My last client left [only guy I liked enough to keep around] was recently banned from AdWords Select. Turns out he had multiple accounts [he was having trouble having some ads show up or something], and so he got banned.
This is a big spender - mid 6 digits a year, but no dice.
Any way of making them see it was a mistake and getting back in? :)
This sounds like a terrible move on Google's part. What if the guy just didn't understand the multiple accounts policy? Stories like this make advertisers very nervous about what Google might do to them if they screw up in any sort of minor way. It makes advertising with Google feel a little like living in a police state. Full bans without warning for any infraction, who knows how minor. "What if they ban me for having multiple accounts, even if we are doing it for different clients?" "Could they ban me for clicking on a competitor's ad to see where it goes?" "What if I'm banned for using an automated tool to manage bids?"
It would help greatly to have some sort of advertiser rights program or something. At least it would be nice if Google promised to give a deactivation warning before banning an account entirely.
Any way of making them see it was a mistake and getting back in? :)
Yes, of course. Contact AdWords support to inquire. If you email, provide all the details pertinent to your particular situation, and request a review and/or a more complete explanation.
If Google's policy is being met, there should not be an issue - and it is possible that we have not understood the situation. In cases where we've made a mistake, I have found that we are quick to act, and to apologize.
What if the guy just didn't understand the multiple accounts policy? Stories like this make advertisers very nervous about what Google might do to them if they screw up in any sort of minor way. It makes advertising with Google feel a little like living in a police state. Full bans without warning for any infraction, who knows how minor.
In cases of this nature, of which I am aware, the advertiser is given multiple notifications, along with specific requests for action. If the notices are ignored, and/or the actions are not taken, then, finally, the account(s) can be closed.
I hope that everyone can appreciate that it is to everyone's benefit to keep your ads running. The advertiser benefits, and Google benefits as well, of course.
Google will not "ban you without warning" if AdWords policies are being met. If they are not being met, you'll be informed and given multiple chances to fix whatever is at issue.
What are the policies? Well, this is where I'll again say that it is to each advertiser's benefit to read the Terms and Conditions. There is a link directly to them at the bottom of every page in an AdWords account.
AWA
(TOS section 6) "You may not include links to any Web site(s) as part of your ad, unless the content found at such site(s) is relevant to your Target(s) and/or ad creative. (...) Violation of these policies may result in immediate termination of this Agreement without notice, and may subject you to state and federal penalties and other legal consequences."
I definitely understand Google's need and right to terminate accounts for a variety of reasons, but I do wish the TOS specified some sort of escalation procedure for terminations. If nothing else, though, it would be nice to have a FAQ entry indicating that terminations normally go through the escalation procedure that you just described.
Nerowolfe
Your point is well taken, and I'll pass your feedback on.
As an actual live human being who works here at Google, I can say with no hesitation whatsoever that the aim is to be fair and even-handed - as opposed to Draconian. (What a great word that is though!)
AWA
Thanks, AWA, it's reassuring to know that things aren't quite so draconian in practice. :-) That said, the Terms of Service still seem a little heavy handed to me. As I read it, my account *could* be immediately banned for something as simple as having an irrelevant destination URL?
(TOS section 6) "You may not include links to any Web site(s) as part of your ad, unless the content found at such site(s) is relevant to your Target(s) and/or ad creative. (...) Violation of these policies may result in immediate termination of this Agreement without notice, and may subject you to state and federal penalties and other legal consequences."I definitely understand Google's need and right to terminate accounts for a variety of reasons, but I do wish the TOS specified some sort of escalation procedure for terminations. If nothing else, though, it would be nice to have a FAQ entry indicating that terminations normally go through the escalation procedure that you just described.
Nerowolfe
Google can ban immediately your account with no reason at all.
Here is a sentence from the ToS : "Google may at any time terminate the Program, terminate this Agreement, or cancel any ad(s) or your use of any Target"
Each companies goal is to make as much money as possble with the least amount of effort
I wonder why Overture allows 2 accounts.
Overture do not allow 2 accounts, advertising the same site.
There are instances where multiple accounts will be useful from an accounting/admin perspective, but each one must target a different product/service.
We have clients where they have several Google accounts, but each one is for a unique project, with no crossover of inventory.
I just did a search and one site is mentioned twice on the right side. Is that against the rules and how do you turn them in.
I'd first check to see if it's an affiliate. Then inside your AdWords account, click on the 'contact us' link and send them the details of the ads and the KW. If it's an affiliate, you just need to tell G that the affiliate isn't identifing themself as such, if it's the same site, then let them know.
They generally take a week or two to complete the investigation, and you won't receive an email to their decision as they consider it an internal matter. If in a week or two, it's still there, then fire off another email as sometimes these things get overlooked or not thoroughly investigated. Generally G will end up taking appropriate action after the first mail though.
And there is always a review process, if you feel that we've made a mistake.
At the end of the day, the reason behind our policy is to prevent one advertiser from taking up more than one space for a given keyword search.
Why? To be fair to your competitors who want to have an even shot of appearing.
AWA
Why? To be fair to your competitors who want to have an even shot of appearing.
ATA, what about affiliates? Sometimes you search for a product etc, you see the company's ad on the side followed by 4 or 5 affiliate ads for the same company. Wouldn't this be the same as a competitor who doesn't have an affiliate program just creating multipul adwords accounts? Just trying to follow googles line of reasoning is all....
This would be very easy to do, and I wouldn't be suprised if it was already being done in some areas.
