As long as the adblock integrates into your design well and serves relevant ads (this is where preview tool and competetive ad filter come in handy), I think it should be ok. You can check my profile for an example if you want.

I optimize until I'm not ashamed of what my users will see, but this may or may not be difficult for your niche/layout. I check in every so often to make sure the quality of served ads continue to meet this standard.

If done well enough, I'm sure in some instances the adblocks can even make your site look better and seem more useful than without them.

I get about half of my total clicks from my homepage.

[edited by: ollhondallo at 1:01 pm (utc) on Aug. 12, 2006]

Because we provide news, on the home page we willhave let's say 30 different topics on the industry. But how do you decide with is relevant. The add will be relevant to the industry. For example, on CNN's website, what would be a relevant ad? It's so diverse.

Hmm.. you might want to try section targeting [google.com] to emphasize certain headlines/topics. Focusing on higher paying headlines in business/tech might be good.

In my inner pages, I deemphasize all content except my navigation bars and get a lot better ads. I suppose it will take some experimentation.

My home page is hardly a news page, but I do have a more or less "current" column on the page. I've tried everything from a 234x60 or 250x250 in the column, top or bottom or middle of the column to a 120x600 running down the left side of the column.

The results have been singular sameness. Low ctr, low earnings. 1 or 3 or 4 ads in the block doesn't seem to matter, the income has been very consistent.

But still it's enough to keep at least a single ad on the page.