One of the more popular questions about Google’s AdSense that many people seem to have has to do with ad types. When you create an ad unit, you can specify which ad types will appear in the unit. You are provided with three options:
- Text & image/rich media ads.
- Text ads only.
- Image/rich media ads only.
The question that many people have is which ad type performs the best. The answer, as with anything technology-related, is “it depends.” The good news is that Google’s AdSense interface allows you to find out for yourself.
The Best Performing AdSense Ad Type is…
…it depends. I mentioned that above. No seriously, the new AdSense interface provides you with individual data related to the ad types, and all the stats of how they perform. All it requires is some time to gather the data and some testing of various ad units.
For me, I created ad units that provide both text and image/media rich ads. This way I get the best of all worlds. You can if you wish, create a separate ad unit for each type and then run the ad units on your site for a specified period of time – such as a few weeks. From there you can get some good data on your ads.
If you are like me and you run one ad unit with all the ad types, you can get a break down of the ad types in your performance reports. To view this data (in the new interface), use these steps:
- At the top, click the “Performance Reports” link.
- On the left side, click the down arrow next to the “Entire account by day” option.
- Select “Ad types” from the list.
Google AdSense - Ad Types Data Option
(Click to enlarge)
The data on the right will change to show a breakdown of the stats for the various ad types. From there you can select a date range for the chart and data values.
Google AdSense - Ad Types Data Values
(Click to enlarge)
By selecting all the check boxes next to the ad types, and then click the “Chart” button just above the data values, you can plot the ad type data onto the chart. Instead of one line on the chart, you will see one for every ad type.
By reviewing which ad types perform the best on your site, you can then create ad units for the specific ad types. Testing ad types doesn’t stop there, as you can try different sizes, locations, and colours for the ad units until you find the best performing ads.
With Google’s AdSense interface, you can easily find out which ad types are the best performing for your site.
From the ad type options, which one is the best performing on your site?
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on March 4, 2011 at 10:08 am
So far, the best performance is the Text & image/rich media ads.
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on March 4, 2011 at 10:14 am
For me, I make more with text ads because they are display the most. The rich media ads aren’t display as much, but the CPC is much higher.
on March 4, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Thanks for the post.
This is the first time I access to the ad types section. I am also surprised with the CPC of rich media. However, the image is the most effective type on my site.
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on March 4, 2011 at 2:24 pm
That’s the interesting thing about ads – each site will have different ads that perform better, different locations that perform better, and different colours that perform better. Making the most from AdSense requires a lot of testing.
on March 4, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Jezz what a good question. I’ve never actually thought about it. I do run both but I don’t think I’ve ever looked! Many I’m always too busy marketing or writing to be looking at stats.
I’m going to start looking at these stats in my adsense account and see if there’s any noticeable different. Thanks for the cool screnshots!
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on March 4, 2011 at 10:28 pm
For a niche site I have Adsense on, I am using a big text block at the beginning and small image banner at the bottom.
The image banner was performing better than text in the same position. Would try images in the big block at the top but not enough relevant ads are in the niche so they come back with non related ads sometimes. Will have to test more though.
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on March 6, 2011 at 1:58 pm
That’s the issue with image ads as opposed to text ads – the lack of relevant ads. There are more text-based ads to choose from. I do find that one an image/rich-media is clicked, the CPC is higher. The main reason is because the image/rich-meda ad needs to outbid all the text ads for that some ad spot.
Testing is key to doing well in AdSense.
on March 4, 2011 at 11:26 pm
I most of the times use Text & image/rich media ads. I let Google decide what it wants to show, text or image because it is really hard to figure out what type of ads brings more click. Although I think if you use adverts in the middle of your posts then Text ads works the best
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on March 6, 2011 at 6:04 pm
From my own experience 350×250 ads convert the best, I also let Google randomize between image, video and text link. For in the middle of posts I wouldn’t use anything but a banner 468×90 or 768×90 (if your post area is wide enough) as blocky ads can hurt content unless your post area is wide enough and you can float your content around your AdSense ad properly.
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on March 6, 2011 at 6:53 pm
I would like to use the 768×90 in my post, but I just increased the width of my sidebar and had to shrink the post area. There is only so much real estate to go around, until widescreens become standard. I may create a blog theme that allows the 768×90 in the header as I heard that ad size converts pretty well.
on March 6, 2011 at 9:20 pm
The 366×280 text ads only with color blending performs better in my blog, but recently 160×600 image only impresses me with the increase of CTR..
