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[egdcltd]

Dan, I read in your recent mailing that you decided to remove the AdSense ads as they impeded navigation (true). Why not keep then, but in a much smaller format, such as link units or buttons?

[Dan]

I have retained some google adsense. Just not in the left hand section. I feel like it impedes that whole side. I spent considerable time pondering over it... I just didn't like how it looked. it ruined the site.

Maybe a button would be better... like the referral button?

I'm not sure link units work to be honest. I've had them on the forum, and i believe that an interested-user has to click twice for the site-owner to gain anything. The first click takes the user to a list of urls (google gets their cut). But if the user doesn't click one of the URLs, I am of the opinion that the site owner receives nothing. I could be wrong of course, but I have monitored the forum ads quite specifically, and those ones have made next to nothing. I'm looking at changing them for the standard fare. I just liked them because they were unobtrusive.

[egdcltd]

Originally Posted by Dan

I'm not sure link units work to be honest. I've had them on the forum, and i believe that an interested-user has to click twice for the site-owner to gain anything. The first click takes the user to a list of urls (google gets their cut). But if the user doesn't click one of the URLs, I am of the opinion that the site owner receives nothing. I could be wrong of course, but I have monitored the forum ads quite specifically, and those ones have made next to nothing.

I think I would agree with that.

I think the best response I have had has probably been with rectangles or squares, positioned in high content pages aligned either to left or right.

[Dan]

interestingly enough, after the first few weeks of having the new site, the google adsense revenue hasn't really changed. In fact the click throughs are a much higher percentage, the revenue hasn't increase/decereased though, so its had a negligible effect removing the ads from that left hand column. I may add a referrer button though - as I haven't tried this out yet.

I'm going to change the ads here in the forum too. I don't think the link units work, as stated above. I think they have lower intrusion value, but by being generic instead of a dedicated advertisement, I believe that users have to click on a dedicated ad (so 2 clicks not 1) in order for the adverts to work. Personally, I think the ads are much better if they are direct, because if you see an advert that does appeal to you, then that's what you want to visit, you dont want to visit a second page of ads, thats daft IMO.

[Dan]

Ok I've changed the ads on the forum from link units to normal ads. I will tell you if I notice any difference.