But with this update, Google is adding a twist. The new collapsible anchors will automatically expand on mobile devices, making the ad more noticeable.
Don’t worry, though—users can easily collapse them if they prefer. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about collapsible anchors, how they work, and what this means for you as a publisher.
What Are Collapsible Anchors?
So, what exactly are collapsible anchors? In simple terms, they’re a new type of mobile ad designed to be both eye-catching and easy to manage. When a collapsible anchor ad appears on a mobile screen, it will expand automatically to show more of the advertiser's message, helping it stand out on smaller screens. But here’s the user-friendly part: if a viewer doesn’t want the ad to stay expanded, they can simply tap to collapse it back.
This feature is all about improving the ad experience on mobile devices, giving ads a stronger presence while still letting users stay in control.
Key Benefits of Collapsible Anchors
So, why does this new ad type matter? Here are the top benefits collapsible anchors bring to the table:
- Better Visibility: Since collapsible anchors expand on mobile, they offer more space for the advertiser’s message. This gives users a clearer view of the ad content, which can lead to better engagement. For publishers, this extra visibility can be a game-changer, making ads much harder to miss.
- Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR): With more ad space and better placement, users are more likely to interact with the ad. A higher CTR means more engagement and ultimately potentially better ad revenue for publishers.
- User Control: Even though the ads expand automatically, users still have the option to collapse them. This balance between visibility and control keeps the ad experience pleasant, especially on smaller screens where space is limited. It’s a win-win—ads get noticed, but viewers still have a choice.
Important Details to Know
Before you dive into this new feature, there are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Mobile-Only: Collapsible anchors are specifically designed for mobile screens. They won’t appear on desktop, so you don’t need to worry about changes to your site’s desktop experience.
- Top & Bottom Anchor Support: These ads can display at either the top or bottom of a page, depending on what works best for the user and ad format.
- Frequency Cap: To keep things user-friendly, Google has added a cap on how often these ads appear. This helps avoid the feeling of ad overload, keeping the experience positive for users.
Automatic Enrollment and Opting Out
If you’re already using anchor ads on AdSense, there’s good news: you don’t need to do anything to enable this new feature. Google will automatically enable collapsible anchors for you over the next 30 days. They’re making it easy for publishers by rolling out this update without any extra steps.
But what if you’d rather not use collapsible anchors? No problem—you can opt out if you prefer. Here’s how:
- Sign in to your AdSense account.
- Go to the Ads section.
- In the list of sites, click Edit next to the site you want to update.
- Make sure Auto ads is turned on.
- Under Overlay formats, confirm that Anchor ads is selected.
- Finally, toggle off the collapsible anchors option.
It’s that simple! Google understands that some publishers may want more control over their ad formats, so this opt-out feature gives you flexibility.
Google’s Commitment to Improving Ad Tools
This new collapsible anchors feature is part of Google’s broader efforts to make AdSense more effective and user-friendly. By adding options like these, Google is helping publishers improve ad performance on mobile devices while ensuring users have a positive experience. As a publisher, it’s reassuring to know that Google is continuously looking for ways to make our ad tools smarter without adding complexity to our setup.
Conclusion
Collapsible anchors are an exciting addition for mobile publishers. They bring a lot to the table: better visibility, potentially higher click-through rates, and a user-friendly design that lets viewers take control if they want. For those focused on mobile traffic, this feature could make a real difference in ad performance. And with automatic enrollment, it’s incredibly easy to get started—just sit back and let AdSense do the work.
As always, it’s a good idea to stay up-to-date with new AdSense features as they’re designed to help us maximize revenue without any heavy lifting. Keep an eye on your ad performance after the collapsible anchors roll out to see if this new format boosts your results.
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What are collapsible anchors?
Collapsible anchors will automatically enlarge ad height on mobile devices for better viewability while allowing users to easily shrink them back.
Some important things to know about collapsible anchors:
• They offer more room to convey the advertiser’s message which provides better visibility and higher click-through rates.
• They're only available on mobile.
• They support both top & bottom anchors.
• They're frequency capped per user to maintain a positive user experience.
Automatic enrollment
As you currently have anchor ads enabled, no action is required by you. We'll automatically enable collapsible anchors over the next 30 days. This feature enhancement reflects Google’s commitment to offering you the best tools and features without any additional implementation steps.
We understand that flexibility is important. If you prefer not to use collapsible anchors, you can opt out.
1. Sign in to your AdSense account.
2. Click Ads.
3. In the table of all your sites, click Edit next to your site. Your site opens in the ad settings preview.
4. Under "Ad settings", make sure Auto ads is turned on.
5. Click Overlay formats and make sure you've selected Anchor ads.
6. Turn off collapsible anchors.
We strive to continuously enhance the performance and usability of AdSense. Your feedback has been instrumental in driving the changes listed above and we will continue improving your user experience.
Sincerely,
The Google AdSense Team
Need help?
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Learn more about collapsible anchors
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