Optimizing Adsense Positioning

The first thing you’ll want to consider is how will the Adsense units complement your content with relevant links without annoying your readers. Placing some ad units at the top of your blog will likely generate several clicks, but over the long term it could hurt your traffic if readers stop visiting your site due to your advertising techniques.

The chart shown above gives you an indication of what the top ad placement locations are from hottest (bright orange) to coolest (white).

Less Intrusive Method

In order to determine the optimal Adsense positioning for your blog,  you’ll need to define your priorities. If Adsense is not your primary income or if you are concerned that ads might disturb your readers you probably should place the units apart from the main content.

A good place to insert Adsense units without affecting the user experience is at the end of single posts. You can use either the large rectangle (336×280) or the banner (468×60).

As well, you might try adding a Skyscraper to your sidebar or a Leaderboard to the footer.

Maximum click-through Method

People looking to maximize their Adsense earning will find that ad units close to the header or blended with the content usually perform better. On single post pages you can add a large rectangle right below the post title, either above the content or next to it.

As well, on the main page, you can add Adsense units between posts and utilize link units. Link units look very similar to menus or navigation bars, so if you place those units on the right spot you could generate a very high click-through rate.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the uniqueness of your blog is quite vital for placing ads successfully. I recommend you always analyze responses and feedback you get from your visitors by placing the ads on different spots.

Ultimately, readers are most important and you should always consider them before waging a couple of Adsense clicks in exchange for their readership.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

My Comment Commitment: If you leave an approved comment on any of my posts, I will visit your blog and “share it” in some way whether on StumbleUpon, Twitter or Facebook depending on if I can find a nice fit.