As many of you know I have been on several Google AdSense panels at various conferences in the last couple years. During my presentation I have a little section I call “Innovative or About To Be Banned ?”. Its where I show a bunch of real live interesting implementations of what people are doing with Google AdSense. I have always found the Google AdSense team to be very receptive to ideas I have had in the past in implementation and I encourage people to talk to them before trying any interesting implementations. I have always had the impression that with Google AdSense you build a virtual “file” if you will that has all of your communication. If something sketchy ever comes up with your account the difference between being banned or warned could be your past history of communication.
Anyway… So being I am not going to be doing this particular panel anymore (I am doing a contextual clinic at SMX West but otherwise need to move on from the contextual stuff a bit 
) I thought I would just show some interesting implementations here as I find them.
This one is pretty interesting. The user has taken their logo and made it rain over the Google AdSense in the left hand sidebar. Google used to be pretty stern about things like this but its possible now with the recent change in the click able areas that things like this might be allowed. Again check with Google AdSense before trying anything like this.
Here is a quick youTube video showing the action:
For broadband users the hi-res fullsize video is here
March 13, 2008 at 3:23 am
It’s a nice implementation, however it must be slowing the page scrolling, as the AdSense comes in an IFrame, and overlaying Flash is a no-go, as the links below are untouchable, and using JavaScript or DHTML would surely break the XHTML compliancy. That’s from a web designer’s POV.
March 11, 2008 at 8:33 pm
OHH…Adsense is to hard to master..bu, the easiet way to make some cool cash..
February 16, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Hmmm… my gut reaction to that was that they were trying to hide the ads by raining the logo over them, even though that doesn’t make any sense. Maybe that’s just what I wish they were doing
February 15, 2008 at 1:57 am
Professional or not, it works.
February 11, 2008 at 11:03 am
In my opinion, this in not interesting. Ads are transformed in a toy? Not professional at all.
February 8, 2008 at 6:32 am
I wonder what the profitability is and how long until they get caught out.
February 8, 2008 at 4:08 am
“They must have removed the rain over the Adsense block in the sidebar because I can’t see it any more.”
Likewise, but the idea, if not caught, could be very profitable.
February 7, 2008 at 5:53 pm
hmmm may as well put a big bullseye moving around the ads
February 7, 2008 at 11:42 am
They must have removed the rain over the Adsense block in the sidebar because I can’t see it any more.
February 7, 2008 at 11:36 am
yea unless the guy gets a lot of suspicious clicks then I doubt google will even notice.
February 7, 2008 at 6:15 am
Yeah, i totally kinda gave up on Adsense.. its abit of a waste of time. Unless you running a site that is driving crazy traffic.
February 6, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I agree. It draws your eye to an area that would otherwise just be ignored, since so many sites have that left or right sidebar containing these types of paid links.
February 6, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Isn’t that so corporate America.
February 6, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Wow, this page made me laugh, especially drying the baby.Keep up the good posts, Shoe.
February 6, 2008 at 12:48 pm
It seems that the effect is gone from the adsense. But the site is still worth a visit though, I laughed so hard I cried
February 5, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Here is another nice example: ua.translit.us
Notice the header’s gradient effect. Makes it different that 99% other Adsense ads
February 5, 2008 at 7:10 pm
That is neat, I had something similar on one of my sites until someone said something, I quickly removed!
February 5, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I bet they just love the “Shoemoney Effect” at that site now that you brought attention to them and basically ratted them out to Google.
February 5, 2008 at 5:12 pm
He has most likely chosen to play it safe and given G’s recent attitude, he did the right thing
February 5, 2008 at 5:11 pm
It was clearly against the terms, so that changing it definitely seems like a wise decision on their part.
February 5, 2008 at 5:03 pm
woah… i would think that would be borderline.
February 5, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Umm… I doubt that’s allowed. Google’s really strict with ad implementation and placement.
February 5, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Looks like he took the floating images down, they are not showing up on my monitor. Google got to him fast.
February 5, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Grab the cash floating over it would be great… just make the mouse a hand…
February 5, 2008 at 2:25 pm
is there room on your site for adsense ads?
February 5, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Crazy site, and yes it is a baby. It is showing the does and do nots for parents. make it viral by sending the link to all your friends…
February 5, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Depends how much money you make them
February 5, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I think i will implement that on my site
February 5, 2008 at 2:12 pm
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February 5, 2008 at 2:07 pm
is that baby breastfeeding on a man’s nipple? i see hair on the chest..
February 5, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Looks like they changed it after this post. I agree with Carl, that site is pretty funny.
February 5, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I thought they just banned? the notice would be nice though…
February 5, 2008 at 1:38 pm
it is creative, i would like to have more freedom than those but o well like be able to display more than 3 of each ad units if the page is really long. Ah well google does what it wants.
