I just recently signed up for an Adsense account to insert ads into a new site. I'm still just getting my feet wet so I have some basic questions.

Google has spidered my site for content and so now I see some relevant ads. However, not all are relevant. The site has to do with hosting and support, yet I see some ads for circuit breakers and heat panels! :eek:

What gives? What can I do to ensure that all ads displayed are actually relevant?

Vito

It must be picking up on something within your content. Can you share? :)

Well, I'd rather not make the site known just yet since it is still in development. But Paul, you already know the domain... ;)

Vito

Ah, you're right. I just had a closer look. I have some text like "control panel", and some ads sell "heat control panels".

Hmm. Any way to filter those ads out?

Vito

Yep, I think I know the domain in question. But when I checked it earlier, I didn't see any AdSense on it. No matter, you seem to have figured it out.

As for filtering, I'll have to defer on that one. But I do know that AdSense pulls closely from your content, and you're definitely not guaranteed relevency :)

Ah, you're right. I just had a closer look. I have some text like "control panel", and some ads sell "heat control panels".

Yeah, that kind of thing is pretty common, where there's a phrase that has one meaning in the context of your site's copy but gets a good number of ads that should be in an entirely different context.

Without seeing the site it's hard to say how tricky this would be, but you can use "section targeting" to address this:
https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/answer.py?answer=23168

It may improve some anyway when the site's getting traffic and the ads are being clicked. And keep in mind that, while it might not be the case with your particular example, sometimes the ads that don't seem to be in context actually pay pretty well. :)

Thanks, JayC. I'll take a close look at section targeting.

Vito

Additionally, you can start blocking ads using the competative ad filter in your adsense setup. You simply see a add you wish not to display, and enter the domain name used in the ad into your adsense competative filter list.

Excellent. Thanks Mark.

Vito

Your welcome. Vito, do you own demodemo? If so, please add me to messenger. I would like to discuss something with you. Otherwise, good luck with the adsense.

Yes I do own demodemo. I have added you to my MSN list. Feel free to contact me. :)

Vito