Blended TOO well on this site?

Just want to make sure things are OK on this site, on the article pages like this one. There's a linkbox on the left, and a 468x60 a little down the page...

 

I like the links, I do something similar on my site.

 

Google may have a problem with that. The webmaster is trying to make the ads look like a part of the site navigation which is against tos.

 

I don't think it breaks any rules, I have been doing something like that for months now, and Joel Comm does it on most of his sites as well. It works wonders.

 

There are clear borders between the ads and navigation menu. Plus, it's 2 clicks to get any money not the standard 1. I would say you are fine, but if you want the ultimate OK, e-mail Adsense.

 

Yeah, it's kind of confusing about the ads and the navigation. I think that adsense will have a problem with that, because you're not expecting to be redirected to that persons site, and that means that you will probably navigate away from it when you realize whats happened.

Therefore the clicks that they pay for wont be of a very good quality. I think you should change the colors of the ads' text perhaps, and make the ads below the actual navigation links because that makes it even more confusing.

 

Not a bad idea, thanks. I forgot linkboxes were 2 clicks from money! D'oh.

 

there is that line underneath it. its probably on borderline because of the line but it might be good.

 

It's obviously trying to make the visitors think it's a part if the site navigation, Which makes it against terms because it's decieving.

 

I agree... Don't try to deceive the visitors...

 

Thanks for the helpful replies.

I changed the linkbox to white, setting it apart from the site navigation much more. What do you think now?

Not that it seemed to matter anyway, I had hundreds of impressions like it was and $.44

 

I don't know, it's still clear you're trying to mimic the google ads, because of the font, color and layout of the text. I'd just play it safe and make it different.

-Hecky.

 

placement is good but i think your ads are a bit small.

try to use bigger ads

 

Since you are controlling the design of your own horizontals, why not blend them better with a less harsh color than the yellow, try a slate or light blue. Consider putting a meaningful graphic on either horizontal end of those you control. Leave the graphics off the Adsense horiz and by the graphic ABSENSE you make the Adsense stand out more without compromising your navigation strategy. Its a way to be in compliance by making different what is not there.

 

Clear adsense TOS violation, you will get banned fast.

 

Ad placement looks good to me. And the ads are a completely a different colour, so I doubt AdSense will give you trouble

 

I emailed AdSense to ask what they thought, I'll let you guys know what they said.

And format, thanks a lot! I was w/ a friend of mine and we decided on the yellow, can't remember why but it was an experiment. I changed it to a light grey blue, looks better. I'll try some pictures too on the boxes I made.