adwords untargeted ads disappearing? ("new or used trash?")

[softplus]

Yesterday I could search google for "trash" and it would bring me the usual ebay + whatever-ads ("New or used trash? check ebay" ). Now it doesn't any more. Are the untargeted ads (or what are they called?) gone now? I always found them really lousy, especially when they were on an adsense-page... (looks like the same for Yahoo, still running on msn) Can anyone confirm this? (or is it a regional thing?)

Is google cleaning up adwords for good or is this type of thing something that comes and goes?

Thanks for your comments!
John

[AdWordsRep]

Is google cleaning up adwords for good or is this type of thing something that comes and goes?

Well, softplus, I can tell you that there's certainly an ongoing effort to prevent the sort of ad I think you're referring to from appearing.

AWR

[mcanerin]

I'm very glad to hear that, AWR!

Some of the ad's I've seen have not only been very misrepresentative of eBays' offerings, but in some cases very inappropriate (search: "children" result: "Buy and Sell New and Used children at eBay Canada, the Online Marketplace"

I notice that the same search today does not do that - thanks. It was making both G and eBay look really bad.

Ian

[Marcia]

I've seen Ebay ads for new and used cat treats, though I doubt there's much of a market for the recycled product unless it's by hard-core environmentalists and in that case I'd assume that new and used cowpies would be more marketable.

[AdWordsRep]

I notice that the same search today does not do that - thanks. It was making both G and eBay look really bad.

I'm with you both on this one, I assure you. But, to be honest, I'm reluctant to declare an actual victory. We are working on the right stuff to make junk ads happen less and less, though, and every comment that its noticeably getting better fuels my resolve.

So thanks!

I'm pretty passionate on this subject, which is why you'll see me get up on my soap box from time to time, and plead for keywords 'responsibility'.

(Oh, and by the way, to be really accurate, it's not eBay that does this, but affiliates of eBay. Just advertisers like you and me, but ones who get a little carried away with their keyword choices.)

AWR

[softplus]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Good to see adwords is cleaning up . AWR, did you see my thread about all the alcohol, smoking, etc. ads disappearing as well? Just wondering, I assume the keywords are now locked down a bit -- is there a list of the "illegal" (well at least according to the adwords-guidelines ) keywords somewhere? Or is this handled on a case to case basis? (No, I'm not planing anything stupid -- just wondering)

Thanks,
John

[AdWordsRep]

AWR, did you see my thread about all the alcohol, smoking, etc. ads disappearing as well? Just wondering, I assume the keywords are now locked down a bit -- is there a list of the "illegal" (well at least according to the adwords-guidelines ) keywords somewhere? Or is this handled on a case to case basis? (No, I'm not planing anything stupid -- just wondering)

Actually, yes, I did see it softplus - but since I don't have first-hand knowledge about efforts in that particular arena, I fought back the urge to reply.

Again, though, I can say with assureance that we're always working to improve our ability to show our users ads which are both high quality and highly targeted - while not showing those that don't meet the guidelines and policies, or which otherwise provide a bad user-experience.

As to your last question, there's not a published list of 'illegal' keywords, since appropriate use is highly tied to context. So a look at the Content Policy (that you linked to elsewhere) should give one a really good starting point, after which it is handled on a case by case basis.

BTW, your concern for Ads Quality is much appreciated softplus.

AWA

[softplus]

Thanks for your replies AWR; it's always nice to see a "live person" behind a machine like adwords, makes the whole thing a bit friendlier
John

[mhhfive]

I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, but a Google search for 'dead pets'... shows just one AdWords ad: for Yahoo. Keep working on filtering out those untargeted ads! At least we're not seeing 'dead pets' on eBay ads anymore.

[AdWordsRep]

I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, but a Google search...

LOL, mhhfive! I'm so glad, though, that you aren't suggesting a conspiracy!

Thanks for your replies AWR; it's always nice to see a "live person" behind a machine like adwords, makes the whole thing a bit friendlier.

My pleasure. I love this part of my job, and regret that I've gotten so much busier lately, that I've had less time to spend here.

AWR

[Chris_D]

Hi AWR

It is much cleaner - looks like you can't buy nuclear waste anymore....

But at least I know where to go to buy buried treasure, hot air and prophylactics - (new and used - cheap!) And they aren't affiliates!



Maybe Super AWR needs to sit them down in the naughty corner, look them in the eye, tell them that their behaviour is unaseptable, and take away their dynamic insertion toys!

[AdWordsRep]

But at least I know where to go to buy buried treasure, hot air...

Yep. Well, I did mention up there in post #7 that I was reluctant to declare any sort of actual victory!

I think it's safe to say that this'll be an ongoing effort. I also hope that the 'offending' advertisers will realize (sooner, rather than later) that this technique is absolutely counter to their long-term success.

AWR