Why We Must (NOT) Block Low Paying Ads ?
In this article, I want to give my opinion about low paying ads or usually called MFA site by AdsBlacklist.
Every publisher in AdSense should know that they may use Competitive Ad Filter inside their account to filter unwanted ads being displayed at their site. Actually, this feature only used for filtering the competitor ads displayed at a site. But, as the time goes on, Competitive Ad Filter is being used for blocking some site that estimated has low bid in AdWord. For example, some MFA site “usually” make low bid at AdWord. Then many webmaster try wipes them out from internet and hoping better revenue from other advertisers who make higher bid at AdWord.
Did it works? Unfortunately not…
Blocking low paying ads and hope your earning increase is not always the best choice. Based on my experience in AdSense (almost 4 years), many research I’ve been done at that Competitive Ad Filter and I’ve found that blocking the poor ads is useless. Frankly, my earnings always higher when there are no blocked URL at Competitive Ad Filter box.
However, you can use your Competitive Ad Filter to block your competitor ads. But you should not block the low paying ads. There are 4 reasons why you should not using Competitive Ad Filter to block low paying ads:
Low paying ads with higher CTR rather than usual ads.
For example:
Advertiser A make a bid at AdWord for ads A = $0.01 per click
Advertiser B make a bid at AdWord for ads B = $0.1 per click
Advertiser A is a great marketer and knows better about the advertisement methods so their ads can attract visitors for clicking the ads. (High CTR)
Advertiser B is a common advertiser and fills the ads with usual words inside their ads. That will make the ads has no interest point for visitors. (Low CTR)
Which one do you choose? High CTR or Low CTR? Actually, I will choose ads A since it will generate more click rather than ads B.
Advertisers make multiple bidding prices at AdWord for the same sites/pages.
For example:
Advertiser A make a bid at AdWord for keyword “dog” = $0.01 per click
Advertiser A make a bid at AdWord for keyword “pet” = $1 per click
Advertiser A make a bid at AdWord for keyword “store” = $5 per click
Both of those bids are redirected to his “pet-store” website.
Still want to block that “pet-store” website at your filtering list? I don’t think so…
Advertisers increase their bidding price in AdWord
Advertisers usually considering increase their bids in AdWord depend on many factors such as:
- Seasonal (Christmas, Championship, etc.)
- Hoping better ROI
- Link sequence at ad block
- etc.
Limited ads for your keywords
If there are only few ads in AdWord’s inventory for your keywords and most of those ads are paying low, what will be happened if you’re about blocking all of those ads? Yup, that’s right…. unrelated ads or even PSA will be displayed at your site.
For additional, there’s one think you have to consider about blocking and filtering Low Paying Ads. As I’ve been told in the previous time…. Most of Low Paying Ads are created by owners of MFA sites. Let me tell you a little story about it:
Visitor A, an internet expert visit your site and reading the content inside your site. After finished reading, he can’t find any clues as he wanted within your contents. So, he wants more related information and look at your advertisement. He’s interest with one ad and…. Click! He was brought to a MFA site. As he knew that he won’t find anything on that MFA site, he hit the back button at his browser and get back to your site. He chooses another interesting ad… Click! Finally he’s found the information as he wanted.
So, what is the conclusion for that story?
Yup, you’re right again…. MFA sites actually can double your income in AdSense although most of you didn’t realize….
Don’t worry about invalid click; Google’s algorithm is smarter than you ever think. Two clicks inside the story above won’t be categorized as fraud or invalid click.
I won’t close my eyes and my ears. I’ve seen and hear there are many publishers get their income increases when using Competitive Ad Filter. So, it’s all depends on you….
The most important thing you should know when using the features, watch your AdSense stats carefully. High eCPM can’t guarantee that your filtering is works. Focus on CTR of your site before and after blocking/filtering. If your CTR is higher, then keep using Competitive Ad Filter for blocking. If your CTR is drop, then make your Competitive Ad Filter empty and you should not block Low Paying Ads.
