Please take look at this site http://www.mess.be/ he is using pictures around adsense links (especially the left one , he used smiley around adsense) I heard that this kind of thing is forbidden? Am I right?
Yes, you are, but for "normal" accounts. I guess is either a premium publisher or have some kind of special deal with AdSense allowing him to integrate his ads in a different way.
I think he is definitely working in a grey area, as the text is not associated with the image in a direct manner. Very smart indeed.
All of his ad integration looks fine to me. AdSense is much easier on positioning and use of images with link units because a second click is required for a payout, so the influence isn't as important as with a traditional ad. Besides, if he's a premium publisher, he would get special allowances.
Looks like he is pushing the limits here, but only the big G can decide. I have seen still plenty of people using images next to ads and nothing seems to be happening to them.
You might be right. Does anyone know how to get "premium" account? Not that I'm planning to, just out of my curiousity
Website publishers with more than 20 million page views per month may be eligible for premium AdSense service . source
Mess.be is a very large website - I could be they get 1000's of uniques / day. I am sure many people that use MSN Messager have seen or heard of this website however what I find interesting is that the advertisers should not be paying a lot to advertise here as most of the traffic would be under 18's looking to make their MSN Messangers cool etc. Also more to the point I don't think he has done anything wrong, I know the TOS says we can not place images along side ads however some of it can be grey.
Man I can imagine all the "accidental clicks" he must get with that..Yeah not sure if he is breaking the rules though..Good idea if its legal.