Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Well, check out the AdSense Blog, where we just announced that you can now choose the font for your ad units. You can find specific instructions on the blog post, but we're encouraging publishers to use channels to test the performance of different fonts on your sites.
Or you can just choose your favorite font [en.wikipedia.org]. :)
ASA
You will not get the "exact" guidelines from Google. They suggest that you "blend" and then "smart price" you for doing it.
The only way to satisfy both of these contradictory interests is to implement one of the top 5 most-requested features: Provide publishers with Smart Pricing information for each URL and each custom channel.
It is in Google's and advertisers' best interest to allow publishers to remove ads from non-converting pages (or to improve their non-converting content). It just can't be clearer.
Sorry... took a deep breath. If A is sans serif and incoming B is not... okay, I get it.
Hooray! Still no control over what appears, etc etc etc.
I'm on the outside, kiddies. I've been reading this Adsense stuff for two years trying to make a decision to add or not to add. All the little in and out, giving more than take, etc, and a one off font thingie is the next big thingie?
I'll keep on with my direct marketing. Which is subtle, not in your face, and has paid for the last 10 years.
I have heard the same contradictory statements about blending. In my view it is best not to ruin the aesthetics of one's page by having text ads stand out too glaringly. I think there are ways to blend your ads without in any way deceiving the surfer, but I have seen many sites where text ads are so meshed with the actual content that I can barely tell which is which. On none of my sites do I put the recommended 300x250 size ads in the body of the core content, as I find it annoying as a reader to have core content interrupted when I am trying to read off a computer monitor -- no matter how good the resolution is or the font selection is. Yet it is said to convert better, so I am likely losing money out of consideration for those viewing the site.
The other problem I see is that one can select a font type, but not size. If the size is too small or too large, it could cause major aesthetic problems.
i know it's not me, because i've got the same ad showing on different pages, and i'm getting different fonts on each.
Don't see much point in allowing us to pick our font if google then go and change it themselves.
I don't know if this would work with existing technology, but it would be lovely to be able to set preferences for font size also.
Google font is often a couple of points smaller than the fonts I normally use on my sites, and I worry that my visitors won't always bother to put their glasses on just to read the ads.
Occasionally ads do appear with larger font which fit in much better with my site (with fewer ads in the block of course). If there could be a preference option to encourage these larger fonts to appear I for one would be most appreciative.
I need to be able to block broad topics like "online dating" ads that lead to things like this
Anne,
I've blocked several sites who fall into that category.
When AdSense first emerged years ago one of the biggest selling points to publishers was that ads would be targetted to your site's content.
Now we have arrived at a situation where I have to waste several hours a week permanently blocking certain advertisers for no other reason than they are wholly irrelevant, including dating ads.
If I can't have helpful ads consistent with my content then I'd rather have no ads at all.
I can't help but feel that AdSense in financial desperation is now scraping the bottom of the barrel. What was once a wonderful idea has now degenerated into a let's display anything at all.
You will not get the "exact" guidelines from Google. They suggest that you "blend" and then "smart price" you for doing it. It is a very goofy company.
Ever heard of the term Googly in Cricket?
[en.wikipedia.org...]
Now, you will know why the name Google :))
I agree with you that aesthetics shouldn't be compromised. I don't have any huge ad blocks stuck in my content either, not only because it looks bad but because it also looks like classic MFA.
My first priority is aesthetics and I guess that if Google believes I am trying to deceive (which I'm not), they will let me know one way or the other.
I - like others - just find this a very grey area.
anand84, I used to be a very keen cricketer - and a bowler at that - so I know what a googly is!
Ever heard of the term Googly in Cricket?
Crickey
Ever heard of the term Googly in Cricket?Crickey
Veranda is bigger and bigger is better! We want them to read the ads.
Tired of seeing one of my adblocks in Times, you can't read it.
Now If we just had command over how many text ads appeared in each ad block!
I am spinning around in my office, clicking by heels together with my eyes closed and repeating, "There's no place like Google, there's no place like Google!"
Maybe the Wizard will here me?
My life's work is done. I am ready to die.
So I don't get it.
I chose Veranda why am I seeing Times still pop up in the adblocks and destroy my profits in a time that is very hard to stay profitable.
Things are bad enough I don't need this going on too.
They just pick up a word from the page and claim they have it. Pathetic.
p/g
I tell you what though - I've been playing around with the adCenter Publishing beta, and while the ads are pretty uninspiring, the choices for creating ad blocks are WAY ahead of Google. If MS ever gets their act together on attracting good advertisers, Google's gonna have to up its game. You get the same three font choices, five different sizes, bold, italic or underlines, drop shadows, gradiant backgrounds, textured backgrounds - I was impressed with that portion of control.
