Short Description Requirement Now Live – As of May 16, 2007

Short Descriptions Requirement Now Live

[YahooPete]

Hi there,

Just want to let everybody know that the short descriptions for ALL new or modified Sponsored Search ads is now live as of last night.

I’ve posted some information about short descriptions on previous threads in this forum but for more info please check out these helpful tips:
[ysmblog.com...]
[help.yahoo.com...] .

As always, thanks for your feedback!

All the best,
YahooPete

[httpwebwitch]

Yessss! fantastic news. This will remedy many of the layout "challenges" caused by unknown content length

[mike_ppc]

Is this applying to all markets? (Uk, De, Fr, etc)

[Dc71]

Yes I have a beta sponsor search account for geo targeting for Canada and US will it be effected?

[YahooPete]

Hi there,

Thanks for your feedback!

Currently, short descriptions are required for US market (which includes English-speaking Canada). As we rollout the new advertising system in each international market and when advertisers upgrade they will be required to provide short descriptions.

Hope this helps,

YahooPete

[YahooPete]

Hi there,

As you know the short descriptions requirement for ALL new or modified Sponsored Search ads is live. I’m sure you’ve seen all of my posts on this topic.

I just wanted to give you a heads up that if you’re still using long descriptions, your ad will be automatically cut off to fit within the 70-character limit, which may impact your ability to communicate valuable information to users--and your results. This will go into effect on June 20, 2007.

For more information on short descriptions, please check out these helpful tips:
[ysmblog.com...]
[help.yahoo.com...] .

Currently, short descriptions are required for all new or modified ads in the U.S. market (which includes English-speaking Canada). As we roll out the new advertising system in each international market, advertisers will be required to provide short descriptions.

As always, thanks for your feedback!

All the best,
YahooPete

[eljefe3]

Any particular reason why ads that are longer than 70 characters can't be truncated? Seems like with all your technology you could make it happen and make reducing the ad copy to 70 characters optional. Why are we being forced to spend a ton of time on this, when you could just truncate like you have done before?

Is yahoo going to give us $$ credit for wasting/spending time needed to adhere to this new policy which can be avoided merely by truncating?

[Visit Thailand]

Good to know about. I have already modified some of the few ads we use.

One gripe is that I cannot find how to log into the UK account. I only seem to be able to find out how to get into the US account. Both use same user name etc. In the old system there was a drop down but now I cannot find how to get into the UK account to add money.

[YahooPete]

Hi there “eljefe3”,

Our users’ search experience is key to your success: We’ve found that ads written more concisely give users a better experience and perform better for advertisers. When users are exposed to higher quality search ads you, the advertiser, may attract more interested and enthusiastic potential customers.

Thanks for your feedback.

Best,

YahooPete

[eljefe3]

>>Our users’ search experience is key to your success: We’ve found that ads written more concisely give users a better experience and perform better for advertisers. When users are exposed to higher quality search ads you, the advertiser, may attract more interested and enthusiastic potential customers.

That's all good and great, but why penalize your advertisers if they can't get around to rewriting hundreds if not thousands of descriptions in the time frame you have given? Generally most copywriters use their best stuff in the first sentence or two anyway, so really truncating will most likely not change the CTR very much. Quite often in fact, people like to see the ..... after the first 70 words as they are enticed to find out more.

[YahooPete]

Hi eljefe3,

No need to worry. For advertisers that have not been able to rewrite their descriptions to fit within 70 characters, we will be truncating the descriptions at the time the ads are displayed on Yahoo!.

However, we wanted to provide notice and guidance so advertisers could rewrite their descriptions if they wanted to.

I hope this helps!

Best,
YahooPete

[RailMan]

i like the short descriptions - except they're not showing on my ads .... the long descriptions are trunca.....

[YahooPete]

Just a reminder.

Starting today, without a short description your ad will be truncated.
[ysmblog.com...]

Thanks,
YahooPete

[eljefe3]

>>we will be truncating the descriptions at the time the ads are displayed on Yahoo!.

Great news, thanks YP. This will save a lot of us quite a bit of time so we can get around to changing/rewriting the longer ads when time permits.