Using Google AdSense on your blog? Probably! AdSense seems to be everywhere these days. Everyone is blending their text ads using the same color palette producing similar and sometimes exactly the same ads resulting in a new form of ad blindness.
A new site (established Dec. 2006) called adClustr is offering free innovative ad embellishments. According to the webmaster, “adClustr is a place where you can find new and innovative ways to blend those text-based ads provided by such services as Google AdSense, Yahoo Publisher or Text-Link-Ads. Successful ad integration is the top priority here at adClustr. We will show you how to combat ad blindness and increase your CTR, all in legal fashion without the use of any nasty banned practices”.
AdClustr combines a bit of Photoshop work with some clean CSS code and voilà - your ad has a totally new look! Currently, there are embellishments for most of the standard ad formats. These ads embellishments are not tacky - no postcards or clipboards.
You will need to download a lightweight image, upload to it your server, update your CSS, and generate new AdSense code using the recommended colors. Below is an example1 of an adClustr.com 234×60px ad embellishment called: ‘Simple Slanted Black Half-Banner‘.
My favorites are the 125×125px button ads. Without a bit of bling, these small ads are boring and disappear into blog content. Dressed up with a new background, they really stand out nicely. Mosey on over to adClustr.com and take look around. I am sure you find some ad bling to your liking (new ad bling is added regularly). You will also find other timely information on ad networks, blending, and compliance issues.
Just a reminder that adding AdSense code inside a WordPress post or page requires a plugin such as AdSense-Deluxe.
1 I have inserted a screen capture of the ad rather than the actual ad to play it safe with Google’s T&Cs.
Tags: AdSense
