Google Adds Color Change On Hover to Ad Titles

[netmeg]

As we continue to improve and launch new features, we’re always interested in hearing your ideas and feedback. Many of you have shared that you want to be able to change the title color of ads when a user moves their mouse over the title link. After a period of testing, we found that this feature resulted in higher earnings for publishers while also increasing user and advertiser value. We are pleased to announce today that we have updated all text ads with this change.

I'd like it better if they let me pick my hover colors, but okay.

Full post here:

[adsense.blogspot.com...]

[Lame_Wolf]

I saw that on a site some months back. I took it that it was a premium account holder.

[Play_Bach]

> I'd like it better if they let me pick my hover colors, but okay.

Yeah, me too. Don't like it. If it's so great, Google should do it on their site. :-|

[netmeg]

Well I typically change color (and sometimes alter the underscore) on links anyway, so it's not a huge deal to me.

As long as they don't penalize us if the hover color ends up being the same as the normal navigation (which is the case on some of my sites)

[Leosghost]

As long as they don't penalize us if the hover color ends up being the same as the normal navigation (which is the case on some of my sites)

I wondered about that one too, hopefully they will accept that if that happens that it is their "fault"..not ours..being "joined up" isn't exactly their forté..

[foobeans]

We need hover color control! From blue to pink - c'mon Google. Once again we are all guinea pigs with no way to shut it off.

[thatjen]

I noticed the rollover color changes about a month ago on my site, but it hasn't exactly helped with earnings. And yeah I wish we could pick the colors because the hover color doesn't match the hover cover of the other links on my site.

[Play_Bach]

> I wish we could pick the colors

I wish we could turn it off.

[numnum]

For the record, the hover color on my Adsense text ads is red. (I see no distinct hover color on the URL links or on my my Adlink units.)

Otherwise, I use orange as the hover color throughout my site, and the red that Google has chosen for its as at my site is close enough to orange that it doesn't bug me too much. (Better than pink -- ouch!) But of course I'd rather they match.

[bumpski]

You would think Google would remember they also have "link units"? I see no change in color on link units. Surely the logic must apply to Ad Units and Link units?

In an Ad Unit, now a days, only the Title is a link, so shouldn't link unit "links" follow suit?

Consistency is important!

I'm looking forward to vast income increases, (with traffic down 66% since Oct 14th!)

[littlegiant]

After extensive testing, we have found that the color of the change itself can make a big difference: the wrong shade can even be detrimental to clickthrough rate (CTR).

Yeah, no kidding. The introduction of this new 'feature' coincides with the exact date my earnings completely and astonishingly tanked.

Why in blazes did they not give us the option to choose the color ourselves?! Or at least an opt out?

Honestly, I am furious about this.

[sofie77]

Why in blazes did they not give us the option to choose the color ourselves?! Or at least an opt out?

Honestly, I am furious about this.

Same here. I have pink hover effects on my green website. It looks very ugly.

I need an opt out or the option to choose the colour.

We have to say this here:

[adsense.blogspot.com...]

please google, give us an opt!

[littlegiant]

sofie77,

Yes, that was the first thing I did (voice my opinion on the adsense blog). I'm currently waiting for my post to be approved. I'm surprised there's only two comments so far (or are they screening out the bad comments?...)

Anyway, my CTR has been scary, scary low since the 28th. Today, my CTR is embarassing. In fact, today I'm only a few clicks away from having a non-existent CTR.

Right now I'm experimenting with what title color will produce the desired hover color. I've decided that having the right hover color is more important than having the right title color. Even then it's a gamble as it will require testing.

[sofie77]

yes, i think they will aproove the comments tomorrow?

@I've decided that having the right hover color is more important...

its a shame that we have to change the title color to get a better hover color :(

[littlegiant]

I'm no longer seeing hover colors on my ads although the "Preview this adsense unit" popup on the Edit Adsense Unit page still shows hover colors. Anybody else no longer seeing hover colors on their ads? I'm trying to decide whether to spend the morning working with a color scheme app trying to figure out exactly what they mean by 'complementary' color. It's certainly not a direct complement nor does it appear to be consistent. For my blue shaded titles, they chose purple as the complement (?)

[littlegiant]

Re: My previous post - It seems no hover link colors on Adsense ads only applies to Firefox 7.01 on my Windows XP machine. Other than that, I'm seeing the new hover colors.

[Lame_Wolf]

It seems no hover link colors on Adsense ads only applies to Firefox 7.01 on my Windows XP machine.

I have XP and Firefox 7.01 and I see the hover link colors change. Same for IE6 too.

[njstangers]

I don't see it on any of my sites, guess I'm left out on this? lol

[njstangers]

finally visible today! :) I got red on most...hmm

[farmboy]

I don't see any color changes when I hover over the title.

I do see the URL of the ad when I hover over the title.


FarmBoy

[littlegiant]

I don't see it on any of my sites, guess I'm left out on this? lol

Consider yourself lucky.