Which ad format should I use?

As a rule of thumb, wider ad formats tend to outperform their taller counterparts, due to their reader-friendly format. Readers absorb information in thought units (that is, several words at a time). The wider format lets them comfortably read more text at a glance without having to skip a line and return to the left margin every few words as they would be forced to do with a narrower ad. The wider ad format also lessens the likelihood of readers leaving the ad unit altogether.

Since these formats allow users to read more text without having to skip a line every few words, users' eyes have less chance to leave the ad unit altogether. If positioned well, these ad formats can increase your earnings. The formats we've found to be the most effective are the 336x280 Large Rectangle, the 300x250 Medium Rectangle, and the 160x600 Wide Skyscraper. Keep in mind that while these ad formats typically perform well, you should use the format that best complements your pages.

Tip for making the most of a little ad space: Try one of our streamlined link unit formats, shown below, or a referral unit. These formats are lean, mean, and versatile enough to fit in locations normal ads don't.

Create report templates to simplify and save time

When you've designed an experiment, it'll save time to design and save a report template for that experiment. Report templates enable you to customize and save the specifications for a report for quick access in the future, so you can avoid the lengthy process of generating the same detailed report over and over. You can save preferences like date range, any variation of channels or aggregate data, and whether you'd like to view page impressions or ad unit impressions. To create a report template, simply follow these instructions.

After you've saved a report template, you can access it with one click from your Overview page, by using the drop-down list on your Advanced Reports page, or by having it automatically emailed to you when you use emailable reports.

Setting up a schedule to have any report template emailed directly to you takes just a minute. On the Report Manager tab of your account, just select the report you want emailed to you, the frequency you'd like it sent, and file type you prefer. Alternatively, you can follow our detailed instructions.

Test your success with channels

Wondering whether a certain ad placement, format, or color will be effective on your pages? Run a test to find out. Experimenting with AdSense can help you discover what will work best for your site, and channels are the perfect tool for your experiments. Any time you make changes to your site, take advantage of channels to measure and observe the effects. Whether you want to track a specific type of ad placement or an entire site, custom and URL channels will help you determine what'll be most successful.

Testing will also help you make smart decisions about your ads. If you're considering implementing one of our other optimization tips, we encourage you to test it out with channels. The more you test, the better you know the effects of the ads. The better you know the effects of the ads, the faster you'll realize your revenue potential.

Tip for channel users: When you create a custom channel, give it a detailed name so you can easily identify it later in your reports. For example, "ArticleRightWideSkyscraperOpenAir" could represent your wide skyscraper ad unit with the Open Air palette, located on the right-hand side of your article pages.