What is wrong in this picture?

Hey, first post everyone...

I signed up to Adsense a few months ago, and it's not really doing it for me. I think I have read just about every guide there is, but my CTR is still horrid. Basically, my earnings (over a few months) could buy half a chocolate bar.

Here is my site: http://jackslounge.blogspot.com

I know that it is all about content, so I am not doing personal posts any more, and am sticking to music reviews. My ads are normally pretty irrelevant, despite my posts being loaded with relevant keywords.
See http://www.rankquest.com/tools/Keyword-Density-Analyzer.php?url=http://jackslounge.blogspot.com/2006/08/music-review-as-tall-as-lions-self.html

for details. I seem to get eveything BUT music ads, when that is the most repeated keyword on the page.

My ads are blended and borderless, and (I think) are well placed.

Please help me, any tips would be appreciated!

Do I just need to post more content, and wait? Thanks for reading..

 

I am seeing music ads on the pages that I looked at. THe ads are music and bands related.

 

Hmmmm..it takes a village. Although I don't consider myself a guru, but I've always strayed towards linking content with no adverse affects. Just a thought.

 

Right, so maybe its part of adsense's geographic thing - the ads are specific to your location? Ok, at least they're relevant for someone.

If they are relevant, why isn't anyone clicking them ?!?!

Patience I guess...

 

I would first get a genuine domain name instead of using blogspot and SEO it as much as possible, do some research in sites like yours and see what they are doing.

 

Yeah I'd like to get a new domain, I would even be happy to pay (a bit) for it, as long as it can be covered by ads. Probably with my first payment from google (if it ever comes). Most of my visits come from google though - if you search for "As tall as lions review" I'm above the fold on the first results page - a lot of my hits are from that exact string.

If I move to a new host, I'll lose my PR, and any links to me will be lost - I guess sooner is better than later though. Also, if I switched to a seperate host I'd probably ditch blogger and move to wordpress..

 

If you ever really want to make money then making the switch to your own domain name, and also to WordPress would be a very prudent idea.

If you don't own your own domain then you are always at the mercy of whoever does (in this case Google,) and nobody in their right mind would put the effort it takes to run a small business (problogging) into a domain name they don't even own

Take it from someone who learned the hard way, it's a helluva' lot easier to make that switch now than later – I moved to WordPress last year, and now I have a bunch of sites, and I bring in about $30/day... not a fortune, but it certainly pays a lot of my bills!

When you need to switch to a better platform, or you have trouble with your hosting service, etc (ask people who got locked out of Blogger last year for no reason,) you'll be really glad you are the master of your own destiny

As far as the ads go, are you using AdSense Section Targeting? If not you should be.

Also, it can take a long time to make any money, but once it starts it tends to get better & better!

Good luck – WordPress rocks \m/

 

Yep, I'm using section targeting. And I now have a project for my uni break - switch to wordpress, get hosted. That should take a while!

Thanks for the tips everyone, very quick responses on this forum!

One last question - do you think music is a viable niche? Is there really potential for worthwhile profits? I am more interested in writing the reviews than raking in money, but if the opportunity is there, I'll go for it.

 

There is very good money in music/album/band related sites, but more so if you don't concentrate solely on PPC ads.

If you can bring in good traffic you can do quite well with something like BlogAds, which allows you to directly sell ad space on your blog. You set the price, and it doesn't matter how many people click on the ads.

My site is music-related, and BlogAds has done well for me, as has AdBrite.

 

According to your sitemeter stats you are only getting 35 visitors/day. You can't expect much more than 1-2 clicks/day with that figure or cents per click based on your topic. Focus on getting more traffic.

 

Yep, I'm currently doing a few traffic building tips. I was a member of a few exchanges, but that was too much of a hassle, and didn't work, so I gave it up. Now I'm submitting my reviews to article places, not sure what that'll do. Any other tips?

 

I recommend maybe signing up for the itunes affiliate program. Whenever you do music reviews post an affiliate link to the song or cd and you can earn money that way http://www.linkshare.com/affiliates/index.shtml

 

I got about half way through signing up with them, and ran into some tax forms and gave up for now... It did look like a good program though...

 

I am also seeing music related ads on your site, songs, bands, etc.

 

Thanks for confirming that, Its nice to know someone is seeing relevant stuff

 

Look everyone, I've moved!

Now I'm hosted, and blogging with Wordpress.

I'm really annoyed at the moment though, because wordpress.org, technorati.com, and sitemeter.com aren't working. Kind of makes it hard to fiddle with styles when nothing will load!