Google AdSense Alternate Ads in 4 Easy Steps

What problem does alternate ads solve?

Many webmasters don't want to display public service ads (PSAs) when Google is unable (for any reason) to provide AdWords. Since webmasters are not paid when PSAs are displayed, they want to use the space on their site to display ads for things that earn them money.

What are 'Alternate Ads'?

Here's how Google describes alternate ads in the AdSense FAQ:

Google is unable to serve targeted ads to your page. By default, Google shows public service ads (PSAs) if no targeted ads are available. By specifying a color, image, HTML page, or ad server of your choice, you can make sure that your advertising space is always being used effectively, either by targeted Google ads, or by your own choice of content.

Alternate Ads, if specified, will be shown when there are no targeted ads available for your page. The ad space will not be branded as 'Ads by Google.'

OK. Now let's go through the four easy steps:
Step #1. Decide on your target URL

We're using a Christmas gifts page for this example
http://www.wowchristmasgifts.com/index.html
Step #2. Create your 'Clickable Image'

Create your ad -- a graphic image with the same dimensions that you use for AdSense:
Banner (468x60)
Skyscraper (120x600)
Leaderboard (728x90)
Inline rectangle (300x250)

We're using Skyscraper (120x600) for this example with this URL:
http://banners.fqq.biz/h/sample.gif
Step #3. Create a simple Web page with the following information
<html>
<head>
<title>Gifts</title>
</head>
<body>
<a href="http://www.wowchristmasgifts.com/index.html" target="_top">
<img src="http://banners.fqq.biz/h/sample.gif" width="120" height="600" border="0" alt="gifts" />
< /a>
</body>
</html>

It has the following URL:
http://demo.about-adsense.com/example.html
Step #4. Add new AdSense code

Paste the URL into the new 'Alternate Ads' field in Google. Then, put the new AdSense code on your Web pages.

In this example, the above URL generated this additional line:
google_alternate_ad_url = "http://demo.about-adsense.com/example.html";

(This is the code we're implementing on our sites. However, if you have any problems implementing alternate ads, please email Google -- not us -- for tech support.)

You might want to again check the two example demo pages that we recommended you visit at the top of this page.

You're done!