If you blog in the blogging niche, I am sure that you are not surprised by me saying that Adsense ads kind of suck as a way to make money blogging . I have experimented with various placements and various sizes and colors over the last 6 months or so and have come to the conclusion that bloggers to not like to click on ads. I have come to this conclusion based on my experience with other sites and blogs that I have that are running adsense. For example, I have a site that caters to teens and my click through rate is close to 10%. I have a career tips blog that has a click through rate of about 5% but I struggle to get a click through rate of over 2% on this blog that is focused on blogging?
That is the question I am very curious about. I do have some ideas but with this poll and your comments, I am hoping to gather a real clear picture of why this is. Please vote and comment below.
**UPDATE – The poll has been moved to the sidebar **
in most cases Adsense is not relevant to the post content. In other words, why would I need "Resorts on Maldives" if I read SEO article. I always click ads in Google when I look for "t-shirts buy online" and got the "best t-shirts online" ad on top of the search results.
since we know the business it is less likely that a blogger reader will click on the add but if he/she finds something that really interest well I'm sure they will…
For example everytime I enter a site and check on a new software tool, even when it is an add, I end up clicking on it.
Nice one.
REgards,
Jocy
The trend for my sites has been going down, not just for blogging sites but for all sites in general. I think it's more about users being ad-blind and browser add-ons that block the adsense ads. Granted Google won't do like many advertisers and change the way they do things to get around these filters so even older filters works on Adsense.
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Interesting discussion, voted.
My guess is that pro-bloggers are so used to ads format and shapes, that they kind of got immuned. My eyes are focusing heavily on the blog content and comment section, rather than side-tracked to other shining things aside. 
But still, I gotta admit there are some bloggers who are excellent in making ads desirable to click – smart placement. Hope to learn a few tricks. 
@wchingya
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The key to Adsense is not showing your ads to every single visitor. You should only be showing the ads to visitors with a high propensity to click on them. Those ads should only be shown to organic search engine traffic. A lot of bloggers get traffic through social media, referrals, comment clicks, etc. That traffic does not click on Adsense ads. Don't even bother showing it to them. You can use software like OpenX. There are also some WordPress plugins that show ads selectively to organic visitors only.
Your Adsense CTR should never be below 10%. If it is, you are doing monetizing incorrectly. Your blog is not earning anywhere near what it is capable of earning.
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Well, I don't think so that Bloggers don't like to click on ads. I think, your blog have not sufficient traffic and that's why you are not getting your targets of online earning.
there is no way to increase the earning of Google Adsense its all depend upon visitor.
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I’ve been thinking about something like this for potential advertisers. Maybe the two purposes would mesh.
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Thanks for your comment Tola. I will be stopping by you blog soon to read the "why blogger and not wordpress" article, that title definitely caught my attention.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads?
In the past, I've looked at adsense and they just looked like dodgy websites. So these days I instinctively tend to avoid clicking on them. But every now and then I come across some really interesting ones and I click on them.. But yes, I know what you mean, when I'm on a 'blog' blog, I tend not to click, which is quite ironic!
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Maybe some day when clicking on an ad creates a backlink to the clickers blog you will get more clicks on ads from bloggers. I guess we are just too busy reading and commenting but when it helps a fellow blogger I am all for it.
Good stuff Dick. Hopefully this post will create awreness and other like minded bloggers will show some click love ever now and again.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads?
I usually view Adsense ads if they're placed at the end of the article, and if any of the ads there are relevant and interest me, I'll click on them to find out more, but if they're not relevant and don't interest me, I won't. Also, I don't usually click on the Adsense ads placed in sidebars or at the top of articles. For one, I don't want to leave that person's site until I've finished reading the article I came there to read, and that's also why I pay more attention to the ads placed after the articles.
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Great insight, Perhaps I will adjust my placement to the end of the article and see if that makes a difference.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads?
I don't click on ads because I have no reason to. Unless you inspire me so much to the point where I am going to take ten seconds (that I could be using to do something of more value to myself), I am not going to. I know it's only 10 seconds, but 10 seconds is still part of the day.
I bet I'm sounding like an ass, but it's the truth that I stick to. I hope to hear other people's views!
