Making the AdWords Banner Bigger

Is this trick OK, or will google get upset ?

[4crests]

I have noticed that in Google Adwords Select you can make the Banner 30-40% bigger. It happens if you type in a DISPLAY URL on the 3rd line that uses up all 35 spaces, and the URL must be all caps.

This obviously makes a bolder more noticeable ad. (also makes the rest of the ads in the list bigger). Does anyone think there is anything wrong with using the maximum space allowed to make the ad bigger ??

[4crests]

oops, I guess it would actually be the 4th line that the display URL is on. It's the second to last line when you edit the ad, and it's the last line that shows up when the ad displays on google.

[4crests]

Also, wondering about Ascii Art in the Ad to make it more noticeable ??

[hurlimann]

Well spotted if somewhat borderline!

Others will follow.

[jatar_k]

I don't know if Google will care or not but I am sure you will be able to tell us soon enough. I am interested in the answer.

[bird]

Just make sure that the long URL actually works, as you can learn from this thread [webmasterworld.com]

[4crests]

Works fine, but it must be a valid URL. I first tried putting in a big bold line of advertisement, but Google declined the ad because the URL wasn't valid

[4crests]

What about 2 or 3 line Ascii Art? Anyone have any experience with it?

[4crests]

Ok, here's the results after the first 200 clicks. My CTR went from 1.0% to 1.6%.
a 60% increase. not bad!

[ade_uk]

worth a try, i'm going to go have a go since i have a spare long URL i could use :)

[ade_uk]

just done my ad on google and its appearing for the term 'stamps' , i've managed to get the max url in too so its pretty large !!!
will let u know how much it affects the CTR - its currently at 0.8%

[ade_uk]

916 impressions in the last 1hr and now up to 3.2% CTR - not bad :)

also tried another made up of some asci art for a different keyword (british stamp auction), will let u know how it goes

[4crests]

ade> wow, that's a pretty big increase. I hope it holds. My other webpage went from .09 to 1.8. I'm pretty happy with the results.

[Onza]

I changed my link to www.mydomain.com?Keywords_List.

Seems like it is working. Let's see how it increases. However, I had 1.6% without this, so if it increases, that would be even better!

[Jill]

Can you give us a keyword so that we can see an example of what you're talking about?

[4crests]

ade_uk listed a keyword above "stamps"

[JonnyWales]

I've looked at "stamps" and the ad looks standard size with nothing capitalized. Am I missin something ?

[tbear]

I don't see any ads searchin' "stamps"

As for "british stamp auction" the 3rd ad seems to be full of 'little boxes'

Does location affect results?

[4crests]

The ads under "stamps" are about 30% larger than most ads on google. However, it makes ALL THE ADS in the column bigger also. So, don't compare it to the other "Stamps" ads. Compare it to another ad for another keyword, and you will see the difference.

[tbear]

Hmmmmm, still don't see ANY ads.....

[Jill]

I see one with all caps for the url if that's what you're talking about but all the ad boxes are the same size.

[4crests]

Yes Jill, that's the one. Yes, it also makes the others bigger. All the ads on that page are now about 30% bigger. So far, this method has DOUBLED my CTR. If you compare the size of those ads under "stamps" to most other ads on google, you will see they are much bigger. This happens if any one of the people under "stamps" uses all 35 characters of the display URL (must be all caps)

[Jill]

It's doubling your click through rate. Is it also increasing your sales? I pay per click so yes I want to increase my traffic but increasing the conversion is more of a concern to me. How's that panning out for you?

[brotherhood of LAN]

Hmmm goood shady stuff happening here

Jill, just a poser, why would there be any difference in sales due to the ad, do you think the difference in appearance of the ad from the smaller version will have an effect?

[4crests]

nothing shady, I don't think. Simply filling in all 35 characters of the URL.

[4crests]

for me, CTR and Sales from AdWords have doubled since adding the larger banner.

[brotherhood of LAN]

>shady

ok granted its not shady, but i dunno how about blatant :) nah im just waiting to for GG to scan the thread and have a laugh :) Who ever said SEO was dead ;)

[bigjohnt]

This should become the new standard Adwords box/column. If it can double CTR, its good for Google AND advertisers. And looking at it, it doesn't interrupt the regular results than much at all.
I am sure that when they did the original layout, they considered the max characters that would still look okay.

[Jill]

Jill, just a poser, why would there be any difference in sales due to the ad, do you think the difference in appearance of the ad from the smaller version will have an effect?

I was just curious if it was only increasing his CTR or if it was also increasing his sales. Getting them to come to the site is only the first battle. :)

[4crests]

Thanks BigjohnT, my thoughts exactly.