AdSense Section Targeting on Pages: Semantic Refinement

[Marcia]

This should be very helpful in solving some of the ad targeting problems experienced by narrowing down and refining the semantics

http://www.google.com/support/adsens...y?answer=23168

Most of the problems I've had with off-topic ads being run have been due to words appearing in the navigation that relate to the specific topic areas of other pages on the site but have nothing to do with with the content and target audience of the actual page those particular ads are being run on.

One of the cutest I've seen was ads for diaper service and baby gifts running on a page for bridal showers.

Whatever the reason for this type of thing happening, it still wouldn't always necessarily be a good idea to eliminate the navigation using the tags. In most cases, using the tags to surround relevant page content seems the better option, though it'll still take being careful about using words that can trigger off-topic ads, particularly in certain spots on the page.

[Jenstar]

It doesn't eliminate from targeting what you put in the ignore tags. Rather it uses the tags to either "emphasize or de-emphasize" the content you place in them.

[Marcia]

OK, so they say there's no guarantee and that it may result in PSA's if it's done:

You can also designate sections you'd like to have ignored by adding a (weight=ignore) to the starting tag:

<!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->

But they are sayiing they'll ignore where that's put, and if that is put around the navigation, which is what's causing those few cases of mis-targeting, if it's the navigation that's ignored (or given zero weight), there's still enough targeted content on the pages for them to work with, even if it's resulting in lower cost ads being run. The only drawback is that it can be a hassle when the global navigation uses includes and you only want part of it "ignored."

Some of what I'm seeing may be due to a high seasonal flux. Like I've got some Halloween ads showing up on one site that does not even have one single, solitary mention of Halloween anywhere on the site - simply because it's highly seasonal and very logically related because there are pages on the site for other holidays.

[mykel79]

Do you know if there is any indication that these tags are used or could be used by Google in relation to normal SERPs? Or is this just an Adsense thing?

[Marcia]

Do you know if there is any indication that these tags are used or could be used by Google in relation to normal SERPs? Or is this just an Adsense thing?

The tags are just for AdSense.

Well, it's over two months later - and even with a reference ONLY in the global navigation, ads are still ten miles off. It's time to see how those tags work on some pages, else the alternative is to pull AS and put another program on that particular site.

There are some words that seem to be POISON WORDS and if they appear anywhere on a site they'll kill the targeting all over. I got one off - removed the page/section altogether, and now there's another one turning up.

There's no point getting killed for the holiday season.