That is a nice way to demonstrate creativity
February 5, 2008 at 1:38 pm
yeah but so is so much other stuff that they don’t care about. haven’t you seen the comments on the ringtones. get yours…
February 5, 2008 at 1:01 pm
It is obviously against TOS, but at least I discovered some very useful tips that preventing some serious damage to my future children…
February 5, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Simple Javascript, Google on snow script…
February 5, 2008 at 11:36 am
I am sure that was the first and last time that was able to happen before Google got a hold of them. Ii would like to know how they actually were able to do that.
February 5, 2008 at 11:16 am
At least it is a site without popups and free fun.
Don’t forget that before judging how ‘bad’ that site is…
February 5, 2008 at 11:04 am
if Google allowed this, next someone would do little stacks of cash floating over it…Or “hit the ducks” with the ad behind it!
Rather have this guy then then the 100,000 free account guys
February 5, 2008 at 10:50 am
That’s pretty slick. Here’s one that I thought was pretty attention grabbing yet plays within the rules:
http://www.ajaxload.info/
Nice use of a gradient background with an adsense border.
February 5, 2008 at 10:45 am
I would like to try that on my one site. How do you go about getting something like that?
February 5, 2008 at 10:43 am
Well what I feell shoe is that this is kind of a childish thing. or perhaps just to find money. We obviously cant put these things in our good sites. So even its Google acceptable or not I feel it not sign of a good developer. Never good for the reputation isn’t it?
February 5, 2008 at 10:26 am
Shoe, now they are going to get a nasty message from Google
Good job.
BTW, I love the changes to the footer.
February 5, 2008 at 10:07 am
That guy is very creative. I think he absolutely increased his CTR dramatically. Nice trick he uses, but it likes onpreffesional.
February 5, 2008 at 10:00 am
It sounds like a good idea, but I would probably makes those orbs more transparent though so you can actually see the ad.
February 5, 2008 at 9:50 am
That’s pretty funny. It actually makes me NOT want to click those ads…but then again I really don’t like anything animated happening that I didn’t choose.
February 5, 2008 at 9:14 am
Had to check out the site to confirm what I thought I saw in the video. Sure enough, it was a dude with a hairy chest breastfeeding a baby. Some funny ones in there.
February 5, 2008 at 8:39 am
Thanks for pointing this out
I removed the script.
Doesn’t get that much clicks, 4 or 5 a day so…I’m not rich by “misleading” people.
Just wanted to add some nice script to it, on the main page it was not cool.
If it tooks some people attention to the ads that was an extra, but not the meaning in the first place, believe it or not.
Anyway since there are so many fun sites (and bether looking) I shut it down probably in the next few weeks. So don’t bother
Funcollector.
February 5, 2008 at 8:28 am
I dont know… I think its hard to sacrifice your google adsense account for it… until its proven and tested, then i’ll do it
February 5, 2008 at 8:25 am
Who cares about the adsense. That site is hilarious!
February 5, 2008 at 8:00 am
I got banned from Adsense without pulling a stunt like this one. More power to them if it works out though. Who am I to say no?
February 5, 2008 at 7:39 am
Can’t see the youtube video..I think its removed
February 5, 2008 at 6:50 am
hi Jeremy,
did you try to email the owner, to see if he have asked google if kind of ads placement was acceptable?
February 5, 2008 at 6:48 am
that’s another craps
February 5, 2008 at 6:43 am
Austin I am with you! I disagree too but I thing this is a great post!
February 5, 2008 at 6:31 am
Either way… even though I knew what it was…they made me move my mouse over and attempt to click them…. which im sure most would end up clicking the ad..
February 5, 2008 at 6:28 am
I disagree, I think this was a very interesting post and it will definitely be cool to see what ends up happening.
February 5, 2008 at 5:52 am
I’m not convinced this was even worth a post.. it’s an obvious breech of the AdSense TOS.
February 5, 2008 at 5:05 am
I really feel one needs to be extra careful with experimenting with Adsense ads. This could be really bad :p
February 5, 2008 at 4:31 am
I wouldn’t do that. you’re just asking for it
February 5, 2008 at 4:28 am
This is NOT a good idea!
–blog for dream–
February 5, 2008 at 4:25 am
interesting – but no mention of CTR or how this compared to not using the effect?
February 5, 2008 at 4:17 am
I think it’s too annoying and you probably won’t even notice the ads with all those things flying over. Looks too much like a novelty area and not something that I would click on.
But can’t say the same for other people.
February 5, 2008 at 4:12 am
This is agains Google Adsense TOS.
Do not use directive methods to lure clicks. While placing images with borders to separate ads is not a problem, having images like arrows or other graphical gimmicks that directs others to click is also not allowed. This trick is getting all the attention at the ads, and I’m sure that if Google sees this …the Adsense user will have problems.
February 5, 2008 at 3:49 am
It’s a great way of drawing attention to the ads but I can see a “please stop” notice coming soon.
February 5, 2008 at 3:38 am
Dude, that’s awesome. But isn’t it against Google’s TOS?