made the google_hints grade!

[jema]

Anyone else using these, did they make a difference?

[thatphonesite]

Depends which hints you are talking about ;)

[uhwebs]

What's google_hints?

[relicx]

Congrats. Yes, they do help. For me they made a measurable difference. But don't expect targeting miracles.

[frox]

Am I wrong, or is it a premium-only thingy?

[relicx]

It's not a premium-only thing, but it's not available to everybody either (Google probably has some criteria with traffic etc.)

[miguelito]

are you talking about that big black calendar type thing that came through the post to me the other day?

[Moglex]

It's not a premium-only thing, but it's not available to everybody either (Google probably has some criteria with traffic etc.)

And, of course, it's a secret.

[yifang]

What's google_hints?

[deepesh]

And how do Google decide Who Can Use It?

[Moglex]

And how do Google decide Who Can Use It

Shhh, it's a secret.

[deepesh]

Shhh, it's a secret.

Aren't we here to Share THOSE Secrets ;-)

[7_Driver]

Congratulations Jema.

What do you reckon got you in? Did you ask Google, or did they just invite you out of the blue?

Had you been complaining about poor targeting?

Or do you think it was just down to your traffic level?

[trillianjedi]

What's google_hints?

Override contextual targetting by telling google what keywords a page relates to.

[webmasterworld.com...]

[jema]

Congratulations Jema.

What do you reckon got you in? Did you ask Google, or did they just invite you out of the blue?

Had you been complaining about poor targeting?

Or do you think it was just down to your traffic level?

Has to be traffic level. As I'm in the top 30,000 sites according to Alexa. Sure as hell is not income!

[europeforvisitors]

Hints are a good idea: If I had them and they worked, I might still be using AdSense on my home page and root-directory pages. (I gave up after getting tired of ads for New York and San Diego on a European travel site.)

[Mentat]

hints must not be bigger than 1024 chars (from adsense support)

[Noel]

I'm doing way over a million page impressions per month.
I guess this is not enough to make the 'google_hints' grade )-:

[jema]

Well I am over 2.5million impressions so far this month. but I don't know the criteria.

[miguelito]

I get over 15 million page impressions a month but have no idea if i am in or not...i did get a blue handbook through the post with google hints in it :P

[great_9]

I think it's for sites that get traffic (not so huge as premium publishers) for which the ads are harder to target.

[Jordo needs a drink]

I think it's for sites that get traffic (not so huge as premium publishers) for which the ads are harder to target.

Maybe for sites with a lot of impressions but lower ctr than google would think you should have?

If you're getting a lot of impressions, but a low ctr, it's in Google's best interest to help you get a higher ctr.

[incrediBILL]

Yes, hints are great but I can't believe you blabbed, didn't your AdSense rep tell you to keep it mum?

Geez

[calman]

A Google search for - google adsense hints - will provide you with lots of information and discussion of this topic as well.