160 pixels wide x 600 pixels tall (this size fits 5 text ads). Use on left or right side of page alongside the content, pretty effective.
- Rectangle-large and medium rectangles have been proven to be the best type of Adsense advertisement style. It can be used just about anywhere on the page especially nice when content wraps itself around the rectangle.
- Buttons-can be used anywhere but typically do not perform nearly as well as the three other types and should be used sparingly if at all.
- Link units come in 468x728 or 468x145 and can fill unused space effectively. Use them under horizontal navigation bars and in header or footer text.
- Link unit buttons can fill space that skyscrapers are too big for and can be used under or above a skyscraper for additional ad size. Link units can get 4-5 text ads each so they are very beneficial.
Adsense Ad Design
- The default color scheme for Google Adsense ads perform the best because users are familiar with that style.
- The default blue color link, white background, and black text produce the most clicks.
- For best performance, websites that use these blue color links, white backgrounds, and black text for their design allow the Google Adsense to blend in with the site and produces more clicks.
- Generally, never put a border around an Adsense ad. Borders separate the ad from the content and will often be ignored by the user. On the other hand, borderless ads are more noticeable and with the ads related to the content will encourage users to click on them.
Adsense Ad Placement
- Place ads where people look! Ads embedded within the content and near the navigation are seen much more frequently than those buried at the bottom of the page.
- Place ads in the viewable portion of the page that appears when a user visits the site.
- Use thoughtful page design and ad size to place ads where they won't interfere with the content, but actually are helpful in separating sections or organizing sections of the content.
- Leaderboards work well near the top, but understand that the very top is often immediately overlooked by surfers who expect that space to be an ad.
- Use borderless skyscraper columns on the left and right around the content of the site, making sure there is enough space as to not make reading the content difficult.
- Rectangles placed inside the content aligned left or right inside the content are very effective. Again, borderless is the way to go here and have the content wrap around the rectangle.
- One thing to understand, Adsense populates the ad spaces on your page from top to bottom, so the ad spaces at the top are filled with the highest paying ads first and the ones at the bottom are filled last with lower paying ads.
- Google's FAQ section suggests placing ads where the average users eyes are most fixated, diagramed by this heat map:
- What you will notice is a visitor's eyes always look at the navigation areas at the top and left and in the main content area. Placing horizontal ads under the top navigation bars, vertically alongside side navigation bars, and inside the content area will get more exposure and therefore more clicks.
Next article is on Understanding Adsense Reports