Google AdSense Retiring Link Ad Units

[Lagonda]

We've decided to retire link ads. This is in order to modernize our available ad formats, based on the feedback from users, publishers and advertisers. Going forward, we’ll be focussing on improving and developing other ad formats to help you grow.
What does this mean?
From 10-03-2021:
• You will no longer be able to create link ad units.
• Your link ad units will be renamed with [previously link ad unit] added to the end of the ad unit name. This will apply to both responsive and fixed-size link ad units.
• Responsive link ads will begin to serve display ad units on your site(s).
• Fixed-size link ads will stop serving on your site(s).We will collapse each ad unit where possible. In other cases we will show a blank ad.
Your earnings
Our experiments show that, for the vast majority of publishers, responsive display ads can perform as well as link ads. We are constantly optimizing responsive display ads to maximize performance. You will be able to monitor the performance of your link units through the ad units report to compare performance before and after.
What to do next?
There is no action required from you in relation to your responsive link ads as these will begin to serve display ads from 10-03-2021.
We recommend that you remove the fixed-size link ad units from your site and try out the following ad formats instead:
• You can let Auto ads scan your site and automatically place ads where they’re likely to perform well. Learn more about how to get started with Auto ads.
• Display ads work well anywhere on your site. Learn more about how to create a display ad unit.
• For a customized ad experience, you could try native ads. Learn more about how to create a native ad unit.
• If your site is eligible for Matched content, you can replace your link ad units with a customizable Matched content ad unit. Learn more about customizing Matched content.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to develop our products.
Sincerely,
The Google AdSense Team

[support.google.com...]

In one of my sites, these ad units represent 55% of total revenue.
Nice Christmas gift Google.
Very, very nice.

Well, time to adjust.
They removed Ad Balance, now they remove link ads.
What's next? Not sure I'll be 100% around to wait and see.
(feeling really f'ed up)

[edited by: engine at 12:54 pm (utc) on Dec 11, 2020]
[edit reason] Added attribution [/edit]

[back852]

Users just Don't click on other ads as many times as it was for link ad units. I have been doing most of my revenue (It's all about 68% of full revenue) by link ads. I don't know What other formats will bring alone. I think even go out from game despite I've been for 12 years here, Or I am gonna find an alternative ad network to partner with. waiting don't know how things will go. So disappointed and Shocked.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.seroundtable.com/t-google-adsense-link-units-square-1607642461.png [s3.amazonaws.com]

[gatormark]

Well, I just removed link ads from my lesser websites. I removed them years ago on my cash-cow website. Now, let's see how this impacts revenue.

[MayankParmar]

Any idea when links ad still stop working? March 10 (U.S time, 12AM?)

[barefoot]

My link units are still running and I can still create new ones. It's already March 10th where I am so maybe it's US time.

So far today link units are doing 10x the amount of my display units. I'll keep them running unit the last second. Tomorrow will be interesting.

[gatormark]

So, I today removed Link Ads from my remaining websites and today's (March 9) revenue and page rpm are already higher than yesterday's. Let's see if this continues in the days to follow. My revenue is already up 30% and page RPM has doubled on one website, with 3 hours to go in the day.

[ember]

Probably starts at midnight where Google lives, so at 12:00 a.m. PST.

[jetteroheller]

Just checked one of my sites with smartphone and laptop. All LinkAds, 600x24, are still working.

[ubound]

Just checked one of my sites with smartphone and laptop. All LinkAds, 600x24, are still working

My responsive link units are still working and earning, too.

[Lagonda]

Dead ad walking.

[MayankParmar]

Still working... but it switched to a responsive display ad for one minute.

[jetteroheller]

Still working...

[LuckyD]

It's over... Link Units are officially dead. RIP my best earner

[jetteroheller]

Now it is an emergency.
Where my 600x24 LinkAds head been, Google shows now 600x300 covering all the content below the only 24 pixel height intended ad.

[gatormark]

@jetteroheller

That's why Google has been telling us for a while to replace those old link ads.

[jetteroheller]

Surprise, suddenly again AdLinks

[jetteroheller]

@gatomark You can replace a 600x24 LinkAd myabe with some text, but not with a 600x300 ad covering all the content below.

[worker]

@jetteroheller Google has said they will replace link units with display ads and if the webmaster has auto-ads turned on, then the display ad Google replaces link units with will not be constrained by the former link unit display size (IMHO).

Google will (likely) determine (as best it can) the available space for an ad and then shove it in there. I fully expect to see vastly different display ads (in size) than the prior link units, mainly because I did not have the link units locked into tightly defined div height/widths.

I'm watching like everyone but so far I am not seeing any change to the link units on my sites. Since they make up the vast majority of my revenue, I'm watching like a hawk.

[jetteroheller]

I have responsible LinkAds enclosed by a <DIV style=width:600;height:24>
Google showed instead of 24 height 300 height and covered the content below the ad.

[ember]

Link ads still showing on old pages, but they've disappeared on an updated page I just uploaded.

[MayankParmar]

Still working on new and old pages. I hope they'll not deduct the link ads earning for today.

[barefoot]

My link ads look the same but they are now called "Sponsored Searches" - they open a page with one ad at the top and search results beneath the ad relating to the search phrase. Most of the time the search results link back to my site, but sometimes they are to other sites. You can click on different search terms on the left hand side of the page.

[gatormark]

@MayankParmar

Still working on new and old pages. I hope they'll not deduct the link ads earning for today.

You'd better remove them. It's my understanding that you won't receive any revenue from those clicks. They'll just take people away from your website.

[worker]

@barefoot that is what the link units have always been called and the page you described is what they usually link to, so no change (yet) for you

@MayankParmar Google said they would change the link units to display ads IF you have responsive link unit code, otherwise, they would try to collapse the ad unit or just display nothing there (again, for hardcoded non-responsive link unit code). Responsive link unit owners are supposed to see changes in that space although I am not yet seeing it here in the U.S.

[MayankParmar]

Link ads are still working, but I have removed them now.

[jetteroheller]

Link ads still working, but I prepare to replace 600x24 link ads by 600x60 normal ads

[Lisa01]

I don't think they'll deduct the amount

[ubound]

It's the next morning for me, March 11, and link ads are still there. There wasn't any loss of revenue, but I removed them now and replaced with a responsive block. The responsive ad seems way too big under the title. I don't know if I am comfortable with this.

[MayankParmar]

Yeah. Responsive ads are so weird now. Way too big. I am switching to 336x280.

[mydino]

link ads still working ... and have a clicks.. i think still earn money ... need to remove ? or maybe just wait a hours..

[gatormark]

For you heavy Link Ad users, has your revenue changed much over the past 2 days?