Adsense Optimization - Adsense Links Look Like Internal Pages

[taylordstuff]

I was browsing through some websites this evening that were a direct competitor of one of my websites. Well, I came across one and was at first trying to figure out how they were monetizing it because I did not see the usual Adsense look.

At first I thought the links on the right sidebar were internal pages on the site. But, I was completely wrong they were actually Adsense links.

Let me give an example. Let's say the site was about "Caring For Dogs". On the right sidebar, they had a link to the About Us, Contact Us, Privacy, and Sitemap pages. Right below that, it would say "Ads by Google", with links in the same font and size as the above links. Underneath "Ads by Google", there would be simple text links that could say using the above example - "Feeding Your Dog", "Ensuring Your Dog Gets Exercise", "Cleaning and Bathing", etc. At first glance to me, these looked like internal pages on the site. But, they are not. I think that most users would think that they were internal pages and not actual Adsense ads.

So, when someone goes to their site and wants to look for more articles on the subject, they automatically see these as links to other articles. Once they click on one of the links, they are lead to another site with additional Adsense ads.

Anyway, I just wanted to check to see if anyone else has seen a site done in this way, how to set this up, and if this is against any Google policy. I can't specifically reveal the site as I don't want to reveal the niche. However, I can easily see how they are probably getting a fair amount of money with Adsense.

[be strong]

Originally Posted by taylordstuff

I was browsing through some websites this evening that were a direct competitor of one of my websites. Well, I came across one and was at first trying to figure out how they were monetizing it because I did not see the usual Adsense look.

At first I thought the links on the right sidebar were internal pages on the site. But, I was completely wrong they were actually Adsense links.

Let me give an example. Let's say the site was about "Caring For Dogs". On the right sidebar, they had a link to the About Us, Contact Us, Privacy, and Sitemap pages. Right below that, it would say "Ads by Google", with links in the same font and size as the above links. Underneath "Ads by Google", there would be simple text links that could say using the above example - "Feeding Your Dog", "Ensuring Your Dog Gets Exercise", "Cleaning and Bathing", etc. At first glance to me, these looked like internal pages on the site. But, they are not. I think that most users would think that they were internal pages and not actual Adsense ads.

So, when someone goes to their site and wants to look for more articles on the subject, they automatically see these as links to other articles. Once they click on one of the links, they are lead to another site with additional Adsense ads.

Anyway, I just wanted to check to see if anyone else has seen a site done in this way, how to set this up, and if this is against any Google policy. I can't specifically reveal the site as I don't want to reveal the niche. However, I can easily see how they are probably getting a fair amount of money with Adsense.

no it's not against policy because i have some adnsense sites with right navigation bar filled with ads that blend with my anchor text keywords to my internal pages.

in fact, xfactor and other big hitter adsense guys are using adsense in that div bar blending with other keywords linking to other pages

[taylordstuff]

I just checked Google Adsense and I see that they are probably doing what is called a Link Unit. I just had never noticed this before. However, I like the concept because it does make it appear as if they are links to internal pages.

[clickbump]

Originally Posted by taylordstuff

I just checked Google Adsense and I see that they are probably doing what is called a Link Unit. I just had never noticed this before. However, I like the concept because it does make it appear as if they are links to internal pages.

Yep, its a link unit. You can blend it right in with your sidebar, same background colors and everything. You only get a click registered, if they click through the first link (to expand) and then click a second link which is a product link.

Xfactor uses them, I don't. He makes a ton more than me, so you figure who's right :-)

[IskandarX]

that is innocent, and carry on to do it.

[HCLee]

Yes I used the link unit too and I used the same background color to make it blend with my navigational links on the right side. There is nothing wrong with this. It provides more options for the visitor looking for information although I think the CPC for link unit is slightly lower than that in block ads.

[Diana22]

I use the old AdSense Code Generator for theming adsense.

you can get it at oldadsensecode dot com