PSAs mixed in with Adwords advertisers

New? Anyone else noticing this?

[richmondsteve]

One of the ads in a skyscraper on my site was a PSA for the National Brain Tumor Foundation. I'm positive it was a PSA b/c it had the appropriate variable in the query string. That was the first time I've seen a PSA mixed in with Adwords advertisers. If there aren't enough advertisers blank space used to show in the skyscraper. It's been a few weeks since the entire skyscraper hasn't been filled so I don't know how new this is or whether it's just something Google is testing with some/all publishers now. Anyone?

The ad was actually somewhat ironic within the context of the site (crime) and the other 3 ads shown, given the text on the ads. I've revisted the page and a number of others on the site and all are showing Adwords advertisers, but I'll keep my eye out for this.

[jonknee]

I have never seen this before, but it makes sense if you're in a very "niche" area.

[JinxBoy]

I haven't seen any fillings on my sites... Sometimes only get one ad on a 4-ad space...

Strange...

Maybe cus we specifief alternate ads?

[richmondsteve]

Some additional info. - I've had alternate ads implemented on all calls to the AdSense JavaScript since the first week that parameter was available. I haven't seen any PSAs on the site since I started this thread, but I'm running a JavaScript impression/click tracker and a click for braintumor.org was recorded around the time I saw it displayed and a click for marchofdimes.com about an hour before that. I'll keep my eyes open, but all of the skyscrapers on the sitte I checked are currently filled with 4 paying ads so I have no idea if I'll see a PSA mixed in or the typical blank space I'm used to.

[annej]

I just saw my first one. Pretty rare I'd say but I'm wondering why they are doing it.

[JinxBoy]

I'm wondering wether it is allowed.... When people have specified ads, they should not be serving PSA's, not even in combination with payed ads, imho.

[zhenghua]

I saw same thing today at one page of my widget websie. One was a paid AD with related to widgets information, and the another was PSA.

Just to confirm richmondsteve's finding..

[richmondsteve]

annej and zhenghua, thanks for confirming it. I was starting to wonder if my site was the only one affected. JinxBoy, I'm with you on that - if my ad block can't be filled I'd rather show blank slots, though on a 4 or 5 ad block if half or more of the slots can't be filled I'd prefer showing my alternate ads. It wouldn't be unreasonable for Google to implement a new parameter "google_cant_fill" and at its most basic give the following options for allowed values: 1 (fill with PSAs), 2 (leave blank) and 3 (show alternate ads instead).

[ken_b]

I haven't seen this yet. I wouldn't object to PSAs being shown to fill an adblock ifthere weren't enough paid ads though.

I also wonder how effective it would be if they ran an Adwords/adsense promo ad if there was space available in an ad block.

[annej]

There are times PSAs aren't appropriate. I have a webpage on Mourning Widgets and PSAs about diseases makes it look kind if grim. Like all the people with these conditions are going to die so here is a site about mourning. For reasons like this I want to have control over PSAs.

I seem to have finally gotten rid or the trigger words or word combinations for the mourning page and am getting regular AdSense ads but I’m going to keep an eye on it. I don’t want visitors to think I picked some of those PSAs.

I wonder if it's just a fluke that they are getting through or if there is some kind of quota that Google needs to fill so they are slipping them in. They aren't filling all the gaps because I still get those too.

[annej]

The PSAs are still slipping in with regular AdSense ads now and then. Has anyone found out if this is a new policy and if so how is it determined that PSAs will be slipped in?

[Jenstar]

I've been noticing it too, and on all different kind of ad sizes as well. Doesn't really seem to be a pattern though.

[ken_b]

Could it be that some of what appear to be PSAs have become paid adwords?

[Jenstar]

That is an interesting idea ken_b, but the ones I have seen running alongside paid ads would not be considered targered ads at all. But then, you never know! It does open up some interesting possibilities when you think about it.

[markus007]

Its been happening for about a month and a half here.

[ken_b]

My wife and I were just talking about this. One of her non-profit clients mentioned today that someone (Google?) had just recently contacted the non-profit about running an Adwords campaign.

Anyone still seeing apparent PSAs mixed in with the regular ads on Adsense?

[Sunflux]

Yes, I've seen a bunch today. I wonder if this is more a combination of "site high-earning but non-targeted ads" in conjunction with your average "PSAs".