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Google announced on the Google AdSense Blog that they are soon going to enabled a larger ad format for publishers to use on their web sites.
The new ad format, they call, is "brand friendly" and is commonly referred to as a "half page unit." Yea, it is huge and it takes up about half the page. A typical content width is 640, the ad width is 300.
Here is an image comparing the other ad format to the new one. Note, these ad sizes in this image are not the full size, they are smaller, so think of them scaled up a bit:
Google said in a report:
The increase in the 300 x 600 unit is indicative of a trend where publishers are offering more visually impactful ad sizes that are favored by brand advertisers, over the functionality to direct response advertisers.
So while Google's organic search side is telling publishers to remove the distracting ads, Google's paid side is telling publishers to do the opposite.
Forum discussion at Google+ and WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
Nathaniel Bailey
11/15/2012 01:40 pm
One rule for advertisers and another for google, so I guess the main lesson to learn here is that its ok to go against googles rules as long as it makes them money?!
Anthony Shapley
11/15/2012 03:44 pm
Nathan, I don't think everyone using Adsense is relying on Google Organics for traffic.. so if your reliant on Google Organics for traffic, then Google Organics Search team want to ensure its searchers are being served Content - but there are plenty of other channels to drive traffic, where this type of Ad might be useful.
Jacob Klein
11/15/2012 06:12 pm
I'm actually excited by this. Instead of two ads I'd much rather use a single, visually stimulating block. Count me in.
Jacob Klein
11/15/2012 09:19 pm
Scratch that: They're up now! Live on my site at the moment. Looks like a lot of advertisers have stuff already for them. Cant wait to see what rev they bring in.
Alan
11/15/2012 10:10 pm
So can we put these ads above the fold?
MonopolizedSearch
11/16/2012 03:25 am
What's next? Adsense pop ups and pop unders? Google has search pretty much spammed to death already with many #1 organic listings appearing below the fold. This new ad format represents Google's desperation to earn money by presenting users with ad spam outside of Google Search. Unless this ad format is run on whitelisted sites, where Google has applied positive manual actions to override their broken algorithm, I would be cautious of placing it on a website.
yeahsure!
11/16/2012 12:24 pm
Yes you can! But why don't make it sticky like at the right top corner of your page? So everyone who's consuming your content has this brilliant ad right in there face!
Mike
11/16/2012 06:36 pm
I don't know what rez. screen you are looking at, but your ad sizes are way off for the real world. Those little boxes are NOT the real sizes of the ads that are running in the real world.
Josh
11/16/2012 06:38 pm
I can't wait to see these in my Google Apps pages and Gmail!
100kBlueprint
11/17/2012 09:53 am
Not sure what the visitor experience will be with this size ad block, but it'll be very interesting to see how the CTR measures up against the 160x600 block
Craig Crossland
11/18/2012 02:35 pm
I think Google need to make their minds up. They penalise sites with the ATF update and now they want to create an ad that takes up half the page. How is that going to be a good user experience?
Jacob Klein
11/18/2012 06:44 pm
Really not seeing the difference between this ad and the 160x600 unit in terms of real estate. It takes up the same amount of space in a sidebar only it doesn't look awkward with 140 pixels of whitespace surrounding it. To compare this unit to a pop-up ad is pretty ridiculous.
vicky
11/19/2012 05:16 am
Why Google is not approving my Google AdSence Account-- please find guide me ---
vicky
11/19/2012 05:17 am
Friend*
Rachel
11/19/2012 10:57 am
Instead, it would be better if Adsense enables ASA (Arbitrary Sized Ads) on selected accounts. This is much preferable than adding another intrusive type of ad. But who listen on their side.
MonopolizedSearch
11/19/2012 12:00 pm
Jacob, who compared this ad to a pop-up? Please don't put words in my mouth. I said "What's next? Adsense pop ups and pop unders?" There's a big difference between what's next and a true comparison. The impact of the ad is relative to the user's screen resolution. Obviously you are running at a high resolution. I assure you, the ads look quite spammy to those that are not.
www.measurementest.com
11/26/2012 09:39 am
Is it available on Blogger yet? I can't seem to find the 300 x 600 ad size in the Adsense dropdown menu. Thanks!
Brandon
12/12/2012 05:54 pm
LOL, yeah... I see 300×600 pixels of space on your site. It's mostly empty whiteness except for one small, simple text ad at the top, taking up less than a sixth of all that space. This is silly!
Allii Allee
02/15/2013 11:29 am
i didn't know about the new 300*600 add now i will update it on my blog thanks for sahirng
HDpixels
03/04/2013 08:58 am
300 x 600 Ad formate in my site i love this ad, but some times not available ads in it .