Adwords Adsense System

Google Summaries

The Biggest Adsense TOS Change (Jan. 17, 2006) -  
"Competitive Ads and Services - In order to prevent user confusion, we do not permit Google ads or search boxes to be published on websites that also contain other ads or services formatted to use the same layout and colors as the Google ads or search boxes on that site." (emphasis mine)

The new Adsense changes raise more questions than they answer.
Here are some Questions That the Jan. 17, 2007 Adsense TOS Changes Do Not Answer -

Ads by Gooooogle, Ads by Yahoo - Although prominently displayed, these highly visible tag lines are NO LONGER sufficient to differentiate between the two ad programs.

Ad Size - All the ad sizes are IDENTICAL. .. "ads formatted to use the same layout". What is the definition of "layout"? Ad size and shape, right? If strictly interpreted, you can't use YPN ads, period. What if one uses all one size ad format for Adsense, and a different size ad format for YPN? Is this alone enough to differentiate?

Ad Text Colors -
1. How different must the colors be? We are all left to guess. Is text color change alone enough to differentiate?
2. Underlined dark blue links are a de facto standard - can dark blue links be used on both Adsense and YPN?

Ad Borders - Is it sufficient to JUST use borders on Adsense, and no borders on YPN? How about borders on YPN, and no borders on Adsense? Is this alone enough to differentiate?

Ad Background Color - Is it sufficient to JUST use a different ad background color? Is this alone enough to differentiate?

".. same layout (size) AND colors .." - To me, this suggests that changing EITHER the AD SIZE, or the TEXT COLORS would be sufficient. It does not say "same sizes OR colors"

Time Frame for Switching Formats - You use Adsense blended and YPN standout. You want to change to YPN blended and Adsense standout. How frequently can you make this change on a site? Is monthly OK? Weekly? Daily? Hourly? Every other page access? I am not trying to be facetious. This is an honest, valid question.

Time Frame for Implementing Changes - How long do publishers have to make these undefined changes? Days? A week? A month? This is also undefined. I started changing mine today, beginning with the highest traffic pages.

EXAMPLE AD COMPARISON

Default 336x280 Ads
"Ads by Google" top left Bottom right on leaderboard and banners	"Ads by Yahoo" top right a. Is it absolutely necessary to change ad SIZE? NO! b. Would removing the BORDERS be enough to comply? c. Would changing the BACKGROUND color be enough to comply? d. Would changing the body TEXT COLOR be enough to comply? e. Is it absolutely necessary to change the blue TITLE color? NO! How about a and b? How about b and c? How about b and d? No, I am not trying to be facetious. There is a REAL need to know what is acceptable.
My Immediate Approach Changing YPN ads to avoid any potential problems with Adsense
Old Yahoo Ad Appearance Original, blended, borderless ad type, which is the same size, title color, text color and URL color as Adsense ads used on other pages of the same site.	New Yahoo Ads Original Attempt Same size, but different colors and added border - Surely this would be acceptable? But it is going way too far, right?
New YPN Possible Ad OPTION 1 Same size, same color text, and yellow background- Does this implementation comply? If so, how about a lighter shade of yellow? A barely visible shade of yellow? How do you discern what is acceptable?	New YPN Possible Ad OPTION 2 Same size, same color text and added border - Does this implementation comply? If so, how about a lighter shade of yellow? A barely visible shade of yellow? How do you draw the line?
So, on any given site, you must maintain different color schemes for Google and YPN (or other advertiser)? Even though the selected color schemes could be REVERSED on some other site? Is this right? All the ad SIZES are the same. So, it has to be about COLOR, and BORDERS, right? Or are different ad SIZES required, as well?

SUMMARY
1. Google does not tell us what we must do to assure compliance - they only hint. The publisher is left wondering.

2. Do we have to use different borders, ad sizes and text colors? Why? The SAME borders, ad sizes, and text colors are available on BOTH programs. How will changing these attributes reduce confusion? EITHER program can provide any and all of the same formatting options offered.

3. Is changing JUST text colors enough? Is changing JUST borders enough? Is using JUST another ad size enough? Is using different borders and colors enough? Is a different ad size and changed borders enough? Without DEFINED RULES, this is so SUBJECTIVE, that it is impossible to determine what is in compliance.

4. The only way we are going to find out what is, and what is not, acceptable, is to read what is reported by those who receive warnings and bans. You have no choice but to observe who gets banned, and then avoid whatever they did.

5. Latest Adsense compliance update from Jensense.

6. It is disheartening that the forced uglifying of YPN ads, results in lower CTR, and thus lower income for Adsense publishers who also use YPN.

Disclaimer

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This page consists of a compilation of public information, commonly available on the internet, at multiple sites, as well as public webmaster forums, and simple manual tests.

The opinions stated above are merely the personal opinions of the author.

I am not privy to any inside information.

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