Are you allowed alter Google adverts like this?

AARRRGH

Hey there

I hope I can get some opinions on this.

I saw a pretty cool Google advert layout tonight (on jobrapido.ie) and was wondering if that sort of customisation is allowed by Google?

Look at the HTML for the page, it looks like they are generating the Google layout themselves.

Is this allowed?!

Cheers

PS screenshot is attached

cormee

I doubt it very much - they are designed to look just like the job ads which is very deceptive. Can't imagine Google would be happy with them.

It's perfectly acceptable. Google actually advises you to integrate your ads into your content as much as possible. There's no deception here. If the user is too stupid to see the text saying: "ads by Google", then it's their own fault.

mneylon

Google handles them in two ways

- general terms and conditions that apply to the mass unwashed
- special terms for key publishers

Those ads look like they'd fit under the normal terms anyway, as they're clearly identified as being Google ads

cormee

June Odd Velour wrote: »

It's perfectly acceptable. Google actually advises you to integrate your ads into your content as much as possible. There's no deception here. If the user is too stupid to see the text saying: "ads by Google", then it's their own fault.

Google AdSense Programme Policies

https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?answer=48182&topic=8423&hl=en_GB

Encouraging clicks

In order to ensure a good experience for users and advertisers, publishers participating in the AdSense programme may not:

* Compensate users for viewing ads or performing searches, or promise compensation to a third party for such behaviour.
* Encourage users to click the Google ads using phrases such as "click the ads", "support us", "visit these links" or other similar language.
* Direct user attention to the ads using arrows or other graphical gimmicks.
* Place misleading images alongside individual ads.
* Place ads in a floating box script.
* Format ads so that they become indistinguishable from other content on that page.
* Format site content so that it is difficult to distinguish it from ads.
* Place misleading labels above Google ad units. For instance, ads may be labelled "Sponsored Links" or "Advertisements", but not "Favourite Sites" or "Today's Top Offers".

There's also the possibility they have broken the following guideline:

Ad Behaviour
AdSense code may not be altered, nor may the standard behaviour, targeting or delivery of ads be manipulated in any way that is not explicitly permitted by Google. For instance, clicking Google ads may not result in a new browser window being launched.

They seem to have used CSS to alter the font sizes and colours, unless they are premium publishers they have to adhere to the standard formats offered during the ad setup process, using CSS to alter them is against the TOS

cormee

Blacknight wrote: »

Those ads look like they'd fit under the normal terms anyway, as they're clearly identified as being Google ads

I'd say the only way they'd get away with those ads is if they're premium publishers. Having 'Google Ads' on them isn't going to cut it, there are just too many similarities between the content and the ads.

sheesh

I'm just thinking you cannot alter the google ad to appear like the rest of the content but it says nothing about altering the rest of the content to look like a google ad.

cormee

sheesh wrote: »

I'm just thinking you cannot alter the google ad to appear like the rest of the content but it says nothing about altering the rest of the content to look like a google ad.

But it does. The second bolded line of my second post.