It seems like forums are a very popular option for AdSense/YPN sites. My questions are:

• Is there any real money to be made from forums?
• How would you recommend setting up the ads within the page (URL examples would be awesome)?

Originally Posted by oddcomments

It seems like forums are a very popular option for AdSense/YPN sites. My questions are:

• Is there any real money to be made from forums?
• How would you recommend setting up the ads within the page (URL examples would be awesome)?

*L* nope no money to be made with sites or forums at all...... Sorry i just always laugh if there is money to be made by any means as there is always room for money to be made ....

Yes there is real money to be made.... for instance this forum... why would the owner GIVE away 12K in prizes to get people here if he wouldn't hope to eventually make a return.... Depending on your forum type you are wanting to setup will vary how you will want to palce ads...... search for forums on the topic you are wanting to do see what people are already doing.

I agree with Dave about the possibilities of generating revenue. In terms of ad placements, you typically want them to be blended into the design. Ads on a forum's archive section do quite well. Also, a leaderboard and / or link unit ad up top should perform well too.

I've heard that very little money is made from forums.

Most likely because visitors come to give and receive info, not shop. Ad-blindness in full effect.

I think they are used mainly on forums as they offer CPM and you can put the ads below the fold and still get the CPM whereas other CPM ad networks normally don't allow forums to put their ads on their forums and CTR's are normally low on forums.

Best way to earn from forums is not to piss off the users with ugly, large adverts that get in the way of the content.

Look at this site, adverts placed in well defined areas.

But also a good way to earn is to place a single small ad unit at the bottom of a thread (quite easily done with phpBB and PunBB) as people often reach the bottom of a thread and think "where now?".
Also, as there's plenty of content on the page the advert is more likely to be relevant.