Even if you could put actual background images behind your Google Ads (not possible, is it? Call me stupid, but aren't they actually solid graphical images generated on the fly?), I can't really think of any point - what image could you add that would not actually detract from the ad, i.e., make it hard to read and therefore less successful? Then again, there are some imaginative people around..! I have put a column of little red squares to the left of my Adsense block (my site has a red theme). Hope that isn't going to cause any problems... markowe
To me, putting an ad over a CSS background is similar to putting an ad over a plain solid color background, both are done with CSS (or HTML) so to me it shouldn't be violating the TOS and that's why I am using them in the first place. For example, if a site is constructed of manyimage backgrounds, does that mean Adsense cannot be used with it? I personally don't think so But what do I know
The text ad units are not images, they are text ads in an IFRAME, you can view the source and everything just as you do with any other IFRAME
I have a site that offers the same exact service... adsense backgrounds.... and Google approved it. You can see the Google response and some of my examples here: http://adclustr.com/
Actually, it is your site that made me think of having a CSS background so thumbs up to you. My mistake though, I should've used your site as an example. I will next time
Glad my site could have been of service. I think that i am pretty much the only site out there dedicated to this type of thing.
I personally use google backgrounds only in some of my pages. Dont know why but i am getting higher ctr in my nonbackgrounded ads.
I haven't been using it for a long time to conclude anything, but I have seen an increase in CTR with the introduction of the BG over the short time I have been using it. cagintranet, I will make sure to visit your site regularly for ideas, bookmarked
I don't think backgrounds are right for every site. It has to fit the design, and/or for people who don't care for the standard look of a plain ad. Sometimes the best bet would be to make it stand out with an image or contrasting colors, or sometimes it needs to be blended in with the site's content. Examples on my sites for both: Blended but colors to stand out: http://www.pittsburghsource.net/directory/194.php Blended with colors to match (used to be my site, has since sold it): http://newsmediagrp.com/ Both worked fairly well, but the ones made to stand out had a much higher CTR.
cagintranet, since you seem to know more than me in this regard, care to tell me what you think about this implementation if you haven't seen it already?
Not bad... the image quality is very nice, but i don't think the Pink does it for you. I would try changing the color to the same dark navy that the rest of your site uses.
Really, you learn something new every day...! Actually, never really investigated it, I just assumed they were graphics because I couldn't highlight the text (in fact I now see you can). My feeling is that "drawing undue attention" to ads is dependent on the look and feel of your site itself. If it is designed with a lot of coloured frames/backgrounds, then Google ads with the same look will fit in, and won't attract undue attention, right? Whereas a black and white page with multicoloured garish ads, with pink and purple frames might be construed as undue attention..!
Thanks for the comment, actually it was green when I first posted this thread but I am experimenting with different colors. It's meant to be a "post it" kinda of a note so it is supposed to be flashy. Nevertheless, thanks for the feedback I will look into it more. markowe I totally agree with your statement, undue attention is perhaps subjective
Perhaps he's saying there has to be a border between images and ads, so where will you put a border if it is a background image? At least thats what I think leandar means