banner showing 2 ads instead of 4?

I dropped the big format yesterday -- the blend was completely gone. No CTR at all if all your page shows is one big ad

 

I have the same problem.

On the most popular page of my new site, offering a target heart rate calculator, the large square is still showing sometimes 4 ads, but most of the times it displays only two, like the rest of the pages.

Personally I have my doubts regarding the explanation provided by Google (i.e. choosing to display only the higher paying ads so you make more money). The reality is I was getting more clicks with 4 ads than I do now with 2.

Hopes this helps.

 

Ever since I started noticing this phenomenon (even before this thread was started), today is the first time I saw 4 ads on a large rectangle. My own sites are still showing 2 ads.

This is the particular site. Take a look and see if you get 4 ads.
h*tp://www.thesuperficial.com/

 

I'm surprised people are just noticing this now. This feature has been around since August.

See: http://adsense.blogspot.com/2005/08/fewer-ads-more-money.html

I suspect Google just recently started using this more.

 

As we said, this just suddenly happened to sites that were constantly showing 4 ads. So it's different.

 

Hi guys -

I just wanted to jump in and confirm that what you are noticing is an automatic optimization feature. When you notice fewer ads than normal appearing in an ad unit, it's because AdSense technology has determined that dropping lower paying ads will provide you with higher earnings.

Let me know if you have any questions!

ASA

 

Thanks for jumping in, ASA. But with the sudden change to 2 ads for sites which were constantly showing 4, does it mean there was a change in algorithm?

 

My sites seem to be magically getting back 4 ads. *crosses my fingers*

Anyone can confirm?

 

Yes, it does appear they are returning to 4 ads now.

 

Call me cynical but I jsut don't believe that the reason behind Google doing this is to improve CTR. Much more plausible that it is to counter super blending. If google did actually believe it is to improve CTR then why not make it an option (4 or 2) and then ask people to see which one works best for them.

 

Correction, they said it's to improve overall earnings, not CTR. But yeah, we all know it's likely for countering the image trick.

I'm glad the ads are returning to 4 for all my sites now. They look much better!