Tags: adword, unwanted ads, low bid, marketer, advertiser, best choice, competitor, advertisers, earnings, advertisement
Friday, June 13th, 2008
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May 30th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Hello,
I have a question.
When I started web site, my clicks cost about one dollar. Now my click earns less then 20 cents. Today 2 clicks earned 3 cents. Why it is so little. My number of impression reached 300 per day and earning still very low
because link cost droped greater than increased number of clicks.
Please advise.
Thank you, Sergey
May 30th, 2007 at 4:41 am
Hi, Sergey….
When I review your site you have two large skyscraper at both side of your page.
Maybe you can refer to this post to make your AdSense more effective.
One thing you should know, each AdSense unit inside your ad block is compete each other and the highest bid placed at the first place.
If you have lower CPC, then it could be the ads being clicked is #3, or #4, etc.
Also, it’s affected by your pagerank.
If you have higher pagerank, then Google AdSense will provide your site with more quality PPC ads.
You have to choose…
1. If you want higher CPC ads, place the small ad block which contain few link ads such as 125×125, 180×150, etc. With consequences, CTR will drop.
2. If you want higher CTR ads, place the large ad block which contain many link ads such as 336×280, 160×600, etc. With consequences, CPC will drop.
All of those factors above is some of smartpricing factors that affect your earning.
Good luck and have a nice day…
June 9th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Hi Angellica
We would like to thank you for your post and comments, but you appear to have misunderstood the purpose of AdsBlackList.com.
If you are solely interested in making a quick $, the AdsBlackList service will be of no interest to you. If you wish to build a long-term, stable & profitable foundation with Google whilst providing quality content to your users, AdsBlackList will help.
We accept some MFA sites pay slightly higher per click (though they certainly won’t double your earnings) but these clicks often result in your visitors becoming frustrated at being sent to a junk web site. You ‘may’ earn slightly more for that particular click, but the visitor isn’t likely to click another advert in future… so they are actually reducing your earnings in the long-term.
AdsBlackList is designed to remove the junk adverts which appear through the use of keyword arbitrage. We have over 8000 active users putting their filter to good use. Our members know the key to making money from Adsense is to provide quality content both on the site and in the adverts.
MFA sites are created by fraudsters looking to make money from your visitors! Have ‘you’ ever met a fraudster willing to give you money? 99 times out of 100, MFA sites not only pay very little, but they also provide absolutely no worthwhile content to your visitors.
You’ve spent weeks/months or years developing and advertising your site… don’t sell your valuable traffic for $0.05! Is it really worth it?
Paul Moore
AdsBlackList.com
June 9th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Hi, Paul….
Nice to see you again here….
I know the purpose for Adsblacklist is great for webmasters.
So, no offense for Adsblacklist.com in this post….
I just wanna share my experience…..
And my opinions also supported by Google AdSense.
Have you check the optimization tips inside your AdSense account?
Most of the tips saying that maybe you’re filtering the high paying ads.
I’m using a tracker inside my hosting who can detect the adsense click (similar to addfreestats).
Based on that tracker, sitemeter, and adsense channel I’ve found that not all MFA site paying less.
Yesterday (June 8th, 2007), I’ve found one click with value $7.11.
When I checked the click based on my AdSense channel, website tracker, and sitemeter, you won’t believe that.
YUP… It’s coming from MFA site which listed at Adsblacklist. (sorry, I’m not gonna tell you which site)
How accurate? I’m sure 100% about that, because the click is coming from my static site (each page and each ads included with standalone channels).
Also, there’s no activity from that channel in the past 2 days.
And from my trackers, outgoing click is at “eight best site” MFA site which worth $7.11
Once again, no offense for Adsblacklist…..
We have different opinion and different sight…..
I support Adsblacklist for reducing MFA site, but not suggesting filter the sites inside the Competitive Ad Filter.
