Create AdSense Link Ads to Increase CTR and Earnings

What are AdSense Link Ads (Sponsored Searches Ads)?

AdSense link ads, also called Sponsored Searches ads, are what AdSense sometimes refers to as text ads. Before you get excited, know that they come with pros and cons for your CTR, your earnings and sometimes your account itself.

Used well, this ad type can improve both your earnings and your rankings, which in turn brings more traffic and a lower bounce rate.

Learn All About Blogging and Basic SEO

Why can't you create it normally using your AdSense Dashboard Panel?

Last year Google AdSense announced it would no longer support text and link ads for all accounts. There is still a way to create Sponsored Searches ads on your AdSense account without approval from the AdSense team, and in this post I will show you exactly how.

Step by Step Guide to Create Adsense Link Ads

As promised, here is how to create Sponsored Searches ads manually. Follow the steps below in order.

If you prefer video, here is the same process step by step. It takes a few clicks.

1. Login to AdSense

First, make sure you have an AdSense approved website and access to its AdSense account. Then log in to that account. Click here to log in

2. Go to Ads Unit Section

In the top left corner of the dashboard you will see an Ads menu below the Home page link. Click it, choose Overview from the new menu, and you will see an overview of auto ads and ad units. Choose the ad units option at the top to see every ad unit you have created for your website.

3. Create a New Responsive Display Ads unit

On the ad units page, create a new display ad and name it Link ads. Set the size to responsive and save it. Click Get code and AdSense gives you the ad code, which needs a few changes.

4. Change Ad Format

The ad you just created is not the ad you want yet, so you need to edit the responsive ad code. Copy the code and paste it where you want the Sponsored Link ads to show. Then look for this line

data-ad-format="auto"

and replace auto with link. After the change, the line should look like this

data-ad-format="link"

Note: do not change anything else in the ad code. That is it. Your Sponsored Searches ads by AdSense are ready to go, and nobody had to approve anything.

Pros of Using Link and Text ads on Blog.

-> User and SEO Friendly

Link and text ads are polite, as far as ads go. I know that sounds odd, but they are friendly to both users and SEO. Here is an example of how link ads can affect your website's SEO.

Say you open a blog looking for a solution, and instead you get banner and display ads popping up all over the page. What is your next move? In my experience most of you go straight back to Google and find a site that is not shouting at you.

That is bounce rate, in on-page SEO terms, and it hurts your website and article rankings badly. Link ads reduce bounce rate and increase engagement on your website.

-> For more about On Page SEO Visit Here

-> Increase in CTR and AdSense Earning

Earnings are one of the main reasons to use Sponsored Searches ads on your blog. When a visitor sees related search queries that match their interest, they are likely to click one, and that is where link ads pay off. They raise your AdSense CTR significantly, and your earnings with it.

Cons of Using Link and Text ads

There is one risk with using Sponsored Searches ads without prior approval from AdSense: they may suspend or limit ads on your AdSense account. It has not happened to me, and I use them on two of my other blogs, WishingYou and StudyDesire. So it is rare, but the risk is yours.