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Google wants more money from AdSense

Splasho [PersonRank 10]

Wednesday, May 24, 2006
18 years ago8,185 views

Look what landed in my inbox:
Hello,

We're writing to let you know about a coming change to the
appearance of your Google ads. Your ads currently display the
default Google color palette, Seaside (formerly known as Mother
Earth). In the near future, we plan to update the default palette to
Open Air, a new palette containing the same set of colors, but
without the blue border. We've found that many publishers prefer
the cleaner look of this palette and have also seen that a
blended color palette performs better for them – attracting user
interest while still maintaining the distinction between ads and
content with the 'Ads by Google' label.

Please note that this change will only affect your ad units where your
ad code does not specify colors.* For all other units, your color
selections will be retained.

You can view the new Open Air palette by taking these steps:

1. Log into your AdSense account at
http://www.google.com/adsense
2. Go to the 'AdSense Setup' tab.
3. Click the 'Color Palettes' link.
4. From the color palettes dropdown, select 'Open Air'. The
example ad will update to show the new palette.

If you'd prefer not to use Open Air, you can change your ad
colors by following the steps detailed in our Help Center:
http://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/answer.py?answer=9981.
Please keep in mind that if you choose to change your ad
colors, you'll need to generate new ad code using the new colors
and replace the code that's currently on your pages.

If you don't choose to update your ad code, your ads will begin
displaying the Open Air palette within the next 10 days. Please
let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Sam Davyson [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Yikes! They themselves are doing the blending trick.

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

OK, I think it's fair for them to try to make more money through AdSense... but why don't they admit to the fact that "blended" ads simply make more money because more users confuse them with *real* content?

Manoj Nahar [PersonRank 4]

18 years ago #

Yep.. I also got this mail last night. The fine line between good and evil is dwindling it seems.

iZeitgeist [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I don't think it makes a diffence if you click on a link that interests you whether it is real or spronsored.

To me, it does not make Google any more "good" or "evil".

Dint [PersonRank 2]

18 years ago #

"I’ve also received a forward copy of the email from others, though I didn’t get it myself (is it US-only?)."
Nope, I received it too. (the Netherlands)

Michael Zimmer [PersonRank 1]

18 years ago #

can someone post a screen shot of that Open Air palette, or perhaps a before/after sample of an ad?

Philipp Lenssen [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

Excellent idea for an illustration Michael... please check the updated post.

iZeitgeist [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

There you go:

http://bennis.googlepages.com/newdefaultadsense.jpg

Gerald Steffens [PersonRank 1]

18 years ago #

philipp – i got an email in german. perhaps google made some tests and mailed the news to the most inefficient customers first ;-)

Jeremy mikkola [PersonRank 1]

18 years ago #

I like the new ads better: the old ones were ugly.

Tiago Serafim [PersonRank 4]

18 years ago #

>>perhaps google made some tests and mailed the news to the most inefficient customers first ;-)

I don´t think so. I haven´t received it yet =)

Splasho [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

"I don't think it makes a diffence if you click on a link that interests you whether it is real or spronsored.

To me, it does not make Google any more "good" or "evil"."

Personally I am banner blind and ignore Ads whether they would interest me or not, provided I can identify them.

And I got the email in the UK so its not US.

mark glanville [PersonRank 1]

18 years ago #

i got it in the UK too.

is it perhaps, just people who are using the default palette?

hence this:
"Your ads currently display the default Google color palette"

Mysterius [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I also tend to ignore ads automatically, unless I look for them. Persoanally, I think the new default style looks much nicer; the blue-border one was an eyesore.

Ludwik Trammer [PersonRank 10]

18 years ago #

I've got this letter, in my language (Polish).

Clement [PersonRank 0]

18 years ago #

I got it in french too

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