URLs..

Usually, I put the URL colour as the same colour as my background, because every time I see an Adsense ad, if it interests me, I'll just type the URL myself, rather than clicking it. So I'm just wondering, does making the URL stand out in a different colour give a better CTR? For instance, in the default Adsense ad, the URL is green - is there a reason for this?

Or is it better to just make the URL not stand out at all, and therefore letting the person who sees it only one option - clicking the ad.

What's your take on this?

 

My take on this is that you probably want to stay within the TOS by complying:

Therefore, making the URL the same color as the background would result in hiding it, effectively (Blue URL on a blue background = invisible), and thus be a TOS violation. So, the "letting the person only see one option" thing is kind of out.

As far as what color is best for the URL, I think it varies, though for me I've just usually made it the same color as the text in the ad. I'd be interested in hearing more feedback on this part too, though.

 

Ah, I see. So I guess making the URL invisible is out of the option.

 

Definitely. Also on some ad formats in certain ad layouts the URL is not listed at all - I often see this for the 468 x 60 format when two ads are displayed in the same unit.

I think the reason for the green usage for URLs in the default color scheme has a traditional background. Even before AdSense Google displayed URLs in green in search result pages. I don't remember how it was before Google (AltaVista I mean) though

 

Are you serious? You type in the URL rather than clicking the ad? Why would you do this, not only is this really inconvenient to you it probably wont take you to the targeted page?

Any who can't try to hide portions of the ad, against the TOS.

 

Nah, I type at 100 wps, so there really isn't any difference. I'll only click on Ads if if I like the website.

So has anyone tried using different URL colours, and is there really a best one? Should it be blended, or stand out?

 

I generally go for a "blended but visible" option since that seemed to boost (a little tho) the CTR. However, I also do belive that the URL color is also the less important color entry in the AdSense color scheme.

Experimenting on medium time intervals will definitely prove what's better