What is Google’s Acceleration Team?

[jbayabas]

What's your experience with your one on one discussion with them?

[ember]

Positive overall. They give standard boilerplate advice, but if you ask enough specific questions, they often come up with suggestions that actually help.

[Chrispcritters]

Responsive. Once you get past the boilerplate stuff they are helpful.

[jbayabas]

Did you see a substantial increase in your revenue with their suggestions?

[Chrispcritters]

I implemented one of their suggestions and saw a revenue increase from it. I replaced a 728x15 link unit at the bottom of a page with a 728x90 banner. I did not implement other suggestions that had a more significant negative (in my opinion) impact on user experience. If you've done any testing on your own you probably won't see a "substantial" increase in revenue. However, they're worth bouncing ideas off of.

[hannamyluv]

Did you see a substantial increase in your revenue with their suggestions?

I saw an increase. They made a suggestion on layout that I just did not see because I was so use to looking at my layout. That being said, their suggestions are not gospel. You need to use common sense and test. But it is nice to get an outside view.

But beyond that, having them look can alert you to potential compliance issues and also give you a point of contact if you have an issue that gets you in trouble later.

[Swanny007]

It's just personalized suggestions from a human. Be open but willing to undo the changes. Some increase revenue, some won't though. Common things I've been told: Replace 728x15 link unit with 728x90 ad, Change 300x250 ad to 336x280 size, turn on text & image, etc.

If you have the opportunity to work with someone from the team, do it.

[littlecubpanda]

I've decided to decline their invitation (though I did the email consult, haven't heard back yet). Any Google suggestion has been nothing but trouble so far, and why fix something that isn't broken?

[ember]

Any Google suggestion has been nothing but trouble so far, and why fix something that isn't broken?

You don't have to implement the suggestions if you don't think that they will work. I think the most important reason to talk to them is that you have a chance to talk to a human, someone who looks over your site and will answer quesstions. I find it somewhat reassuring when so much of Adsense is automated and impersonal.

Having said that, the last guy I talked to said that a lot of webmasters don't like the suggestions and have an attitude. So if you really don't think that they can help, then, yes, probably best to decline their invitation.

[lucy24]

Common things I've been told: Replace 728x15 link unit with 728x90 ad, Change 300x250 ad to 336x280 size

Would the suggestion ever be something other than "replace {thingie} with {similar but slightly bigger thingie}"?

[Swanny007]

Well it's your choice whether to take the opportunity and it's your choice to implement all or any of the suggestions.

I also heard "add more ads to the page". No I don't take all their advice, but I'm keeping in touch with that rep at least monthly, it doesn't hurt to have a person to contact for anything. Really they can help you with other things or refer your e-mail to other AdSense team members.

[hannamyluv]

Would the suggestion ever be something other than "replace {thingie} with {similar but slightly bigger thingie}"?

Yes. In mine, they have suggested layout changes mostly. Things like how to better incorporate the ads into the design. Some were very successful while others were not. But they were all logical suggestions.

the last guy I talked to said that a lot of webmasters don't like the suggestions and have an attitude

I got the impression too from one of the reps that I talked to that having a pleasant conversation with an AdSense user was a novelty for them. It made me wonder how professional many of the AdSense users are towards them. I think if you treat them professionally (i.e. politely) instead of complaining or blaming, you will get more and better help from them.

[netmeg]

I've got replace thingie suggestions and layout suggestions and add more ads suggestions. Sometimes I ignore and sometimes I test, but always I listen and consider it. Google has access to a lot more statistical information than I do or ever will. At one point they suggested I'd get something like a 60% revenue boost if I made a layout change and ran a different size ad - I tried it, and got more than a 100% boost in revenue - that's lasted over a year now. So yea, they got that one wrong, but I'll take that kind of wrong every day.

I think if you treat them professionally (i.e. politely) instead of complaining or blaming, you will get more and better help from them.

Heh, I used to email back and forth with one of our previous ASAs here, and she told me that outright. They don't mind criticism and they understand the frustration, but they're much more willing to put themselves out for people who are civil and professional.

[avalon37]

The company I work for had a dedicated partner acceleration account manager for the past year. Had multiple in person and over the phone meetings. They had some good ideas if you were a total beginner, however we had already tested/implemented most of their suggestions. And lots of combinations that work best for us defies what they recommend as best practices. Worth all the time I spent working with them, but ultimately saw no revenue boost.

[jpch]

I had a one on one discussion this week and implemented the main suggestion which was something I had in place previously but changed. I'll see how it does again. More importantly, the AdSense confirmed several of my own thoughts about my site design and layout. I never pass up an opportunity to talk with an AdSense rep because I never know what I'll learn.