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Joe,
I hear what you're saying. Most of the time when I am online I have a mission and looking to get certain things accomplished. Unfortunately, my online liesure time is limited, but when I am just surfing with no purpose I do ckeck out ads, especially ones related to blog promotion.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads?
Karen,
That is what makes you Awesome. So far it seems like there are only a few bloggers that click as a show of support. Wouldn't it be awesome if that was the norm instead of the exception.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
Thank you
It would be nice if it was the norm, but sadly it isn't..
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I do click on the Ads on blogs, specially if it's one that appeals to me, I'll also click if I've been surfing around the different posts in one visit to show my support for the blogger.
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I still click on some AdS occasionally, thing is they really have to catch my attention. This normally happens if for example I see I new banner that I have never seen before. I answered to your poll by saying that the reason I no longer click on "some" ads is because I see the same ads over and over again. Your CTRs for AdSense are quite impressive and hopefully that translates to high paying keywords too
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Thanks. My ctr is impressive on some of my sites and I wish it would be better here as this is one of my highest trafficked sites in my port.
I feel the same as you, I see the same 4 or 5 ads on every site I visit. I am not surprised as I stay pretty close to this niche in regards to the blogs that I visit. When I see something new, I usually click through to see what is all about.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
If the advertisement isn't something that i'm interested in (which they usually arent) then i simply won't click on it.
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Makes sense.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
I rarely click on Adsense ads as I don't find much useful information in these Ads. Bloggers have a good knowledge of technology and aspects related to websites, so they are often blind to ads.
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Ad blindness is a real phenomenom for sure.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads?
bloggers don't click on adsense because we actually know it is adsense…in other niches where people look for stuff online and land on other blogs,they click on it anything that will lead to whatever info they want.
another thing is that most of us are used to Google's policy on not clicking our own ads,we sometimes forget we are not on our blog.
often times ,i have seen ads on other blogs instead of clicking it,i copy the address and type it in the browser.
That is a great point. This is actually what my son said. He is 11 and a blogger and I told him about how people can get banned by clicking their own ads. I think I scarred him for life, he will never click and ad again. He gets nervous if I hover over an ad on my own blog..
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads?
Adsense ads do work. Ask any successful blogger using them. Sadly they don't work for every blog. And it's often a trial of hit and miss to find the ad networks that will work for your particular niche. Addbrite for instance is a good alternative.
The other problem with ppc ads is that they require an outrageous amount of traffic to get any real money out of them, This is because, on a general basis, only a small percentage of your overall readers will click them. This usually makes them a big disappointment for newer blogs. Many bloggers often find it better to go with affiliate ads that are selected to target their niche audience. This can really work for you if you stick to products that have generous commissions and will appeal to the people in your particular niche. You can often promote these products in other ways that will help you get more sales.
People only click ads that speak to filing one of their own needs or desires. And it's often just a matter of trial and error to find what works for you. Concentrate on getting higher traffic to your blog and your ppc ad revenues should increas.
You make some good points here. I am definitely working hard to drive more traffic here as well as my other online properties.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads?
I do click ads if i found something usefull, but it's rare .
That's an interesting observation and I have noticed that too. My CTR is very poor as well. I guess, when you have a blog for bloggers that happens. Basically, such target audience would ignore ads and get to the business and quickly move away.
Tech blogs, though, have always interesting offers and a wide variety of high earnings ads served, I guess. Basically the range there is pretty high and interesting due to products such as gadgets, mobile phones, other hardware, software etc.
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Awhile back I did analysis on my blog stats and discovered that "accidental" visitors to my blog were ten times more likely to click on Adsense ads than regular and/or "referred" visitors. Also, all of the folks who found my blog by googling "Mulberries" clicked Adsense ads for a tree farm that sold mulberry trees!
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Interesting stat. I think that also speaks to the search engine traffic. Regular readers are awesome but like you said sometimes it is nice to have people find your blog that don't want to and then have them click an ad to get out.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
If ads are relevant, obviously they will be clicked,
I disagree Jimmy. It is not that obvious that relevancy equates to getting clicked on. My blog is about blogging and social media and almost every single ad that is served up is about blogging or social media. With a 1-2 % click through, I do not think it is that obvious.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
5% is pretty high in terms of CTR but how about eCPM? Can you say that if a blogger is getting $50 a month from Adsense making something out of it?
