Advanced styling in AdSense ads

[KimmoA]

I've noticed a lot of sites using funky borders around each ad item (in an ad entity), and some changing the "Ads by Google" color text...

Since there doesn't seem to be any advanced styling abilities, the only logical reason I can think of is that these sites use an "older version" of AdSense, and they keep track of this in order to not mess with the styling of their customers' sites. Or something.

Am I right, or are they doing something funky?

[makes a little sense]

I'm thinking they are simply changing some of the code and/or adding to it in some way.

[KimmoA]

AFAIK, it's a violation against their terms to change it in ANY way.

I don't even dare to try, although it seems to be really hard.

[Zygoot]

Are you sure those sites are using AdSense?

[KimmoA]

"Are you sure those sites are using AdSense?"

Fully sure.

It really feels to me that these were the "early" sites and Google then can't just change the way they are presented, but preserve them for backwards-compability.

[roadhazard]

The Adsense team told me NOT to use different colors, etc. I do have the background color blended to match the page color, but that is as far as I dare to go. I even removed ALL references anywhere to the words: "click here" even though the words were far from the Adsense and referred to other links. The Adsense team liked that. Actually the site is more professional without affiliate links saying: Click Here. My site is still creeping out of the sandbox. Each week, though, it earns a little more than the week before, so that is OK. I am like most of you, I have NO TIME to spy on other webmasters. I spend all my time BUILDING my own site. Yes, I see violators of the TOS, but as was already mentioned, that is the job of the Adsense team, not mine. I just have to keep MY OWN ACT CLEAN. Even if someone offended me in some way, I still would NOT take the time to report that person. I do not have the time or interest to do it...I want to make more G. dollars and that takes total devotion of my limited brain power...lol

[Zygoot]

Then it's probably AdSense Premium. It's a service for sites receiving more than 5 million search queries or 20 million content page views a month.

[services.google.com...]

[Dpeper]

On one of my sites one time when i put the ad code in there had no ads by google on it I am not premium mabey just a short lived fluke, that they cant really change? But as soon as I changed the color it came back.

On the other hand I dont think premium publishers have the ads by google so thats a good explanation as well.

[KimmoA]

Hmm... what you're saying about a "premium" version sounds interesting. However, the traffic needed is a fantasy far beyond my most unrealistic dream.

You say that it didn't have the "Ads by Google" text (which I hate, BTW). But I saw it! It had a different color.

I know that AdSense automatically reverts to a "bright contrast" color if you try to "hide" stuff (damn them!), but are you totally disallowed to "blend" the "Ads by Google" text?

I don't dare to touch my ads before I get this sorted out, but the layout is totally ruined by the damn "Ads by Google" in sharp black. I'd be very happy to make it "softer" and still not get banned.

[joeduck]

Then it's probably AdSense Premium

Correct - some larger/highly stable and trusted sites are allowed to change styles - ask your adsense rep.