Added: The 1st click does not count, Google even allows us to click our own adlink on our pages, but not the ads on the page that follows.

[edited by: Hobbs at 10:39 am (utc) on July 21, 2006]

I am boycotting AdLinks till Google stops counting them in ad impressions!

Hobbs, can you please elaborate on that.

Are you saying that by counting adlinks impressions, it could possibly lower your CTR... and then you get penalized somehow with which ads you are served?

Another question... does CTR effect which ads you are served in any way? And does CTR effect EPC at all?

Hobbs, can you please elaborate on that

My experience was a much lower eCPM and earnings when AdLinks were displayed on my pages along with a leaderboard on the same page.

Why shouldn't AdLinks count as ad impressions?

1- They are not intended as a stand alone ad on our pages, but rather as a supplement to regular ad units like banner or leaderboards, so by definition they are a second or third ad to catch the visitors that don't click banners and thus should not count

2- Having an extra ad impression per visitor with no click lowers your CTR and eCPM, and God knows how it affects SmartPricing.

3- Being penalized with lower earnings for not converting into a click is fair only when this conversion is done on my pages, while AdLinks money making clicks and conversions are done on Google's pages not mine!

>>does CTR effect which ads you are served

Google says it serves the ads that are most likely to be clicked first, so high CTR ads get displayed first.

>>does CTR effect EPC at all
EPC is a measure in retrospect or "after the fact", when the dust settles, and all visitors are gone and all clicks are counted, EPC is a good measure of how well you did that day.
There is another recent thread here about the uses of CTR.

>>does CTR effect which ads you are served

No

>>does CTR effect EPC at all

No, unless Smartpricing is affected by CTR

Many members here will tell you how AdLinks accounts for half their earnings, so the mileage varies.

Not for me... my AdLinks give me only 2 percent of my total Adsense income. And yes, they are included in my impressions... that's why I've removed them - very low CTR for me with AdLinks. My main ad blocks and banners pay much better.

So you're saying that having the adlinks actually decreased your overall earnings? Why do you think that happened?

I can think of a few reasons why google might want to reward a higher CTR (and possibly penalize a low CTR). First, it means you're more efficient - you're more likely to be using less ad units per page and thus reduce ad-blindness, which will help maintain the integrity of the whole system. Second, if you use less ad units it provides a certain level of exclusivity to advertisers... but I'm not sure if this would benefit goog or advertisers monetarily, besides the increased brand exposure.

Any other reasons why G might factor CTR into smart pricing?

Why do you think that happened?

High CTR can also mean that your site is repelling visitors out, it is conversion of those clicks that should set your fate and earnings.

What I would like to know is how AdLinks works for others and not me.