Regarding bloggers clicking on ads, sometimes, they just don't. Because they know that it's an ad and that they also have it on their own site. I think clicking on ads is like contributing to a blogger's tip jar.
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You bring up a great point about clicking on the ad as a way of thanking the blogger for good content. This is interesting as it is the opposite of what others have been saying about not clicking because they do not want to help their fellow bloggers.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
For me, it's all about relevancy and the current need for them if I do need them.
I usually don't click ads because of a simple element: if I don't need the service, I won't click.
However, what generally happens is when I do need a service, I end up Googling it.
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That makes sense, thanks for your comment.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
I like to see bloggers happy
I do think you what you say has a kernel of truth. Thanks top (if that is you real name) Seriously, what is you real name, I would like to make connections with people, not keywords.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
beacuse they know if they will click we bloggers will earn money for that and they cant see bloggers happy
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Take this for what it's worth. "Adsense is not an earner where the readership knows what adsense is".
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That is profound and seems to hit the nail on the head. Probably why my site that is geared towards teens in so good on the click through.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
Where is the poll? I can't find any place to vote… maybe I'm blind
Well, I think it's because bloggers are "ad blind" – and also for the reason dragonblogger specifies above.
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Klaus- It was there yesterday, I swear! Looks like it just disappeared, I was trying out blogpoll.com. I moved the poll to the sidebarr and I ma stickong with the trust wp-poll plugin.
I agree with the ad blindness. It seems like the same 4 or 5 ads are displayed on every blog that I visit. It gets to a point where it just blends into the background.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
This is a very good question, and I can shed some light on this one.
Bloggers come to read your article on your site and are not as likely to be distracted and click a product link, subscribers came to read article with a purpose, vs someone who stumbles across site and not sure if they found what they were looking for.
I sometimes click Ads if the ad attracts my attention and is for something that interests me, but this is pretty rare. Many bloggers won't click ads because if they do repeatedly for the same sites, this is gaming the system and violation of ToS. The best kind of traffic to earn money with AdSense is blogs with high "Search Engine" traffic, AdSense is not ideal for blogs with a high direct or referral traffic as those types of traffic sources are least likely to click on Google Ads or any other type of ads.
I virtually never click on Kontera or other In Text Link Ads, though sometimes I hover over them to see where they link to. It has to do with content matching again.
Thanks for your insight Justin. I do notice that my sites that are mostly getting traffic from Google convert the best on adsense. I am with you on the intext ads, I do not think I have ever clicked through on one of them.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
Because blogger aware of each of ads link, the regular user is not. It is natural people do not want to make you rich. That's why.
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Agree! I also don't click on that much ads because I am busy
I only check ads that really gets my attention, and almost all the time ads are so familiar to me so why click something I already know what is it?!
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Appreciate your honesty Dana. I belive in "blogging karma" If you do by others then it will come back to you.
Hesham, That is the number 1 reason for me as well. My time is limited and when I am reading blog content and commenting I do not want to get sidetracked. When I have a little more leisure time I do click away on an ad every now and then.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
I,m agree with the view of source blogger.Actually the right and targetted adds always get attractions.
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I have to say it's a lot like @sourceblogger put it, if it's not relevant or if it's the first thing I see in a post it's probably not going to be the reason I came there or the last thing I see when I'm ready to leave. Usually though if I'm visiting a blog I'm there to gain knowledge, a laugh or what not so when I leave I usually click on someones link in the comment section. Shame on me I know… I even forget to tweet or stumbleupon for folks and this I hate as I'm a big believer in tweeting/stumbling good stuff, so If I do remember I try to come back and tweet it.
Thanks, ad relevancy is indeed important.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads
I've clicked on dozens of ads for products and services when it was extremely relevant to me. I have no problems signing up for something under someone's affiliate ID, nor do I have a problem granting the site owner an opportunity to generate some CPC with my click-through.
Sometimes the ad inventory on some networks is not very targeted… or very limited.
Turnoffs: If a blogger's landing page is the article title followed by a whopping 300×250 Google Ad that I have to scroll through to find content.
Thanks for your comment. I am glad you are a blogger that clicks through upon occassion. I do not mind tge upfront Google ad that much, I guess I expect it more times than not.
My recent post Poll: Why do bloggers not click ads