Have you ever been visiting a website that’s focused on a very niche topic and glanced around at the ads to find the ads don’t relate to the content at all?
Perhaps I’m wrong and perhaps they serve as an impulse buy for some, but if I’m on a niche site for gardening and see ads for lingerie, I’m not likely going to buy my bloomers the same place I’m buying my bloomers — you know what I’m sayin’?
Maybe it’s the former retail buyer in my blood — but when I see off topic ads in prime sidebar locations, I feel the blogger may not have a true understanding of their reader or even what audience they may be trying to target. That in turn will keep me clicking my way right on out of that blog.
The one piece of advice I can offer up that might be most helpful in the long run is to test those ad space waters.
Place Google Adsense in that location and monitor the ads that show up in those spots. DO NOT CLICK ON YOUR OWN ADS — but DO run your mouse over the ad or try to figure out who is placing the ad. If it’s similar to your own topic, check to see if the advertiser has an independent affiliate program and explore serving up target ads that way.
- What are some of the lessons you’ve learned the hard way on ads and ad placement?
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