Google is constantly testing out new features in search, advertising, and products. Here’s a quick rundown of four of their latest tests involving Twitter profile integration, AdWords display URL spacing, a revamped News layout, and AdSense ad variations.
Link Twitter Profile to Google Profile
Is more Twitter integration coming to Google’s social search results? This screenshot shows Google asking: “Want to see which results your friends are talking about? Are you xxxx?”
Presumably, if you say “Yes, this is me,” you could then connect Twitter to your Google Profile, which will then further integrate more Twitter results and personalize your search results based on your social circle.
Google AdSense announced a new mobile interface for those using mobile phones and other devices. Starting now, mobile user get a very different version of AdSense, instead of the standard “desktop” interface.
This new version contains the basic information like earnings for today, yesterday and current month. There are also quick navigation features for accessing common and previously saved custom reports.
The new design allows more accessibility for mobile users who do not have Flash capabilities on their devices. While this might seem like a nod to non-Android users, remember that the new Motorola Xoom,which has Android 3.0 installed, is also without Flash.
Google AdSense announced a new mobile interface for those using mobile phones and other devices. Starting now, mobile user get a very different version of AdSense, instead of the standard “desktop” interface.
This new version contains the basic information like earnings for today, yesterday and current month. There are also quick navigation features for accessing common and previously saved custom reports.
The new design allows more accessibility for mobile users who do not have Flash capabilities on their devices. While this might seem like a nod to non-Android users, remember that the new Motorola Xoom,which has Android 3.0 installed, is also without Flash.
Facebook’s list of preferred advertisers went into effect Monday, and Google AdSense isn’t on the list. This new list prohibits developers from making revenue from their Facebook applications via AdSense.
As of Monday, Facebook began limiting developers to only working with approved advertisers who agreed to sign off on 12 items making up Facebook’s Platform Terms for Advertising Providers. Facebook told All Facebook:
“This is the current list of ad providers that have signed our terms that govern ad quality and data use, although more are being added every day. We currently have more than sixty of the largest and smallest providers on the list. This is a public and open agreement and new providers can sign at any time.”
So I got an email from Google today asking me to sign my sites up for AdSense, the interesting thing is it came from AdSense but was addressed to me as a Google Analytics user.
Guess the algorithm change to remove content farms has left Google’s income stream from AdSense falling a little short.
The letter went on to show how adding AdSense to popular exit pages help one of their publisher’s sites make more money.
Public service ads (PSAs) are being retired in AdSense and will no longer be a backup ad option. Google is now trying to figure out new options.
If you’re a website publisher and want to avoid having a blank space where a PSA used to appear, you can select and edit your ad unit on the “My Ads” page (for the old interface, edit ad settings by going to “My Account,” and to to “Manage Ads”).
Those who have chosen to show non-Google ads from another URL or a solid color won’t be affected. PSAs in AdSense were shown on pages when a relevant paid ad was unavailable or the site hadn’t yet been verified.
Google debuted a new look for AdSense back in November, and today announced some more updates and new features. They are:
- Page Level Metrics: By default, earnings are now viewable at the page level rather than by ad unit. Ad unit CTR and other metrics have moved to the Performance reports tab.
- Allow and Block Ads: This drop-down selector, which shows your blocking features by product, has been updated to call out the product name.
Google overhauled its AdSense interface for all of its 2 million publishers yesterday. If you can’t see it yet, keep your eye out over the next few weeks for a “Try the new AdSense interface” link in the upper corner of your account.
Based on feedback, Google tried to make the interface easier for publishers to set up, manage, optimize, and see reports on their ads. The upgrades:
- Simple, graphical reporting.
- Better data options to identify ad performance.
- Richer, simpler ad controls.
- Easier to find earnings and payment information.
- Easier to run reports, find relevant features, and help.
A couple of updates for the display advertising space.
On the advertising end, AdWords Display Ad Builder now offers InVideo creation. An InVideo ad is a Flash overlay that plays at the bottom of a video a user is watching. These ads are used on YouTube vids.
On the publisher side, the ability to let multiple Google-certified ad networks to compete for ads on your site has been extended. Initially, it was launched to just North America and Europe. Now, the option is available globally.
New platform to replace DART for Publishers and Google Ad Manager.
It’s the latest ad serving platform from Google. DoubleClick for Publishers (DFP) is designed to assist online publishers with fulfilling their ad inventory. This is most useful in addressing a variety of advertising options such as timing and unexpected traffic surges.
The new platform is available in two offerings: DoubleClick for Publishers, for large sites, and DFP Small Business, a free version for smaller sites.
DoubleClick for Publishers will replace DART for Publishers, but the transition will occur over the next year. Additionally, Google Ad Manager customers will be upgraded to DFP Small Business over the next few weeks.
