One of the side effects of staring at blogs with ads on them all day is that I generally don’t see them any more.
But yesterday I spotted some AdSense ads on a number of sites that definately got my attention.
There’s a screen capture of one of the ads below:
There were other version on the sites that rotated through with each page impression – in each case there was an image behind the AdSense ads that made it look like the person in the image was holding the ads. Some were provocative like this one (I’m sure naked women holding ads get more attention than most) others were not.
I’ve seen similar tactics before and on each occassion they didn’t last long before AdSense either banned the site from the program or before the images around the ads just ‘disappeared’ (probably at the request of AdSense).
Today I went back to the site and they were gone – I suspect someone from AdSense had a quiet word in the publisher’s ear.
Violating the AdSense rules like this is not worth the risk. In doing so you jeopardise your potential earnings with AdSense which in the long term could be very costly.
If in doubt about what you can and can’t do with AdSense ads – simply email them and ask.
I’ve seen this sort of thing before — always on splogs.
Just a little typo Darren, “I’m naked women holding ads get more attention than most”.
The “I’m naked” part kinda worried me for a second! lol.
Interesting tactics, certainly pushing it a bit too far.
I can’t figure out why people would risk being banned from Adsense by doing something so “senseless”.
Adsense is my bread and butter. They are my only source of income from my blog at the moment, so I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them on my good side.
If people want to increase their adsense revenue, they should work on producing quality content, which will increase the number of hits, and then the adsense revenue will follow.
I’m glad adsense doesn’t let people get away with such childish tactics!
Brad
Hmmm, why can’t adsense backgrounds be transparent. ;) On another note, her face looks like a chimp off the original War of the Worlds. ;)
Sex sells, at the very least get peoples attention. Thats what your example does, but I never thought people would be using it with adsense.
I actually find it kind of amusing.
Is this really significantly different to the ‘pretty’ Adsense borders / surrounds that were mentioned here a couple of months ago? I seem to recall they were allowed and not frowned on, despite drawing attention to the ads. The line seems very vague.
Would the arrangement, as above, be allowed if it looked like, say, a sandwich ad board? A billboard?
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that if you’re going to put something around your ads get permission first. The borders I highlighted a while back were consistent with the theme of the blog they were on, they helped integrate the ads into the blog and were tasteful.
These ones were dubious on a couple of fronts:
1. I’m not sure some advertisers would want a semi naked lady draped around their ads
2. They were not consistent with the blog’s actual design at all and were very obviously there to draw attention to the ads.
[…] Today on problogger.net, Darren Rowse posted an image of a naked woman holding an Adsense Ad that he found while he was browsing. I think people risk themselves being banned by the Adsense team just to earn some quick cash. Here’s a screen shot […]
Fine line strikes again. I’m sure many of us know (as our friend MC will tell you for $99) how many people tell you to deliberately place images above and around AdSense ads to ‘draw attention to them’, and at the same time introduce their methods by saying “there’s nothing sneaky or against the rules here”.
It is a very fine line, and what they often don’t say (or make very flaky reference to) is to check with the Big G first.
Yes, these particular images are out of context to the design of the site, and it’s certainly not worth jeopardising your AdSense account over, whatever the short-term gain might be (the funds will probably be withheld anyway).
Checking it out first is always best.
[…] 这个很创意，估计很多人点击广告都是看在这个美女的面上（via Problogger) […]
I thought it was creative…
What exactly is against the rules here?
Would it be ok to have a well dressed person holding the ads?
it’s probably a violation of this paragraph of their policies:
“Web pages may not include incentives of any kind for users to click on ads. This includes encouraging users to click on the ads or to visit the advertisers’ sites as well as drawing any undue attention to the ads. For example, your site cannot contain phrases such as “click here,” “support us,” “visit these links,” or other similar language that could apply to any ad, regardless of content. These activities are strictly prohibited in order to avoid potential inflation of advertiser costs. In addition, publishers may not bring unnatural attention to sites displaying ads or referral buttons through unsolicited mass emails or unwanted advertisements on third-party websites. Publishers are also not permitted to use deceptive or unnatural means to draw attention to or incite clicks on referral buttons.”
Of course it’s open to interpretation – but coupled with the fact that ‘what AdSense says goes’ I guess they are the ones that do the interpreting.
Hi Darren, I read your Comments on JohnTP’s blog
I’ve reconfirmed with adsense about this and they said that it won’t harm my adsense account
I’ve seen many blog’s doing this
http://cypherhackz.net
http://liewcf.com
http://blogiseverything.com
What do you think ?
I think they tell different people different things for some reason. I’ve seen some people asked to remove pictures next to or above/below ads and others told it’s ok. I’ll ask the contact I have at AdSense to see what they think.
Please let us know what they say about those kind of ads.
OK, I asked Adsense about placing ads near images. and here is their reply
The answer is pretty confusing. What do you suggest ?
Even though I commented above, I’d like to throw my two cents in again.
If I were the one paying for those ads through adwords, I’d be pretty upset if someone used a half naked lady to entice people to click on my ad. I’m not a prude or anything, but what does sex and nudity have to do with digital cameras?
Sure, the person clicking on my ad probably would have an interest in digital cameras – but I wouldn’t want my website and ad associated with such things.
Adsense created their rules to try and level the playing field for everyone. If you need half naked women to entice visitors to come to your website and click on your ad, then you should seriously look at the quality of the content you’re providing on your site.
My own response from AdSense when I asked them about ads beside images last night:
Hmmm – I’m still confused – but I guess the motto is to give AdSense an example and then to ask if it’s allowed. If you get a specific goahead then go for it.
Yes Darren, I gave Adsense Team some example when i asked my question. As you said earlier they give different reply to different publishers.
OK, Now I use images near Ads at my blog. What do you suggest ? So Should i keep them or remove them
Thilak – as I say above. If you put them up – email and ask them to look at them – if they say yes keep that email so you can prove they did later if they come back at you and go for it.
I put images around adsense ads on an especific blog, and I asked for approval to adsense team. They said it was ok to use it, so I guess this is reviewed as per-case basis. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help when in doubt, and don’t take other examples you see for granted :)
[…] Yesterday Darren Rowse – Problogger.net spotted some AdSense ads on a number of sites that definately got his attention. […]
OK Darren I did as you said. So here what they say
Thanks for helping me out.
[…] 这个很创意，估计很多人点击广告都是看在这个美女的面上,（via Problogger)只要懂得一点CSS和XHTML，就可以很容易做出来。 […]
It is ok, if google dose not give any expicit objection.
Why not do it ? if you can attract more people to your site, and Google dose not say anything about that.
[…] Creative FrameWhy do you need to frame the Adsense ads in squares or rectangle? Can you frame them up more creatively? However, be sure not to be too creative. […]
hehe,this like a joke
个性化Google Adsense广告…
Google Adsense广åä¸åæ¯æ¯è¾é³æ¥ï¼èä¸æ²¡æ太å¤ç设å®ï¼ä¸ç´è®©ææè¯ç çæ¯ä¸è½è®¾å®åä½åå·ï¼ç»å¸…
[…] image source: Problogger […]
wow, good way to attract eyes!
http://www.sepham.com
i know this is old, but can you give us any tips on the best way to contact adsense? is their a prefered email addy to get a quicker reply?