Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Between one and three screens lower on the page (no Google ads is visible on the same screen as that text) is a 120x600 Google ad, with no text surrounding it (except the standard "Ads by Google" text on top).
Now, I can't exactly see how my text would encourage users to click on anything not immediatly visible (readers have a short memory that way), but I'm not about to screw around arguing with Google about it. I agree that the text is probably a bit dated with the whole "click" thing (back in the days when I was on crummy CPC networks where you'd be lucky to earn $15 a month), so I want to improve it, but aren't sure what's allowed.
I still want to say something at the top concerning our small companies - to the effect that "support these small companies, as doing so will make them advertise another month, thereby possibly keeping this site going for another month".
So, what do you think I'd be allowed to day?
"Support our sponsors"
"Help support xxx - support our sponsors"
"Help support xxx, buy from our sponsors"
Or are all of those kinds of things going to be rejected by Google?
Advertisers are not interested in clicks from people who just want to help pay for your site but would not otherwise click.
I was gob-smacked and decided to stay well out of it.
[edited by: Mario at 1:05 am (utc) on Dec. 14, 2003]
One thing I see on other sites is a short text message beneath the ad, related to the specific ad. I'm sure that'll be allowed.
The whole idea of contextual ads is to deliver quality clicks.. that ensures that advertisers get ROI (then bids go up).
Do you have any CPC inventory other than AdSense on your site? Enticing clicks for any CPC deal, regardless of AdSense, shouldn't be done.
I don't see anything wrong with simply saying "Help Support our Sponsors" in the current location if it's not in any way associated with your AdSense ads, but I personally feel that you're not adding anything to your site by even saying that.
<edit>Ooops, I had it as Links earlier</edit>
[edited by: Jenstar at 4:02 am (utc) on Dec. 14, 2003]
Remember, this has been there for many years now. Since I started running banners back with the now defunct Flycast 5 years ago (my 2-3 years was a bit inaccurate), when text like this was commonplace on the Internet. Since my last site re-design some years ago I've been satisfied with its look and haven't bothered to change it, instead concentrating on new content. So things like that become "familiar" and part of the design.
I was well aware of Google's restriction on "encouraging" clicks, but did not feel that that would apply to completely separate ad spaces that could not be displayed at the same time as the Google space.
Although if this is Google's only complaint about my site or its performance, then I guess I'm in good shape.
All pages DO have the word "Sponsor" above a small button to a single company that actually IS our official sponsor, but that wasn't mentioned - and better not be, as that *really* has no impact on Google!
Actually, it says "Sponsored Links."
And that is specifically referring to text that may be placed adjacent to Google advertisements, which I would expect to be strict.
They were reasonably quick to respond, and their advice was to remove one particular portion of the text which could have been construed as an incitement to click. I was able to do so without affecting the intended meaning, and I felt it was actually an improvement.
I felt that it was best to have this text on an "About Us" page, rather than associating it directly with the ads. I leave the ads "as is", placing them in a prominent position "above the fold", and doing very little afterward. So far, so good.
When ASA said they have a team checking for TOS violations, I am guessing this must be one of the things they are checking for when a site review is done.
I have seen many, many variations of "support our site" and other statements that Google could consider to be inciting clicks - but the standard does seem to be "Sponsored Links". Perhaps this is something they should add to their form letter they send out to those in violation of this ;)
However, once again that would indicate that Google is the only ad on the page and/or this text is near the AdWords space - thus the use of the word "links".
If the text in question is for a single advertisement and is not related to the Google ad or location in any way, then the phrase "Sponsored Links" doesn't make any sense.
Telling people to click in every case will ultimately decrease the value of those clicks. If you need to tell people to click then I'd suggest getting into a different subject because advertisers will stop bidding on those terms if they aren't producing.
But at any rate, I've already changed everything... now it displays alternative text. Should actually be more useful to the advertisers, as it effectively gives them more space and the option to say something else.
It's just that my situation really isn't covered anywhere in the "Terms and Conditions", where it mentions "encouraging any third party to generate fraudulent clicks on any Ad(s)", where "Ad(s)" is earlier defined as "Google provided advertisements".
Further, the "Program Policies" page states "Web pages may not include incentives of any kind for users to click on ads. This includes labeling the ads as sponsors as well as asking users to click on the ads or to please visit the sites." However, once again the language used in this paragraph, specifically "the ads" and "the sites", refers only to "Google provided advertisements".
Since the TAC is specific to only "Google" advertisements, there is no definition for what is acceptable behavior with "other" advertisements or sponsors.
Since I've already changed, this is more of a caution for anyone who does their own ad sales.
[edited by: anxvariety at 5:29 am (utc) on Dec. 14, 2003]
I can't see a PPC network, or an advertiser on a CPC basis, want their ads to be clicked on simply to support a site. I can see why Google is enforcing this - because they want to keep the advertisers, who are funding AdSense, as happy as possible.
<added>anxvariety, just noticed you misunderstood the thread and changed your post ;) My post was in response to your previous one</added>
This isn't new to ad networks - another well known ad network also prohibited this at least two years ago.
Google doesn't want into the position of approving it for one webmaster while rejecting it for another.
But you sound incredibly unrepentant even though you had "click on our sponsors" right at the top of the page. Come on, the meaning of that is crystal clear and it's no wonder Google asked you to change it.
But you sound incredibly unrepentant even though you had "click on our sponsors" right at the top of the page. Come on, the meaning of that is crystal clear and it's no wonder Google asked you to change it.
Notwithstanding my earlier post, frankly I see no reason for sunflux not to be "unrepetent." After all, that text pre-dated his participation in the AdSense program and Google did approve his site with that language there.
I'm not saying he shouldn't comply with Google's request, because he should, but I can certainly understand how he feels.
But you sound incredibly unrepentant even though you had "click on our sponsors" right at the top of the page. Come on, the meaning of that is crystal clear and it's no wonder Google asked you to change it.
I would only be "repentant" if at least one of the following conditions applied to my situation:
1) If the text was new since signing on to Google.
2) If the text was near Google's ad and was obviously targeting it OR I actually served Google ads in that adspace on a limited basis.
3) If the text was far from Google's ad but there was obviously nothing else it could apply to.
4) If the ad space was ONLY served by CPC or CPA agencies (this ad space is sold to MY advertisers on a CPM basis who WANT clickthroughs).
Since none of those are true, I'm treating this as a completely unexpected but understandable request from Google.
The nub of the matter is that Google have asked for a change in the web site copy.
At that point, no matter how "just" or "unjust" their request is, you only really have two choices - you either conform to their request or you leave AdSense (the only other option is that you can get them to change their mind, is "unlikely" to happen )
