April 26, 2005
Google brings in AdWords/AdSense changes
Google are bringing major new changes to their AdWords/AdSense program, which recently pushed Google's Q1 earnings 6 times above last year's.
The first changes empower AdWords advertisers to control which sites their ads are displayed on. The change - known as Site Targeting - which will allow advertisers to aim their bids at sites that convert better into clicks to their own sites.
The Site Targeted advertising will be CPM based, so rather than be paid for clicks directly, AdSense publishers will instead be paid on the basis of ads displayed.
Additionally, new ad formats are being tested out, with Google pushing on AdSense publishers to give more ground for image ads, especially new Flash ads, which will be restricted to a 50kb ceiling.
Additionally, in response to Kanoodle, Google have already been spotted experimenting with AdSense in RSS feeds.
Overall, the movements are very much a part of the company's attempt to dig itself in as the inimitable market leader, in an a lucrative text advertising market that Yahoo! and Microsoft have stated their intention to join.
By providing key features and expanding its services now, Google is creating an even greater ground for any competitors to cover before being able to provide any kind of real competition in the same market.
Posted at 02:02 PM
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April 06, 2005
Google brings in AdSense changes
Google Adsense has brought in major changes, including live tracking of channels.
AdSense is a way of publishing simple advertising, and is especially popular with webmasters as a way of covering costs or even developing a profit.
However, until now, statistics on the page impressions and revenues earned were always two days out of date.
Now such statistics can be observed in real-time.
Other changes include the ablity to delete old channels, and better selection of channels for stats tracking.
The details are published here: Improved channels functionality: better tools to help you optimize, and popular AdSense commentator Jensense makes a more detailed summary.
AdSense publishing on third-party webmaster sites forms a significant part of Google's revenues, accounting for up to two-thirds.
Yahoo! and MSN have yet to release for public use their own advertising networks, though these are both expected over the coming year.
Posted at 12:55 PM
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March 16, 2005
New AdSense changes come into force
Google has updated it's Terms of Use (TOU) for AdSense publishing, and additionally added a new publishing option, as well as offering new payment options for internation publishers.
The most significant changes to its TOU are as follows:
A big change is that publishers are now allowed to disclose accurate information on earnings - something previously prohibited
If you use the Google search feature on your site, you cannot set it up with a specific term in the search bar - only a user is allowed to input any information
Revenue sharing websites may be potentially in breach of the AdSense TOU - but there is some confusion so far as to how this may apply
If you use AdSense, you are not allowed to be engage in practices that reflect poorly on Google - whatever that means
The company has also released a new ad format, in the form of a text links box of various sizes, which can cover 4-5 links per ad box.
Perhaps most importantly for international publishers, Google now offers to either send out cheques in the users own currency, or else electronic transfer direct to the users bank account. There are limitations on the number of countries covered, but it marks a major step that international publishers have been clamouring for since the beginning of the program.
Posted at 11:14 PM
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January 24, 2005
Google preparing to release AdWords API
Tom Foremski explains in Google to provide AdWords API to Advertisers how Google are about to announce major changes in the Google AdWords program, that will allow AdWords marketers far more control over their advertising.
According to the report, these new features should allow far greater publisher control of the delivery, timing, and pricing of ads, all using Google's application programming interface (API).
Improved Adwords conversion tracking will also mean the ability to track conversions from Overture, emails, banner ads, as well as RSS feeds.
A gathering of 1800 AdWords managers apparently came together in San Francisco this week to learn of how to work with these changes.
The overall move is seen as a reaction to growing market share by companies such as Kanoodle, who also have tools dealing with some of these features.
If applied, the changes to AdWords advertising would move Google closer to being seen as a media publisher, rather than search application, which could irritate existing media publishing rivals such as IDG and even eBay.
Posted at 04:26 PM
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January 11, 2005
Google AdWords: Changes; then AdSense blocked by Microsoft
At the end of last week, Google announced changes to their AdWords/AdSense program, which would effectively put a bottleneck on the number of affiliate advertisers. However, joy of stronger AdWords compaigns was muted this week by news that a new patch for Internet Explorer blocks AdSense from being displayed.
According to the AdWords release on Friday, the new rules effectively mean that affiliates bidding to send traffic to the same URL will find themselves cancelling each other out, as only the ad with the highest AdRank will be displayed..
General users of AdWords have generally given their approval to their changes: in Google AdWords Affiliate Ad Policy Change, Aaron Wall of SEO Book fame comments on how eBay affiliates had effectively been polluting the AdWords markets, and reprints the full AdSense changes.
However, in the latest patch for Internet Explorer, Jensense reports in Highly publicized Internet Explorer fix blocks Google AdSense from displaying that the new high security settings that Internet Explorer will be set to prevent display of AdSense adverts in Internet Explorer.
It is uncertain whether this is intended as a direct attack by Microsoft on its major internet rival, but Norton anti-vorus software has also been recently found to block AdSense ads from displaying.
This latest patch could prove costly, not only to Google, but also for the large number of small webmasters who effectively pay for their hosting fees via AdSense publishing.
ADDENDUM: Widespread evidence has yet to be seen that Internet Explorer is blocking AdSense publishing. Quite possibly, the original reporter was having problems with Norton. :)
Posted at 09:05 PM
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November 18, 2004
Google Adwords: Advertising Professionals
Google announced the launch of Google Advertising Professionals, a program that includes training, tools and marketing resources for those who manage Google AdWords on behalf of advertisers, including search engine marketers, agencies and Webmasters.
The training has three main components: a user interface to manage AdWords customers called My Client Center; a number of self-paced training lessons called the Learning Center; and Logo, a qualification bestowed on participants who become Qualified Google Advertising Professionals after passing a proficiency exam and meeting other requirements.
This continues Google's focus on developing it's revenue stream via Adwords, and continues to offer a strong marketing presence.
Posted at 11:30 AM
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