Google Ads

PSAs To Be Phased Out Of AdSense

Screen Shot 2011 02 07 At 6.03.06 PMPublishers running AdSense will soon see fewer public service announcement banners on their sites, as Google has announced changes to phase them out of back-up ad options.

Previously, publishers were able to choose to show PSAs, to redirect to another URL, or to show a solid color when Google couldn’t find an ad to match with the page’s content. Public Service ads also show when publishers haven’t been verified by Google.

The company cites its own review of products and “feedback from our non-profit partners” for the change. It will continue to offer non-profits free AdSense ads through its Google Grants program. Publishers get paid for PSAs through the Google Grants program, just as they do with regular campaigns.

For now, publishers who have selected PSAs as back-ups will show blank spaces until they change their options within the AdSense interface.

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About the author

Pamela Parker
Pamela Parker is Research Director at Third Door Media's Content Studio, where she produces MarTech Intelligence Reports and other in-depth content for digital marketers in conjunction with Search Engine Land and MarTech. Prior to taking on this role at TDM, she served as Content Manager, Senior Editor and Executive Features Editor. Parker is a well-respected authority on digital marketing, having reported and written on the subject since its beginning. She's a former managing editor of ClickZ and has also worked on the business side helping independent publishers monetize their sites at Federated Media Publishing. Parker earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.