Good luck and have a nice day…
June 18th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! hiohdavacahumt
June 24th, 2007 at 1:28 am
Hi angellica
I have recently lost the ability to even track which advertisers are advertising on my site. All my tracking says is “AdSense > Ad Clicked”. Since this has happened I have noticed lower and lower value clicks creeping in, and in my experience that means MFA sites.
In desperation I unblocked all my blocked URLs and overnight traffic went up and my CTR went through the roof. However, my payment per click has plummeted to a ridiculous 6c today and with only 400 visitors per day it has become pointless even bothering to make any more good quality content.
So yes, CTR goes up, number of clicks goes up, traffic goes up, but ultimately my payment has reduced by about 60-70%. I’m even thinking of giving up on Adsense and concentrating more on eBay affiliate sales, which of course are benefiting from the increase in traffic. At least they pay a decent, worthwhile amount of 50%+ of their commission. I think Google has shot themselves in the foot.
September 22nd, 2007 at 5:57 am
I agree with angellica. adsblacklist is useless. Tough you can filter 200 web, then how about the rest?
September 30th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
It is very rare for any web site to have more than 200 MFA sites appearing on a regular basis. The purpose of AdsBlackList.com is not to filter every MFA site, only ones which are targeted for your site.
October 1st, 2007 at 5:18 pm
totaly dissagree with this post, I have been blocking low paying/made for adsense sites from my page and my earnings increased 10-fold (i.e. the CTR stayed basically the same whilst the pay per click is is up to 10-times more than before)
Travelnurse - check my web site for my full comment - yes you unfortunatelly can filter out only 200 sites…but even this little can help…a lot!
October 12th, 2007 at 12:42 am
@ Tomasz
Indeed without the blockings my ad revenue was avarage 0.1-0.2cpc now it is avarage 2.90usd cpc
!!
don’t tell me useless things now how in the hack are those 1penny clicks going to help me ..
geez their marketing words aren’t magic plus every internet savvy persons has already seen them
over and over
adsblacklist is useless ! and then some more
also if you use adblacklist your just LAZY because how in the heck is that going to work for you
?! every site has different mfa and other crap sites targeting you … you have to find out
yourself go to fgoogle download their adsense preview tool and start working filtering out those
sites…MAnual
and if that is not your thing don’t complain when you earn 1 or two bucks a day - no offence
everyone his own thing
November 14th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I agree with jest staffel. After blocking ads with adsblacklist, blocked 200 MFA, CPC increased a bit. And then dropped to hell.
But without ANY blocking, I also got crap earnings.
Then I used the google toolbar to block some MFA manually… Well well. I was doing better. Not better as in 3 times, but just better.
But thanks Angellica for the article.
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 am
I reached the 200 mark in my filter list a long time ago and have had to recycle spots within it, but I still have so many MFA sites’ ads all over my web sites. A problem I have is that I need 30 URLs to block a single advertiser, as he/she/it has set up 30 domain variations to get around the filtering.
I have made suggestions to Google for the following:
1) The ability to black-list an advertiser from my site. This will allow me to pro-actively block the ads even if a new domain is registered.
or
2) The ability to block using expressions. For example, I never want to see an ad from any domain like “allthe*.*”. This would block sites like allthewhatever.info. I’m sure a few of you will recognize those MFA sites.
or
3) Remove the filter limit.
The only problem is that this is not in Google’s best interest, as they profit from every click. Their algorithms will determine how THEY can make the most money from your website. Unfortunately, this short-sighted thinking may end up shooting themselves in the foot. I know too many people who now treat Google Ads like they are banner ads… in other words, their eyes glaze over them as if they are spam. (which in the case of MFA sites, they may as well be spam).
I know I never click on ads anymore. The odds of me reaching a site that actually has anything remotely to do with the words/context of the ad is slim; and I know this. It won’t take the general net population too long to catch on.