0
I have previously made a habit of enabling both image based and text based google ads on my site. I have just let Google serve up whatever ads it sent me without worrying too much about which type of ad appeared for my users.
However, I have had a re-think recently. I am now using the "Competitive Ad Filter" tool to block some advertisers that serve up Image Ads.
So why did I decide to block these image ads?
Answer - In two words... some images are simply "Branding Bandits!" By that, I mean that they have been especially designed so that people almost NEVER click on them!
Why would an advertiser do this?
Answer - Because their objective is to earn "brand recognition" rather than have people visit their website. So people will LOOK at the banner, and learn to RECOGNISE the brand logos and services/goods that the company provides. They get this "brand recognition" practically for FREE because they make sure that the absolute minimum number of people click on their Ads!
How do you know if an Image Ad is a Branding Bandit?
This is a science in itself but one can often use one's own gut feeling about whether the Ad would ever get clicked on. Chances are that if you (the site owner) have no interest to click on the Ad then most probably you are facing a Branding Bandit!
Rather than disable Image Ads completely, I prefer to just use the "Competitive Ad Filter" to block the offending advertiser.
I would be interested to hear from others who have also had this problem.
Cheers, Glen
