Techno Sider

Google has made a change to its AdSense online advertising, whereby the clickable area has been reduced, Google Blogoscoped reports.

Following a similar change made to the internet ads displayed next to its search results, the AdSense ads that display on third party websites will now only be clickable on the underlined title or the coloured URL underneath the snippet. Before, the entire broad rectangle around the text could be clicked.

The move will reduce the number of unintentional clicks by web users, and will increase the value for advertisers, as a greater proportion of clickers will be quality traffic.

Publishers may not be happy, but the blog notes that it is more ethical and will encourage advertisers to stick with the system in the long run.

Meanwhile it emerged that the European Union is to run an in-depth investigation into Google's planned acquisition of online advertising firm DoubleClick.

The Commission is worried that the tie-up could pose competition concerns in the Internet Advertising marketplace.

Using Google's AdSense programme is a tried and tested search marketing method.