Google Ads and Expandable Product Listings

Reports have been coming through about a new Google AdWords format being tested on the search engine results pages (SERPs). Google is exploring the idea of offering a plus box option for sponsored ads, where users can expand the ad to view actual product listings (with pictures) by the advertiser.

Reports have been coming through about a new Google AdWords format being tested on the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Google is now exploring the idea of offering a plus box option for sponsored ads, where users can expand the ad to view actual product listings, with pictures, by the advertiser.

Many SEO purists are concerned that the expanding ads in the top position will push organic listings too far down the page. In my opinion, its "much ado about nothing" as the default when the results page loads is the contracted version of the ads.

If a user chooses to expand the ads, then they've made the decision to view the product listings, and accordingly focus on the sponsored listings over the organic ones.

A similar AdWords test which include product listings in ads was reported at the start of this year. But the new version with images could be a sign that Google is closer to launching the format as a permanent option.

At this stage, it seems that the advertisers will need to submit their products to Google via Google base, with the listings somehow linked to their AdWords campaign/s.


No official release has been made by Google with specifications and details on the new ad format, but should it generate enough interest from advertisers, I'm sure we'll see it added to the constantly evolving Google AdWords platform.

Microsoft lunches to day a new ad center.

Microsoft has announced the launch of the new adCenter Community today. The new site replaced the old blog and forums and can be found at adcentercommunity.com. Features include:

* Product/Service specific blogs
* Categorized User Forums
* Multimedia Distribution including video interviews, audio podcasts and training videos
* User profiles


From Internet Annonsering

Adsense: A Click is No Longer a Click.

This morning it was reported that Google is changing what constitutes a click on an AdSense ad. In the past, a click on the URL, title or background of the ad would trigger a click and earn an AdSense publisher money. In the future, a click on the background of the ad will no longer trigger a click event and an AdSense publisher will not make money.

In short, a click occurs only if a user clicks on the title or URL of the AdSense ad.

Google has implemented this click behavior requirement for their paid search ads on Google.com back April. Google has now decided to use the same criteria for their contextual ads.

The reason Google is implementing this change for their contextual ads are to "reduce accidental clicks and increase value for advertisers."

From Internet Advertising & Marketing and
Online annonsering