Forum Moderators: martinibuster
It has a poll on the left-side asking visitors "What do you think about Google Text Ads?" with several options.
Is this legit to do this? and if so, could it be a good thing?
[edited by: rogerd at 4:35 pm (utc) on Mar. 6, 2006]
[edit reason] no specifics, please [/edit]
Why would a site owner care what others think about Google ads? If the question were more general and asked about all ads (i.e. banners, pop-ups, pop-unders, etc.) then I could understand it.
Why would a site owner care what others think about Google ads?
That is a good question. I never seen this before, that is why it seems odd.
I actually participated in the vote and found that 12% of the users selected exactly that option. So 12% of his/her users click on the ads only to support that website.
Would it be against the rules to ask users to "Occasionally glance at the ads" without specifying Google?
Would it be against the rules to ask users to "Occasionally glance at the ads" without specifying Google?
Is that a rhetorical question?
If not, the answer is yes. Anything "drawing attention" to the ads is against the TOS.
Second, I did a survey on my site and asked my visitors what they think about the ads on my site. More specifically, I asked them whether they regard them as useful or annoying. The rationale for this question was simple: If they did not like the ads, I would have considered pulling the ads from the site. But guess what? They came back saying that they found the ads useful, mainly because they enhanced the content of the site. Go figure.
Right. And the site just so happens to be a free-software project. This is blatant begging for clicks.
Anything "drawing attention" to the ads is against the TOS.
So why do they let you modify the colors and backgrounds of ads? Half the idea of the Heat Map is about drawing attention to ads.
That's the ads themselves being made more "clickable" which is completely different from text put on the page asking "pleeeeeze help us get income by clicking the ads."
This is obviously not true. Effective placement and high-contrast colors is a way of drawing attention. I think that the issue is with enticing "uninterested" clicks.
[edited by: Andrew_Bassett at 5:18 pm (utc) on Mar. 6, 2006]
But to blatantly say, ... "Look in the top left corner for ads. When you see them, decide whether or not you wish to click them." ... is a violation of the TOS.
Here's the full clause from AdSense Policies
IncentivesWeb pages may not include incentives of any kind for users to click on ads. This includes encouraging users to click on the ads or to visit the advertisers' sites as well as drawing any undue attention to the ads. For example, your site cannot contain phrases such as "click here," "support us," "visit these links," or other similar language that could apply to any ad, regardless of content. These activities are strictly prohibited in order to avoid potential inflation of advertiser costs. In addition, publishers may not bring unnatural attention to sites displaying ads or referral buttons through unsolicited mass emails or unwanted advertisements on third-party websites. Publishers are also not permitted to use deceptive or unnatural means to draw attention to or incite clicks on referral buttons.
[google.com...]
But to blatantly say, ... "Look in the top left corner for ads. When you see them, decide whether or not you wish to click them." ... is a violation of the TOS
Funny, from what I have read, the poll doesn't say that.
We had a similiar poll on a site I work on just to see if anyone was freaking out about the ads.
Setting up a poll to ask about those ads may be considered, "undue" attention.
Web pages may not include incentives of any kind for users to click on ads. This includes encouraging users to click on the ads or to visit the advertisers' sites as well as drawing any undue attention to the ads. For example, your site cannot contain phrases such as "click here," "support us," "visit these links," or other similar language that could apply to any ad, regardless of content. These activities are strictly prohibited in order to avoid potential inflation of advertiser costs. In addition, publishers may not bring unnatural attention to sites displaying ads or referral buttons through unsolicited mass emails or unwanted advertisements on third-party websites. Publishers are also not permitted to use deceptive or unnatural means to draw attention to or incite clicks on referral buttons.
as well as drawing any undue attention to the ads
Nope. It's illegal.
It seems like it's still within the TOS
>>>Nope. It's illegal.
>>> it smells a bit fishy to me.
>>>Setting up a poll to ask about those ads may be considered, "undue" attention.
Smells weird to me, too. But just because some webmasters think it's undue attention, doesn't mean it is. Most will agree that it's borderline, so it's probably a good idea to get something like this approved by the AdSense team by email.
"I often click on Text ads to support free-software projects"
then isn't this just another version of:
"Help keep this site free by clicking on our sponsors ads"
which was mentioned in another thread? I'd say by making readers aware they're "contributing" the equivalent of a "tip" it was unduly drawing users attention to the ads, and also not likely to lead to conversions for the advertisers.
Just my 2p, but I wouldn't be trying it unless I'd had prior approval from Google.
It kind of reminds me of those fake opinion polls that political parties conduct during election campaigns. "Does the fact that XXXX has been accused of misusing public funds make you less likely to vote for him?" That sort of thing.
[webmasterworld.com...]
