Google publicizes the removing of longstanding AdSense hyperlink adverts. Operate / digital info world

Another piece of Google memorabilia hits the chopping block. This time around, we’re saying goodbye to one AdSense mainstay as link ads are now being permanently closed.

Link ads, launched in 2007, were a bit of an oddity to say the least, especially when compared to modern online ads. They were present on all websites that had Google’s AdSense ad revenue service enabled. The gist of this was that while scrolling through such websites, users would come across boxes with some keywords written on them. This was usually the product of sponsored advertising as business owners using AdSense would pay to have their ads run on the internet. However, since multiple search results were displayed together in one lump, clicking the link takes the user to a separate landing page with all the sponsored links. From there, they could click any link and continue streaming.

Hopefully our readers will forgive us if this author confesses his indifference to such a development. Link ads, while far more innocuous than any other two-bit misleading ads on the internet, were ineffective at best and annoying at worst. Ineffective as their clumped together results would only give a mixed sense of advertising. Annoying, because even if a person had found something useful in one of the given keywords, they would still have to click twice to find something relevant: once in the link ads field, and secondly when finding the corresponding link on a separate landing page. All of this makes link ads a very unnecessary hassle, especially when compared to Google’s alternative advertising methods like search ads.

Of course, such a decision can expect some backlash. A special front for such a mockery can easily be the pages that advertise with link ads. Link ads require users to click twice to go to a relevant location. This translates to double the sales for the web pages they are displayed on. It is also expected that users who spend money on such advertising will show displeasure at such a decision. On the other hand, all such changes can lead to side effects. Especially from a relic of technology from 2007.

Google’s reasons for discontinuing link ads are limited to modernization. Another reason given by the company is that link ads currently have the same functionality as the newer responsive image ads and are therefore inefficient. However, the exchange process is in no rush. Link ads will be removed on October 3, 2021, giving users time to advertise the feature before laying a new foundation for the Google cemetery.

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