I try to keep the ads as close to what the text looks like as I can.. we do well with an average CTR of 3-5%

My gut feeling is also that bigger font size screams ad and actually discourages clicking. But...

(1) I had a lot of existing ads before the size option was offered. I haven't gone back and changed any of those but any new ad I put up I choose the Large size font. Works well for me.

(2) Sometimes I think publishers worry too much that ads on a site will be recognized as ads.


FarmBoy

We've done very well with the larger fonts. We don't use the largest size, but the second largest. It has boosted our earnings 20-30% back when it was implemented last summer.

We experimented with the fonts, first using the smallest size to make it look "cleaner" with regards to the content

But we changed it to medium-sized font - and saw CTR (and then revenues) increase by as much as 25%.

Experiment it on your site and see how it goes.

I have found that using fonts, font styles, and colors that match your site's content is the best way to achieve higher CTRs. With close attention to that, and placement, I have been able to achieve CTRs of between 9-10% routinely.

I have found that using fonts, font styles, and colors that match your site's content is the best way to achieve higher CTRs. With close attention to that, and placement, I have been able to achieve CTRs of between 9-10% routinely.

Earlier this month you wrote "My CTR is always around 5%"

How did you double your CTR so fast? Do you credit that impressive improvement to using fonts and colors that match your content.


FarmBoy

I don't think that this discussion has much value, since Google uses whatever font they want.
I specify large Verdana, and I see small and medium New Times Roman all over the place.
Google = Heisenburg (uncertainty principle)
You can't measure anything, because it won't HOLD STILL! Google is spinning the dial like a roulette wheel.

I have to agree with Sally. Have set medium and Verdana too but see on a regular basis small and Arial in some ads.
Difficult to measure the performance of a font and size in an ad if you can't rely on that setting.
Its all about the big picture, just try a setting for a month or so and see how it goes.

I believe there's text somewhere to explain this, maybe Google needs to make it more obvious, but if you choose Large text and Arial Font that doesn't mean you'll always get Large text and Arial font.

If, for example, you have a 250 x 250 block and large text would only allow two ads to show yet Google's "experience" indicates showing three ads would produce better revenue results than two ads, the three ads display might just trump your large text preference.

For me personally, that doesn't generate a compliant.

Just as with so many other AdSense topics, one site's results with a particular font setting may be very different than another site's results.

FarmBoy

For me personally, that doesn't generate a compliant.

It renders publisher testing useless, and waters down the "partnership" relationship. What publishers think is not important, and what they can determine is further limited. Best practices cannot be determined. Personal optimization is thwarted.

farmboy - in response to your question about increase from 5% - 10% CTR.....I attribute it to new placement of an adsense block that increased my CTR AND eCPM over night.

The medium font size has been nothing short of a blessing for me. My earnings have surged ~20% since it was implemented.

I also agree with you sally. Google is spinning the font sizes. So vero, don't worry :)