Google Bans Deceptive AdSense Ad Placements
It took them long enough, but Google has finally put the kabosh on deceptive ad placements. Specifically:
- You can’t place ads under misleading titles or headings; and
- You can’t blend the ads such that they’re indistinguishable from other content.
This is not a ban against ad blending in general — choosing ad colors to match the color scheme of the rest of the page — but a ban against ad placements that are specifically designed to fool the user into thinking the ads are not ads, but content.
I’ve seen some egregious placements over the years. I remember once reading an ebook that specifically recommended you use a heading like “Top 10 Methods To Stop Smoking” followed by a large rectangle ad unit and then a list of 6 stop-smoking tips. This made it seem like the ads (which would normally — but not always! — show 4 ads) were part of the list. That kind of reader duping is now specifically forbidden.
Google Improving the Content Network
These measures are part of Google’s overall strategy of improving the quality of the sites in the Google Content Network, which includes us AdSense publishers. AdWords advertisers can now use demographics to target the content network . Many of the recent messages from Google to its AdWords customers have been trying to encourage advertisers to try the Content Network.
It may be that Google is seeing slower growth in its core search advertising business and has therefore renewed focus on the contextual advertising business. It’s too bad it’s taken so long for these things to happen, though.
See also Search Engine Roundtable.
Sponsored Link: PLRSiteBuilder is an easy way to create and maintain content-rich websites written by yours truly. Try it today!
Eric Giguere is the author of several printed books and knows a thing or two about content monetization. Subscribe to his AdSense blog today and never miss any of his insightful comments. And the not-so-insightful ones, for that matter.
 |
Enjoyed this post? Get free updates by mail or by RSS! |
Comments
6 Responses to “Google Bans Deceptive AdSense Ad Placements”
[...] kinds of deceptive ad blending: Another look at optimizations. I have some further discussion on my AdSense blog, [...]
the best is the one with title “1 New Message”
[...] Google Bans Deceptive AdSense Ad Placements It took them long enough, but Google has finally put the kabosh on deceptive ad placements. Specifically … (tags: marketing) [...]
I’ve seen severe fluctuations in my Adsense revenue in March. the amount per click totally dropped to 3 cents someday, but then rebounded to $1+ on others. pretty strange.
You’re not the only one who’s complained of this. Some people are wondering if it’s an indication of a slowdown in online advertising spending as the US economy worsens. Of course, Google’s always tweaking things, too, so who knows?
I, too, noticed something weird about Adsense over the last month. Prior to early March I was probably averaging 15-25 cente per click overall. Then, suddenly, it dropped down to less than 10 cents per click. That went on until yesterday when it jumped back up to the previous level. I hope it sticks.
Regarding the “crackdown” - so, is Google now going to quit recommending the large link blocks at the top of articles (which always seemed to me like trying to “fool” visitors into thinking it’s a list of resources)? Or, are they going to ban 250×250 image/video blocks (which often look like an embedded video)? Pot, meet kettle.