How well do Google Ads work?

I went to the Dealing with Contextual & Other non-search Ads session at Search Engine Strategies last month. The speakers didn't seem to think using Google Adwords Content Ads were worth it. A couple of them really gave the Google rep a hard time.

They didn't feel they are targeted enough. And even though you get more clicks, they convert worse. Maybe that is why they felt the ads weren't target right.

As a forum owner, do you feel the ads that display on your sites are targeted well?

They also mentioned that 5% of the market is SE's. Which was a bit shocking since many sites claim 85%. One of the speakers said 5% search engines. 95% content sites.

They did seem to suggest that Overtures content ads were more targeted. But they felt both companies could do better.

I dont know - I havent used adwords but I have seen a few forums try it. My guess is that since your not selling a product on a forum, probably not...I would think your better off spending the money on ways to SEO your site better.

Well using them on forums makes me wonder how well the click through ratio can be if they aren't targeted very well.

Would you make more with them or will selling off ads that rotate to individual companies that want that forums "niche" audience.

are you talking adsense or adwords?

I find the click through rate on adsense is highest on content pages, low in forums and very low in the search box.

We did a brief stint with adwords as an affilliate and did not convert as well as hoped, but was probably the program we were promoting.

With relevancy in both cases I think it will improve as adwords become more popular as a way of advertising amongst more companies and the ads become more specific.

are you talking adsense or adwords?
I'm talking both.

For you a forum owner you would use adsense. How good are click through ratios? Do the ads seem targeted? etc.

For someone that buys content ads through adwords which are published on adsense sites. They are claiming they aren't effective and targeted very well.

:)

adsense does much better on content pages then forums, but thats because forums have the same people seeing the same ads over and over.

It is tough to get all the ads targeted well on a forum - forums creat a certain amount of static that can confuse adsense a little. However, for most forum owners - the money that can be made from adsense can more then pay for the cost of their forum - and since most dont start their forum with a profit motive, it can be a welcome surprise.

I find the click through rate on adsense is highest on content pages, low in forums and very low in the search box.

We did a brief stint with adwords as an affilliate and did not convert as well as hoped, but was probably the program we were promoting.

With relevancy in both cases I think it will improve as adwords become more popular as a way of advertising amongst more companies and the ads become more specific.


That sounds right, content pages that are static would probably have more relevant ads show up. Where as a forum, topics change, or go all over the place at times. Which would make it hard to have relevant ads always show up.

From the way they discussed it in this session, they really seem to tell both Google and Overture (the reps that were there) that they think the tools will be great when they are able to make sure the ads are really relevant to the pages that they show up on.

One example they had was a gas company that had ads show up on a news article about a gas explosion. Which was a very poor ad to have on that page.

Adding ways for adword buyers to filter out "bad" words, could help them improve their ratios, which would probably help adsense publishers increase click through rates as well.

tageting on forums is tough also because there is so much non context text that confuses google. I cant tell you how many times I have seen an ad for Vbulletin come up on my automotive site -

I have seen that too :)

I have used adwords and loved the results. It is a very easy and inexpensive way to get your name at the top of the SEs, which is the long term result you want without paying. heh.

I also use adsense. And while it would be against TOS to talk about CTR rates I find that it mainly has a direct ratio to traffic. More traffic = more clicks. Simple as that. I feel like I have adsense integrated to the best of a forum's ability. If anyone has any newer ideas please tell me :) . I do have a few brewing on paper but haven't acted on it yet.

tageting on forums is tough also because there is so much non context text that confuses google. I cant tell you how many times I have seen an ad for Vbulletin come up on my automotive site -
I would imagine that depends largely on the content in the forum, interacting of course with the pool of ads Google has to draw on -- I have AdSense on my PsychLinks forum and I've found the contextual ads to be pretty accurate for the most part.

regardless - for many forum owners, they can generate more then enough money to support their forum. If a forum owner works at it a bit, they can support their forum and put a few $$$ in their pocket every month.

Joey,

To make it so you don't see the vbulletin ads on your auto site, try removing the footer text that reads:

Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2005, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

And replacing it with an image of said text (you can't remove that text entirely from your page, but you can make it an image).

That isnt so much the problem - the problem is more that google takes awhile to get the ads right - which is rough for a forum.

Ive had articles that I've written take 2-3 days to get the correct ads -

That isnt so much the problem - the problem is more that google takes awhile to get the ads right - which is rough for a forum.

Ive had articles that I've written take 2-3 days to get the correct ads -
I know we've had this discussion before but on most forums there is almost no delay at all. I can only think that it has to be a function of either the page content vs. available ads, or some charcateristic/eccentricity of the website.

On my forums, now that I've made some slight adjustments, I've noticed ads are more relevant than before. It can be hard simply because of the location of the ads as well as KW density. There are too many variables. I have ceased seeing vbulletin ads, however, after making the vbulletin footer text an image instead of text.

I am currently considering to finally place Adsense on my site but I am unsure how well it provides relevant ads. Also is adsense all its talked up to be and what is better txt or image ads?

I am currently considering to finally place Adsense on my site but I am unsure how well it provides relevant ads. Also is adsense all its talked up to be and what is better txt or image ads?

I get mostly relevant ads. I would stick with text. I hate ad banners. :(