Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Is that the end of the story or are there successful 250x300 above the fold strategies and unsuccessful implementations? What separates the two?
How far above the fold is too far? So, then, "how far above works best"?
Left, right, center, center left, center right "above the fold"? Any variation in results based on positioning above the fold?
Blended, unblended, different color schemes? Any indication that blending or color or changing colors on varying pages affects the outcome of this "best ad placement strategy"? I've read plenty that blending matters but, maybe sometimes, not setting ads apart as ads has a negative outcome?
What about "audience ad-tolerance"? The more erudite the audience-topic the less ads-above-the-fold-tolerant the audience is? Smartypants people don't mind ads IF you feed them the ads as a follow on to the content?
What about topical variations on the audience? "Yes, you get great clicks in the travel sector (because folks, even smartypants folk, are prepared to see ads on travel sites) BUT don't go above the fold if your topic is . . healthcare . . other?
What about "sure, with the above the fold strategy you get higher CTR . . BUT, in the long run, you may receive less traffic due to fewer inbound links due to . . ahem . . your website's MFA appearance"? Sort of a double-edged sword that cuts deeper on one side.
I feel a bit shortchanged by the advice to put the 250x300 block above the fold "if you want to increase your CTR and/or make money". Sure, based upon Google's "big data" I'm sure Google can support the advice. I just think the advice might be a bit more robust.
So I ask: Is there advice, a bit more robust, concerning when, where, how to deploy this "best strategy"?
Are there better ways to do "250x300 above" and worse ways to do it?
Is there big data to support, that for certain audiences, 250x300 above the fold the wrong strategy?
Anyone able to help kick up the dialogue about the best way to implement this "best strategy" and when the evidence clearly supports the best strategy . . isn't?
Placing them top left inline seems to have had no impact on user numbers. No complaints, maybe because text only.
Personally I would rather have it at the end of articles but people don;t click them as often.
The day we made that change was single biggest instant boost we ever had to revenue.
I have a white background and don't use any border colors.
The CTR is good, but sometimes the eCPM is rather low.
You mention your concern that your users might dislike a 250x300 ad unit above the fold. Many publishers have similar initial concerns, but are pleased with their users' response to the ad unit. If you are concerned that this ad unit might not be for your site, you might consider testing such an implementation on a limited number of pages. Use channels, and decide whether you want to roll this implementation out to more pages.
If you decide to test the medium rectangle on your pages, let us know how you found them:)
ASA
