Recent changes to display URL policy for sites that sit on shared or hosted domains may have some advertisers finding their ads disapproved.

Google used blog URL’s as a great example in a recent Inside AdWords post.

Google’s Example:

“Let’s say I wanted to create an ad linking to this blog: http://adwords.blogspot.com. In the past, blogspot.com would have been an acceptable display URL. Because there are so many independent blogs hosted on http://blogspot.com however, we now require the display URL to reflect the specific blog reached upon clicking the ad– in this case: adwords.blogspot.com.”

For advertisers that have found their ads disabled minor changes need to be made to correct the URL.

Example of an incorrect URL setup:

destination URL:  http://www.yourblog.blogspot.com

display URL:  blogspot.com (incorrect)

….

Example of a correct URL setup:

destination URL:  http://www.yourblog.blogspot.com

display URL:  yourblog.blogspot.com (correct)

Google states that:

“Going forward, ads that don’t include this additional information in their display URLs will be disapproved. A suggested display URL will be provided in the disapproval email notification, but we encourage you to proactively adjust any ads that you think might be affected by this change.”

I am unsure if this policy change will effect existing advertisers or only new advertisers.  Googles wording indicates it effects new advertisers only.  If I find info indicating it effects current advertisers I will post an update.

Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP, AdWords Top Contributor