Google 'expands' AdSense program

Literally. Google announced that it is adding expandable ads--those rich media ads that can balloon to about twice their size--to its AdSense repertoire. As the economy continues to sour, and CEO Eric Schmidt begins prepping investors for less-than-stellar earnings, it looks like Google is trying any method it can--no matter how annoying--to stoke its increasingly precious online ad revenues.

According to the AdSense Blog announcing the move, the new AdSense expandable ads won't be completely annoying. Expansion won't kick off at a simple mouse-over or rollover. Instead, users interested in expanding an ad will actually have to click on it first, which is nice. Google also offered these additional assurances:

• An expandable ad won't expand to more than double its width or height.

• Once expanded, the ad will appear as a layer over the page content so that underlying content will not be modified or shifted in any way.

• The user may close the expanded panel at any time.

• All expandable ads must comply with Google's standard AdWords image ad policies.

The new ad format will be available only for sites in North America and Europe in the following languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. Currently, it's only open to U.S. advertisers and agencies participating in Google's third-party Ad Serving Program.

To expand your knowledge on the new program, visit Google's recently posted Expandable Ads FAQs.

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