2.4 The Best Performing Ad Size

an ad. But you’ll also want them to be a particular size. Which size is that?

336 x 280 – the Large Rectangle.

Why should you choose the 336 x 280 ad block? Simple. It gets the mostclicks! My studies have shown that this format looks most like real contentadded to a page. I’ve dabbled with every size Google offers and this is thesize that consistently has the best results. Other people have told me theexact same thing. That’s all I need to know!

Second best is the 300 x 250 – The Medium Rectangle.

This ad block size is really useful when you went to have two sets of ads sideby side. They fit on most web pages just perfectly!

I would also recommend using the 'wide skyscraper', text-only ads on theright hand edge of the screen — in conjunction with the 3-way matching

If you think about it, nearly all PC users are right handed (even left-handedpeople like me control their mouse with their right hand because it's how wewere 'brought up' to use a mouse.) By placing the ads on the right handedge it's psychologically 'less distance' between your right hand and thescreen.

This 'closeness' in my opinion makes the user feel more comfortable andtherefore more likely to click through to a link. They feel more in control oftheir visit experience.

Stay away from the 468 x 60 ad block!

One of the first things people do when they sign up for AdSense is to grab a468 x 60 ad block.

Big mistake.

I have a theory about why they do this. It’s the same theory that explainswhy the 468 x 60 block does not entice clicks.

Most site owners have the mindset that when they put Google ads on theirsite, they must place the code that conforms most to traditional webadvertising. And that would be...? Yup, the 468 x 60, the ubiquitous bannerformat that we have all come to know and love and... IGNORE.

Everyone is familiar with the 468 x 60. And that’s exactly why the clickthroughrate on this size is very low, even among advertisers who useimages on their banners.

The 468 x 60 blocks screams, "Hey! I am an advertisement! Whatever youdo, DON'T click me. In fact, you should run from me as fast as you can!"In all but a few special cases, I have found the 468 x 60 ad block to becompletely ineffective, and recommend ignoring it the same way your visitorsdo.