Google Is Mixing PSAs with Paying Ads

[Blue_Fin]

I have noticed a few times over the past few days that I am getting one PSA along with three paying ads on my AdSense leaderboards.

One of the PSAs was volunteermatch.org. I believe the other one I saw was for March of Dimes.

What's up with this? They have never mixed PSAs with paying ads before. Also, when they do this, there is no way to run your alternate ad.

[loanuniverse]

Are you sure they are PSAs?

Check and see by rightclicking on them to see if there is a tracking number after adclick? I think PSAs do not have anything after adclick?

I ran into the same thing a couple of days ago when I put a link in my homepage asking for donations to the March of Dimes.

There are companies that bid on words like donation and donating... maybe even charity.

[CalArch90]

I've noticed this from time to time also. I was surprised to see it. It may be a new strategy for displaying PSAs that they are testing out?

[PatrickDeese]

they're PSAs - i noticed them in my Spanish adsense - ads that say stuff like "find out about ancient egypt with google" - things like that.

I find it a little frustrating because what's the point of having alternative ads if G is still going to populate the banners with PSAs.

[loanuniverse]

Well if they are PSAs, they should just stop it and show just paid ads even if it is only one on a leaderboard.

I think they should have the ability of showing PSAs for those that do not set up alternate, but I think it is webmaster's choice deciding, which charities if any we will support.

[icedowl]

The latest code allows you to choose a color to fill in empty spots instead of showing PSA's or alternate ads.

[annej]

We had a thread on this a while ago. It's been happening for a while now but only now and then. I thought it would have settled into a policy of either filling the spaces with PSAs or not by now.

I didn't realize the solid color would replace both empty spaces and PSAs. I thought they were just for when it was all PSAs and I have replacement ads for that. I'll have to try it now on the pages that tend to come up short on ads now and then.

[Sunflux]

Remember those "non targeted but paying" ads discussed a while ago? The good performers that are targeted to your site but not the specific page? On my site, it seems to mix those in with PSAs now and again.

[Jenstar]

It has been happening since the beginning of the month:
[webmasterworld.com...]