How many of you are using the alternate ads option?

[crick]

I have noticed Google is unable to provide ads quite a bit of the time. I am sure a lot of people miss clicks as a result. I know they provide alternate ads option, but if you are based in the UK and can't get YPN, what other options do you have. I am looking for ads that look the same as adsense but at the same time has to be within Google TOS.

I want to get a fair idea of who I should consider and if their cost per click is similar to Google.

[david_uk]

I'm surprised to hear this. When I started with adsense in Jan 04, there was a lack of inventory in my niche. In the months that followed I saw PSA's less frequently. I haven't seen one for a very long time now. I guess that adsense's inventory is huge, therefore my surprise at hearing this.

Is it possible that PSA's are appearing as a result of stop words or phrases, or maybe the page is a dynamic one and adsense has problems with these sometimes. Have you specified image ads only? Lack of inventory is unlikely to be the problem.

I'm also from the UK. I use Fastclick as alternate ads on occasions, but lately I've taken to not specifying an alternate ad at all.

Alternate ads replace adsense so both aren't actually shown on the same page at the same time. Therefore whatever you choose to be the alternate ad is going to be fine by Google. Maybe if they don't look or feel like Google ads is possibly a good thing - reduces ad blindness.

[fredw]

Well... you really can't use ads that "look like Google" as alternate Adsense ads if you have more than one ad unit on the same page. That's because it's against Adsense TOS to show Google ads and ads that resemble Google ads on the same page. If you have more than one ad unit on the page, you're taking the chance that one ad unit could be showing an Adsense ad while the other ad unit is showing alternate ads, and if your alternate ads "look like Google" then you'd be in violation of the TOS.

I have alternate ads for many of my ad units. I have created ad units with little images and direct product links that point to my Amazon Associate account. I also use the collapsing ad unit feature for some of my banners which works really nicely.

[crick]

You are absolutely right. Having more than unit and using alternate ads (similar to adsense) would be a huge risk. I didn't really put any thought into that. Thanks.