Why are Chitica ads so poorly targeted on so many diverse websites?

[trader]

I really do not like being negative but after looking at so many Chitica ads on so many sites I have to wonder how you all are making any money on it since they are so incredibly poorly targeted from what I can tell.

Most all the time all I ever see are Computer and iPod ads, even on websites having absolutely nothing to do with those 2 catgeories. Your CTR's must be horrendously low.

This all seems quite strange to me and I also wonder why Chicita seems to not have more ad inventory so the ads can be targeted?

[tsutton]

Agreed. I have been approved to use it, but I'm not adding it yet till they have something better to offer.

[Magoosboyz]

You can control exactly which type of ads show up on your page by adding a simple line of code into your script. ch_query = "Keyword you want"; or you can now use their sample selector and add multiple ads that fit your Keywords for Chitika. (https://chitika.com/mm_overview.php)

[RTM]

We run Chitika ads in non-contextual mode (with manually specified keywords) on most of our sites as a backup to Adsense or YPN ads, depending on the site.

Right now, it appears that tech sites (hardware, webmaster, IT, etc) appear to be getting the best CTR and CPM with the Chitika ads. Our feeling is that they have a relatively limited set of publishers on their network, and their ad format (dynamic comparison pricing) is well suited to sites that sell tech gear. There is the odd automotive ad, but you won't see dynamic links to eBay listings ... yet!

It's much better than just letting PSAs run, although if you use dynamic affiliate links (such as eBay editor kit ads through CJ) you may get better CTR / EPM than through Chitika. It is not a universally (subject wise) profitable revenue stream compared to Adsense.

Rob

[Sbabb]

It appears that many Chitika users keep the default keywords in their ad blocks, even if they add some of their own. That's why you see iPods, etc.

At http://www.gas-mileage-tips.com I use Chitika strictly in non-contextual mode (to comply with AdSense TOS) and I deleted all of the default keywords and put in ones that are pertinent to the "save fuel" theme of my site (mostly hybrid cars and GPS navigators at this point, though I'm looking for more items that are appropriate.)

With only minimal traffic on my site (it's a new site and my biggest day so far has been 150 page views) I've gotten a few clicks on Chitika and the per-click return on my site has been considerably higher than the per-click return on AdSense. I get a lot more clicks on AdSense, though, so it's made me more money overall.

Of course, this is speaking from a total AdSense + Chitika revenue of less than $10 from this site so far, so your mileage (sorry ;) ) may vary.

Scott

[tamako]

I had asked the same question a couple of weeks earlier (just before Joel's ebook came out) as the sites I run have nothing to do with computers, electronics, etc.

He pointed me over to the http://www.eminimalls.org/eminimalls_tool.html where you can type in your keyword(s) to see what types of ads will display. Sometimes you have to get creative on your keywords to get the right type of ad to come up, but it does work.

I'm guessing the sites that have ipods and such on them that aren't related to their web site probably a) aren't using targetted keywords, b) don't care if they use keywords so long as someone clicks the ipod ad. :rolleyes: