It seems like forever that AdSense has been hammering me to
1. change to a "preferred" ad format, and
2. enable text AND image ads.

At the beginning of the month, I did just that.
1. I replaced all my 250x250s with 300x250s, and
2. I enabled image ads.

The result? Worst month of the year.
What they don't tell you is that they may reduce your traffic to a fraction of what it was earlier in the year.

In January, February and March, I had achieved record earnings ($xx,xxx per month). All with 250x250s and NO IMAGE ads.

I am now making 1/2 of what I made in the first quarter.
Why? I was getting over 1 million impressions per month from Google.
Now, I am getting less than half of that.

So, the next time you think about complying with AdSense "suggestions", don't expect it to work any wonders for you.

The unpredictability of AdSense is its greatest detriment. On a whim, you can become dogmeat. Even if you are acquiring new, unsolicited links at the rate of 1,000 per week. Doesn't matter. You still can be "dialed out".

It was good while it lasted.
But as far as 12 hours a day, 7 days a week - fugitaboutit.
I am done with the furious dedication. It is no longer worth it. Your "partnership" status can be denigrated in an instant.

[edited by: Sally_Stitts at 4:32 pm (utc) on Oct 16, 2013]