A common perception among website publishers is that Google AdSense program offers very low CPM rates vis-a-vis other advertising networks that hire their own sales team but are open only to a limited set of publishers.
Tim Carter, a former carpenter, writes this popular site called Ask The Builder on topics related to home improvement and it averages around 40,000 unique visitors per day. He was also featured as a case study on the official AdSense blog.
While Tim didn’t reveal his daily earnings in the AdSense blog, he recently told Vauhini Vara that these 40,000 unique visitors help him earn around $2000 per day. Assuming that average number of pageviews per unique visitor on AskTheBuilder is 2, Tim’s AdSense account is reaping him a healthy $25 CPM (2000/40*2).
Other than writing good and useful content that helps him draw this level of traffic, Tim’s site targets a specific niche (home improvement) and the placement of Google Ads on his site is near perfect. All these factors combined help him command such an impressive CPM on the AdSense network.
The equation {AdSense = Low CPM} may just be a myth, after all.
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/internet/google-adsense-cpm-rates/4193/
web: http://www.labnol.org/ email: amit@labnol.org


Reader Comments
very impressive…but where are google cpm ads on his blog?
Written by Rajesh on 08.11.08
Ya i saw him in adsense youtube video.
and isn’t his blog is overloaded with adsense units , but he also provide good content…..
Written by Sarv007 on 08.11.08
It depends on relevancy and other factors. It vary from vertical to vertical
Written by Ramki on 08.11.08
2000$ per day from AdSense ! That’s rather impressive.
Written by Stéfan on 08.11.08
I am always finding the ways how to improve CPM significantly, though I am satisfied by CPM with me, but how could it be enhanced more?
I think one of the major CPM enhancer is choosing the genre/niche of the site and the keywords on the page! Organic search traffic enhance it and of course quality content on the site which is able to engage the reader there for more of the time length!
But one thing s ABSOLUTELY CLEAR Adsense’s CPM is THE BEST & BEST of all in the industry, I had tried various contextual Ads but nobody stand in front when it it Google Adsense, I luv Adsense : )
Cheers…
Written by Piyush K on 08.11.08
So why dont you Mr Amit Tell how much CPM U get for this Blog. . ?
Written by Asela on 08.11.08
$1 million in revenue last year ! It’s pretty unbelievable…
Written by Jean-Noël on 08.11.08
I think Adsense premium publishers are getting more CPM comparing to normal Pubs.
Google priorities Premium pubs !/?
Written by Vidhu on 08.11.08
I wonder if you took a look at his ad rates pages and the CTR off his site. There is no way he can make $2000 per day from adsense.
Secondly, the rates which he is offering for large banners / prime spots are $1000 - $3000 for entire year, why would anyone do that when one make $2000 a day? Wont that be insane?
Maybe you should do a good research and lateral thinking before boosting off someone whitout ahy data.
As for Adsense, they are now seem to be working on a 20-80% split, where 20% is yours unlike the good old days.
Just because a site is into case study does not mean it is the best earning site.
Written by Naveen on 08.11.08
I agree with Naveen. I don’t think 2000$ per day is possible on that website. It might be 2000$ per month.
Written by Preeti on 08.12.08
To,#9Naveen:
You seems to be rather impulsive in posting that, pl tell:
1. How did you checked ‘his’ CTR off ‘his’ site?
2. Do not you think if ‘he’ is offering ‘cheap’ banners, than ‘he’ may be trying to utilize the extra space at his site and never at the cost of Adsense space?
3. Amit is rightly researched and has lateral thinking and he only estimated the data guess for ‘him’, there is no reasons to deny or not to deny ‘his’ earnings as USD 2000 per day or not, who cares : ) you too pl do not get worried by this,
4. Did Adsense Team disclosed you (as you ’seemed’)that they split like 20-80%, this is always a BIG Adsense secret and if you know this Adsense too might wonder on your research and ‘lateral thinking’: )
4. When a site comes to the Adsense CASE STUDY, than it is 100% sure that it earns good than that of thousands of publishers, if not, may be, it is still not THE BEST EARNER site in the world : )
5. Naveen, Pl be more cautious while posting a comment on a reputed SERIOUS sites like Labnol, we sincerely love it like Adsense, and we mean this :)
Cheers…
Written by Piyush K on 08.12.08
Let’s do some math 40,000 visitors X 2 page views = 80,000 page views. Let’s assume a CTR of 2% which is reasonable for this site, at equals 1600 clicks. 2000 dollars/1600 clicks = $1.25 per click. A quick review of top paying keywords database shows the home improvement niche to be fairly strong so I have to disagree with Naveen, I think it is possible. Especially when you consider the users this site will attract a 2% CTR may be conservative.
Written by Sguyot on 08.12.08
More than 5 Ad units were used in some web pages , is that allowed ?
Ed: 3 regular ad units and 2 link units are allowed.
Written by vidhu on 08.12.08
To Vidh@#13:
Adsense programm policies says as:
“# Up to three ad units may be displayed on each page.
# A maximum of two Google AdSense for search boxes may be placed on a page.
# Up to three link units may also be placed on each page.
# Up to three referral units may be displayed on a page, in addition to the ad units, search boxes, and link units specified above…. “
Written by Shradha Agarwal on 08.12.08
Dear Amit,
It seems that certainely this time you are joking………$25 CPM is just unbelievable & I am not ready to believe that someone may be getting $25 CPM. Just keep your palm on your heart & feel the heartbeat & tell me, whether in this guy’s case he is really earning US$ 2000 per day & a $25 CPM.
sanjay
Written by Sanjay on 08.12.08
@#15 Sanjay, certainly you are NEW to the Blogosphere and Adsense thats why you are saying such words to veteran Amit : you know $25 CPM is not rare may be uncommon and I had even saw (I will not disclose site name / publisher name) the CPM to $ 150 or so by Adsense : )
Cheers…
Written by Piyush K on 08.12.08
Ok, looks like I offended few of you in here, that was not the motive. I still stand on my ground because I’m not the one who will drive away with the crowd.
If you check this link - link you will see that the publisher is offering “Big Banner” space which the the hot spot on the site, what he is offering for the entire year is really cheap.
He clamis a CTR of 20% which according to Sguyot’s maths should earn him (16000 clicks x $1.25 per click) $20,000 a day and he is selling the space for $1000 odd a year per unit?
Beats me!
Written by Naveen on 08.12.08
OMG! It is unbelievable!
Written by Chamil on 08.13.08
Guys…Tim Carter should pitch-in into this discussion to resolve out the conflicts :)
Written by About Online Tips on 08.14.08
I can’t find where Mr Carter sells banner’s for $1000 per year. What I have found is below. I have no idea how many page views each catagory would get but at $50 cpm you would need 20,000 views for $1000. I also question the 20% claimed click through rate but if it is true then adsense would only need to be paying .125 per click to reach the claimed $2000/day
“The graphic ad alone is a link to your website or sales page. Only one Category Banner Ad is sold on top of each category.
The Category Banner Ads are sold on a CPM (Cost per Thousand Impressions) basis. The cost is $50 per CPM with a $1,000 retainer paid in advance. “
Written by Sguyot on 08.14.08
Oh! I agree one can get $25 CPM but it is not possible to get it regularly.
Maybe the guy has very good content, and matching keywords.
Written by Jobin Martin on 08.15.08