Every blog that you visit on the Internet has incorporated ‘Google Adsense’ to monetize their websites. Leave aside personal blogs, you will find ‘Ads by Google’ on well established sites like Mid-Day, Times Of India etc.
Its not news that there are people making loads of money through this medium, some even 6 figures annually. So what kind of traffic do these people target. Its often said that you should visit other blogs regularly and comment on them, so others come back to your blog, so you get more eye balls. But how true is that? Do you think that when another webmaster comes to your site and sees Ads, he is likely to click them?
The primary point that everyone misses out is that ‘people click on ads when they are searching for something’. If a user comments on my blog, chances are I’ll visit his site, but chances of me clicking on an ad on his site are very slim.
Now what about traffic from Social networking websites? What about a user coming from Digg or Stumble. Well, the reason why he comes to your website is that he is interested in the subject you’re talking about, so yes, if Google doesn’t fail you and places absolutely relevant ads, there could be chances of him clicking.
So the question arises, which is the best traffic for your website? (Strictly in terms of Adsense). Well, I’d like to believe, the traffic routed straight from search engines like Google, Yahoo. People on Google are already in search for something, and when they come to your site and don’t find what they are looking for, they are more likely to click on an ad to explore further.
Blogs with a HUGE subscriber base doesn’t necessarily mean the author/owner is making a lot from adsense. Yes, there may be a lot of people interested in what the site offers, but are not in search for something. So the information that the site provides totally suffices.
So the next time you look at your stats, try focusing on getting more traffic from Google and don’t look at your feedburner count 
June 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Heh I get decent traffic from Google,, but then no on clicks on ads, not surprising I dont most people visiting Linux blog would have AdBlock Plus enabled
June 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
(comment notification enable)
June 13th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I don’t know how can someone make money out of google adsense. People visiting blogs are usually the tech inclined types who know about IE7 pro or atleast Ad Block+ for that matter.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
@Sathya - You could be right. People visiting Linux blogs are more tech savvy and would have Adblock installed.
@Manan - Try looking at the bigger picture. People re-directed from Google dont know that they are visiting a blog, and chances are they might be searching for info, and will click on ads. Not all have Adblock. There are loads and loads of people who just know simple browsing, probably they will NOT notice if they happen to click on an ad.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:34 am
I certainly will not click on these ads you have just above the “submit My Comment” button!
Here’s a suggestion, make that submit button real small and surround it with blocks of ads, then maybe, someone will click on one of the ads by mistake.
People who comment on your blog are your most loyal “customers”. I wouldn’t make them feel cheap by placing ads right next to the most valuable thing they do for you - comment.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am
@Prashant - I dont think its correct to say that if you place ads next to the submit button, you’re making your loyal subscribers feel cheap. I’ve read a lot of articles from people who have studied ‘ad’ placement, and one of them talks in the comments section.
The posts above mentions that webmasters are not inclined towards clicking on the ads, and these ads are targetted more at traffic generated through Google.
Thats the reason why I have a bigger “Submit” button, so someone who is NOT interested in the ads, can easily avoid them and submit his/her comment.
Thanks for the suggestion though
Might change the ad placement in the future