Bordering Adsense ads

Would Google frown on this?

[berto]

I understand that one is not supposed to mess with the Google-supplied Adsense code and/or alter the appearance of the Google-sanctioned ad formats.

For some ad units, however, I don't like the look of Google's approved borders. For instance, the ugly thick slash across the top of AdLinks units, or the garishly thick slash along the bottom of leaderboards.

What I would like to do is take border-less Adsense and Adlinks ads and put my own border around them, by enclosing them within bordered tables, making them into ad boxes. (The effect would be akin to bordered vertical banners. Why does Google nicely border vertical banners but not AdLinks?) This would not change the appearance of the enclosed ads, but seen as a whole, it would look like my border is an integral part of the ad unit.

Would Google frown on this?

[chadf]

You can change the colors of the ad. Simply make the borders 'FFFFFF' (or whatever your bgcolor is) and then place it in a table.

[JohnKelly]

Per the TOS you're not supposed to do anything to draw attention to the ads. Putting your custom border around an AdSense block would seem to do that. Best to check with the AdSense team, maybe do a mock-up as an example for them to look at.

Now if a portion of the page had a border around it, and the AdSense block happened to reside within that area (along with other content) I think that would be okay.

[chadf]

Whenever you are getting the ad code within your account, you can change the colors right there. I don't think that making the border as the same color as your background will draw too much attention. I've seen hundreds of sites whose ads are borderless.

[berto]

The point is, Google seems to have different default border styles. I find the thin border around vertical banners appealing. That border style appears to be unavailable for AdLinks units and leaderboards. If I change the google_color_border for AdLinks and leaderboards, ugly thick slashes appear. There seems to be no option to render a nice, thin border around AdLinks units and leaderboards ala vertical banners. Unless I render them myself, by enclosing the ads within bordered tables.

Per the TOS you're not supposed to do anything to draw attention to the ads. Putting your custom border around an AdSense block would seem to do that.

Why would this be drawing undue attention to the ads? Any more than using a garish ad background color, or text color, etc.? It's not like I'm adding arrows all around the ad periphery pointing to the ad. It's just a simple, tasteful thin border on all four sides.

So instead of this:

Ad Links by Google
Blue Widgets
Green Widgets
Widgets for Rent
Widget Books

I would have this:

Ad Links by Google
Blue Widgets
Green Widgets
Widgets for Rent
Widget Books

[marcel]

That's exactly what I have done, it fits in with the rest of my page.

I have never even considered that it might be an Adsense violation....

*checks TOS nervously*

[berto]

I went ahead and implemented the self-made Ad Links border on one of my sites. (It is unnecessary on my other site.) Because the border is one pixel wide with a soft, muted color that matches the border table color used elsewhere on the site, it in no way draws special attention to the ad unit. But whereas before I had this Ad Links unit awkwardly floating in my right sidebars, now I have this neat and tidy box that harmonizes well with the look of the other affiliate ad blocks in the same column. The visual effect is pleasing. The Ad Links unit now looks like it belongs in that space.

I should mention that I have implemented this new Ad Links look on a selective basis and with custom channels specific to this change. If it hurts the CTR and bottom line, I will withdraw it, good looks notwithstanding.

[annej]

one pixel wide with a soft, muted color that matches the border table color used elsewhere on the site

That's exactly what I've done. It gives a cleaner look than the adsense boarder yet it makes it clear that it is a set of ads, not part of the text.