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Google Testing Removal of URL's from Text Ads?

I think so.

webcentric

7:31 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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OK, I really can't be the only one seeing this so...first some parameters.

I use responsive ads exclusively on a site that has a perfect "Muli-screen" score according to the Adsense scorecard. Not sure why the scorecard would matter except that a site with a good score gives Google a good platform for testing. I'm also using the "Enhanced" version of text ads.

In recent months, an enhanced textual banner had at least the following basic elements

Title
URL (with or without a favicon next to it)
Description
an Arrow Hotspot
and perhaps an image but that's not the subject here.

Here's what I'm seeing across my site...

Title
Description
Arrow

and that's it. Is anyone else seeing this? I've been seeing it for a number of days now.

Frankly, I find the format to be much more visually attractive. The arrow lines up better with the content and the big bold title works better with just a plain description below.

I'm also finding that these things perform spectacularly. I'm just curious that many have noticed experimental changes to the ad format long before I ever saw them up to now but now I seem to be the one experiencing this anomaly.

Anyone else have some insight into this?

netmeg

8:08 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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Nope, I haven't noticed any ads minus display URL yet. I notice sometimes they move the position, but I haven't seen one without it entirely.

not2easy

8:12 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I have two of the beta ads on a responsive page, the sidebar tall ad has no URL but it is a known brand name. It is a nice looking non cluttered and unoffensive ad. The wide ad just above the footer has an URL and advertises a site I never heard of that is somewhat related to the content on that page. It is a regular looking ugly thing with a giant arrow after the URL and a lot of whitespace.

I am using the responsive (beta) ads there but not the Enhanced version, haven't even looked at that. I do see improved earnings. I won't jump to do the same all over, because this is all new and subject to day to day experiments (I believe). I'm happy they're doing well, wish I dared scale it up and had the spare time for that.

Not a lot of insight to add.

webcentric

8:19 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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@not2easy -- You must be using the enhanced version because that's what controls the display of the arrow (unless something has change very recently). Check your ad serving settings.

I do hope they incorporate this layout because it's a thing of beauty in my eyes (if a big ugly arrow can actually be beautiful that is). ;)

martinibuster

8:20 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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Not seeing that unfortunately. Occasionally I see a throbbing box with an arrow in it.

ken_b

8:22 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I'm seeing urls but just noticed that the "Ad Choices" text is missing text versions of the 336x280 and 300x250 adblocks. The tiny arrow that goes with the ad choices text is still.

How long has that been going on?

The 160x90 ad links block the ad choices text is present.
.

not2easy

8:35 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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@webcentric -I'll look closer next time I'm in there. They could be Enhanced version, but both ads use the same code and one is like you describe but the other is not.

@ken_b -I don't see the "Ad Choices" text either just a stylized arrow at upper right.

webcentric

9:53 pm on Jun 10, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I haven't seen the ad choices text in quite awhile. The missing URL and favicon showed up less than a week ago I believe. Hey, I've got it, Google has decided to personalize ads for every single publisher. Soon, we'll all be seeing something different and won't be able to have a cogent conversation on the subject. Google's version of the Tower of Babble.

@not2easy -- I notice a mixture of styles when this first showed up as well.

webcentric

12:39 am on Jun 13, 2014 (gmt 0)

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Not seeing that unfortunately. Occasionally I see a throbbing box with an arrow in it.

Just saw that for the first time in IE. Just checked Firefox and I'm not seeing any throbbing. And to demonstrate that these tests seem to be browser specific, the lack of URL and favicon reported above seems to be specific to Firefox. In IE I'm seeing both these elements.

The throbbing effect is subtle but still caught my eye. They are really working on this. Who knows what else is coming. I'm liking the results of this process generally even if the process itself is nerve-wracking.

Also, the lack of URL and Favicon seems to be specific to Firefox. In IE I'm seeing both.

avalon37

8:55 pm on Jun 18, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I am seeing this pretty widespread on one of my sites today. I've never had such a good CTR rate. I'm hoping this text ads version becomes permanent.

webcentric

9:45 pm on Jun 18, 2014 (gmt 0)

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Glad someone else is finally seeing this. Thought I broke something.

And now that it's showing up on your site, try looking for this IE variation...

[webmasterworld.com ]

Haven't checked it in awhile but it showed up around the same time as the URLs disappeared.

webcentric

9:32 pm on Jun 20, 2014 (gmt 0)

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And now I'm seeing the square-boxed arrow with rounded corners. Looks nice and fits better with my design. Hope they keep it. It's like a compromise between round arrows and those big, ugly square boxed things. Anyone else seeing any of this these days?

breeks

11:48 pm on Jun 20, 2014 (gmt 0)

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I'm seeing the "Kinder, Gentler" arrows with radius corners but still have URLs showing

webcentric

3:02 pm on Jun 21, 2014 (gmt 0)

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@levo -- what you posted is the "magazine" style ad Google announced recently. They're only supposed to show up in circumstances where you have selected "Display only" ads (as a way to increase pressure on your ad slot when inventory is low). Magazine ads are different than what this thread is discussing but they are another wrinkle in the mix for sure. They are a form of text ad but Ads with (now) radius corners on the arrow blocks, no advertiser URL and potentially rotating content like an animated GIF apply specifically to what we know as the more traditional text ad format (the one with the massive titles and big square arrow blocks). Actually, traditional is a bad term to use but hey, they're becoming the new "traditional" style which seems to be ever-evolving in nature.