As you already know, Google stores large volumes of data from its users. And now it wants to make it easier for you to control your data among your devices thru AdSense ads.
Wired reports that Google users will soon receive an opt-in update for security settings on Google services.
If you choose to opt in, you are giving Google permission to use all information associated with your account, including Google Search, Chrome, YouTube and other Google services.
Google will reportedly use the data gathered to provide better ads for you across the Web.
Previously, the Internet giant used data and cookies from its services to deliver customized ads. Now, it will expand this to AdSense ads across the Web.
The new setting will change it, with some real benefits.
Users who opt in will have better control on how ads work across devices that are signed into their Google account.
If your search for a particular term keeps following you across the Web, you can remove all its instances across the Web, rather than do it manually for all signed-in devices.
A more relevant update for daily use is the unified My Activity page for all Google services that deliver ads.
The My Activity page bundles all your history on Google Search, your video views on YouTube, your cards on Google Now, and sites you’ve visited that serve Google ads.
In Google Now, the history consists of cards for browsing or deleting. Or you can delete all items under a specific topic or date range.
The My Activity page links to other pages that show the data Google has collected, including device information, location, music ID and more.
Google promises to avoid from sharing user data and allow users to make changes with the type of information shared from the My Account page.
All things considered, it’s best that you keep settings as-is if you value data privacy, as Google will most likely gain more from this update.
If an all-inclusive search history and more granular control over ads makes you feel better, you’ve got the option to opt in.
As much as we’re all excited about using the new setting and My Activity page, the fine-tuning will roll out worldwide gradually in the coming months.
Got something to add to this article? Drop a comment below.
Five brief but helpful tips for Google AdSense placement
AdSense is an advertising service provided by Google that gives webmasters a free and relatively simple way of earning money through display advertising on their site.
Of course the terrain of display advertising in the last few years has become a rocky place. With more and more people subconsciously becoming used to ignoring display and the rise of other content-led marketing methods.
However, display ads can theoretically bring in revenue if they are targeted properly and are relevant to the user, context and device.
And now that 21% of internet users globally only use their smartphone to access the internet, spurring Google to strengthen its mobile-friendly algorithm, it’s critical for all businesses to optimise their advertising for mobile.
AdSense has recently issued its own report on tips for mobile web success, and in among the general advice and lovely graphics, there are some brief tips for ad placement that you may not be aware of, so let’s take a quick look at them now.
As the report says, you should focus on creating “a flow between your content and the ad placements.” Basically your ads should feel like part of the user experience, and served when your visitors are most receptive.
The following tips are taken directly from the report…
Tip #1
When using enhanced features in text ads, decrease accidental clicks by moving the ad units a minimum of 150 pixels away from content.
Tip #2
Think about peeking your ad units above the fold for a great UX while maximizing revenue potential.
Tip #3
Potential eCPMs increase when you swap 320×50 for 320×100 ad units.
Tip #4
Anchor social links to make sharing easy.
Tip #5
Use the 300×250 ad unit for a potential increase in fill rates and eCPM.
Of course all these tips merely apply to AdSense display ads. There are many more pitfalls to be aware of when using other ad formats, especially if you use full-screen app ads on mobile sites, which you will be punished for.
And much of this is moot if you don’t have the fundamentals of mobile optimisation correct in the first place.
So your site needs to be responsive or adaptive to every screen size, the page speed needs to be fast, content should be easy to read… in fact, you should definitely read our comprehensive guide to mobile optimisation for more details.
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Google launches AdSense Labs for publishers to test new features
Top news and emerging ideas in display advertising, delivered every Monday.
On Wednesday, Google launched AdSense Labs to give publishers access to test newer features, kicking off with two Labs: Show fewer ads and Inline ads.
The Show fewer ads lab lowers the number of ads shown to users by at least 10 percent. Publishers can, in turn, expect to see a drop in revenue, but a drop Google estimates will be “negligible,” or less than one percent of revenue, because the focus is on eliminating ads that are likely to be deemed of lower value to a publisher’s visitors.
Inline ads are dynamically inserted mobile website ads sized 320×100. They appear as users scroll down a page and don’t require programming on the publishers’ end.
AdSense publishers will find Labs under the Optimization tab. When more tests become available, Google will add them to Labs.
About The Author As Third Door Media's paid media reporter, Ginny Marvin writes about paid online marketing topics including paid search, paid social, display and retargeting for Search Engine Land and Marketing Land. With more than 15 years of marketing experience, Ginny has held both in-house and agency management positions. She provides search marketing and demand generation advice for ecommerce companies and can be found on Twitter as @ginnymarvin.
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