or the ability to put "Please visit our sponsors" above them.

Sorry but I think that's a bad idea. All you are going to do is send uninterested users to sites thinking they are doing you a favor, when they aren’t doing that at all. Uninterested users equals less conversion for advertisers. That’s not good for anyone, including you.

I don't mean to turn this into a "wish list" thread but do people agree that something's got to give?

Nope. If an ad offers something of interest to the reader, the reader will click. If not, the reader won't--and shouldn't. That's how cost-per-clicks are supposed to work.

I do agree with images, but then those images should be chosen by the advertiser and not the publisher.

I wouldn't worry about the ads, after all, every publisher is in the same boat; they either work or they don't.

The best way forward for advertisers is to work on developing the site - more / better content attracts more & better matched ads - and get more visitors.

The ads will work if you deliver the targetted content and the targetted bodies.

images, transparent background, different font

for start :)

I just wish there was more flexibility, like the option to put images next to the ad's if you wanted, or the ability to put "Please visit our sponsors" above them.

These two methods seem to be artificial means to boost CTR (as in "trick" users), which is really not helping advertisers. Why would you want to do that?

good point.

These two methods seem to be artificial means to boost CTR (as in "trick" users), which is really not helping advertisers.

For what it's worth, my average earnings per click are the highest they've been in several years, at the same time that my average CTR is lower than it's been in quite a while. I suspect the latter is for two reasons: (1) Google has narrowed its definition of a "valid click," and (2) now that AdSense ads are buried below the fold on the right side of my pages, I'm probably getting fewer clicks from confused or lazy readers. Whatever the reason for the drop in CTR, I can't help wondering if it's resulted in less "smart pricing" and higher earnings per click.

I personally never blend my ads, I always make them a different color from the rest of the site. Then the people that click them are VERY aware that they are clicking on an ad. That tends to keep my click earnings high and I don't suffer from "smart" pricing.

Mike

I think Image + text would be great.

For example. 300-250 size, let it have only one or two ads, they will be the best and competetive and will have image and ads together.