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on March 7, 2011 at 8:51 am
I have been meaning to try the 160×600 banner as I have heard others have had good success with that one. Until now, I haven’t really had a theme that worked nicely with that banner, but I’ll modify this theme to see if I can make it work.
on March 9, 2011 at 5:34 am
Thanks for your post. Actually it depend on the place where you wanna keep your ads. Some time it goes with text and some time with image but if you have more space free you can place both.
on March 9, 2011 at 8:27 am
I agree. Different types of ads work better or different locations on your site. It is all a matter of testing to see what works.
on June 3, 2011 at 2:26 pm
In order not to negatively affect my reader’s experience, I only use text ads in the body of my articles and image/text ads below them –- if I haven’t reached the three per page allowed.
I feel that in your face advertising, especially non-Google popups, drifters, (or whatever you call them), are irritating, reduce the creditability of a website, and drives visitors away.
To be honest, my long-term goal is to remove all Google Adsense ads from my sites. I don’t like someone else dictating what material will be displayed on my sites. Some of the image ads can be pretty raunchy especially on my site for singles so I recently removed the image/text ads from the body of all my articles there.
on July 25, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Hi author,
Your publish is so valuable.
I love it.
By the way, currently, in my website, i would like to use the (Google adsense) plugin that you use on this web site. I’m really actractive with it.
If you don’t mind, please let me know about this plugin’s name.
Thanks
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on July 25, 2011 at 12:55 pm
I don’t use an AdSense plugin. I have manually added the code into my blog’s theme.
on September 21, 2011 at 7:11 am
But there must be certain sizes that works best.
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on September 21, 2011 at 10:45 am
For my blog the 300×250 and the 728×90 ad units work the best. The important thing is to experiment with various sizes and placements to find out what works for you.
on October 13, 2011 at 1:17 am
Hey, nice article. For my blog 336×280 working good..
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on October 13, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Different ad sizes will perform differently for each website or blog. It is a matter of experimenting to find out what works.
on October 25, 2011 at 3:12 pm
For me 380*280 ad size work best.
on October 26, 2011 at 8:07 am
It’s great that you found the size that works for you. Each niche has it’s best size, and it is a matter of experimenting.
on November 26, 2011 at 7:44 am
Mr. Paul Salmon
thank you for your tutorial and make me some ideas about adsense types
but, recently i’m slightly confuse for adsense placement on myblog
Can you give some tips on proper placement of ads on my blog? please
thank you
regards
Twitter: automotorcarcom
on November 30, 2011 at 11:08 am
Is there any kind of priority involved when talking about “Text & image/rich media ads” option; are “image/rich media ads” considered to be better, more desirable then “text” ads, and will they be shown first – if there’s competition?
Thanks!
on November 30, 2011 at 11:24 am
The ads that are shown are the ones that have placed the highest bids for that ad spot. For text and image/rich media ads, those ads would need to outbid all the text ads for a particular ad spot. If successful, the image/rich media ads are displayed instead of the text ads.
on November 30, 2011 at 11:49 am
Got it, so the image/rich media ones are not considered to be ‘better’ in any case. All that matters is – show me the money!
on December 4, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Great info! I’ve just recently put some ads on my site and I must agree that the image ads “Performance” are doing the best.
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on December 5, 2011 at 8:15 am
Image/rich media seems to have higher earnings, mainly because they need to outbid several text ads for one ad spot. The CTR may not be as high, but the higher payout could make up for it.
on December 30, 2011 at 6:40 am
thx
on February 13, 2012 at 12:32 am
In my case text links perfom best and have high CTR than other ads.
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on February 13, 2012 at 8:08 am
I find text links generate the most clicks, but the image or media ads pay the most. That is probably because the image/media ads must outbid all the text ads for the ad unit.
on February 22, 2012 at 12:39 am
I still prefer using “text/images”. If our blogs are already full with text, people will sometimes love to see some images or some rich medias. I also find that combination is still performing well. But, it does depends on what blogs. Blogs about gift sale or products, will probably go better with images only. That’s what I think.
on February 22, 2012 at 8:01 am
I find “text/images” work best for me, mainly because I usually earn more with each click on an image/rich media ad. The best combination requires some experimenting as each site will earn more with different combinations.
on April 14, 2012 at 9:10 pm
The best performing ad size is by far the 300×250. you can see how to properly use other ad sizes here http://urbzone.blogspot.com/
on April 23, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I find that for “image” related sites, the image ads work best for me.
If an article is on the site, I keep text there and have images on the side bars.
This is what I’m finding out quite a few splitting tests. I also like to avoid image ads near the top menu for “design” considerations.
on May 1, 2012 at 3:31 pm
I got rid of the media ads as you only get one chance and if they aren’t relevant they make the whole page look spammy. I liked the leaderboards but with Panda I think they are no longer doing so well. Changed mine to the large rectangles and using green and blue colours….see if things get better. I was making 10 euros a day….now only 1 to 3 euros so need to try something else.
on May 17, 2012 at 12:54 pm
hi i found text/image media ads performing better than other unit……..