Forum Moderators: martinibuster
It would be a worthwhile endeavor if Google would develope a better system for handling these situations.
First, if banning your site is being considered by Google, they could notify you, and tell you what the offenses are. They could immediately discontinue paying for clicks on your site until you bring your site into compliance. A time table could be set up to become compliant.
Second, as it stands now, if your site is banned, you have no recourse, whether you're at fault, or someone else.
There should be a system in place, listing steps to be followed as to what you need to do to have the ban lifted. If your site is in total non-compliance, they could tell you that your site cannot be reinstated as it exists. If you the victim of someone else's click fraud, you should be able to present your case to them, showing server logs, etc.
Google AdSense can represent a significant amount of income to publishers. To cut them off without notice, give them no recourse, or no opportunity to fix problems is unfair. Most AdSense publishers want to work within the rules, and most would adjust their sites to come into compliance if given half a chance.
On the other hand, it is a good idea not to put all your eggs in one basket but that's not something particular to AdSense, just common sense.
Do you have to be a big business in order for their motto to apply to you?
First, if banning your site is being considered by Google, they could notify you, and tell you what the offenses are. They could immediately discontinue paying for clicks on your site until you bring your site into compliance. A time table could be set up to become compliant.
So one could experiment in order not to be caught?
And if he do get caught, next time he could explore another trick?
So while they are not actually "doing" evil, they occasionally leave little swirls and eddys of evil in their wake. I find that bothersome, especially since my account probably wouldn't warrant their answering my phone call, they would make me wait (in angst) for an interminable email.
After reading this forum (and others) it becomes clear that many AdSense publishers are living in fear of being banned from AdSense.
Sure, and a 1999 NEWSWEEK poll showed that 40% of Americans think the world will end with the battle of Armageddon. Those are probably the same people who think Google is the Antichrist. :-)
After reading this forum (and others) it becomes clear that many AdSense publishers are living in fear of being banned from AdSense.
How many people live in fear of loosing their jobs?
If your sites are MFAs well so what!
How many people live in fear of loosing their jobs?probably quite a lot of people
Even in the cold world of business, if my company is not performing as it should, I will hear about it from my customers, usually giving me a chance to make it right.
So we are back to "don't put all your eggs etc.."
First, if banning your site is being considered by Google, they could notify you, and tell you what the offenses are.
I have heard from people who have been contacted by Google because of non-compliant websites, websites that are breaking the TOS because of inappropriate content.
Although I don't live in fear of lightning falling from the sky and having my account banned, I do put that into consideration when planning a campaign for driving traffic, i.e. students in a university sharing a library computer, etc.
I think it's good to keep the implications of what you do in mind, just as you may in walking across the street. Worrying about being hit by a bus is unneccessary.
If you get wrongfully banned you can begrudge the specific earnings of a month or so that won't be paid, but beyond that you have no right to complain.
In other words you're not entitled to a check from Google simply for having a website. And if you need to live in fear of that fact, then you've made some bad choices somewhere.
It's just amazing how most people replying to this thread had become so ice cold and downright righteous.
Publisher was merely saying that there should be a system in place for those who have been banned from Adsense. What's so wrong with that? It seems that whenever a topic about banning is started, everyone goes up in arms. God. Get a grip guys.
Google DO send out warnings. Google DO detect and discount invalid clicks, on occasion even emailing a webmaster about it, and sites DO have the ability to appeal even after Google have made the decision to ban them. The appeal usually isn't successful, but frankly there's little a webmaster can tell Google about the specifics of the situation that they don't already know.
Although I don't live in fear of lightning falling from the sky and having my account banned
I don't have any great insights on Adsense, but I just thought I'd mention I actually have been hit by lightning. (I don't get to work that into too many conversations.)
I actually have been hit by lightning
In your opinion, does it increase or reduce your chances of being banned by Google?
In your opinion, does it increase or reduce your chances of being banned by Google?
I would say it definitely reduces your chances of being banned, but then we probably need more data points to be 100% sure.
So why doesn't everyone else with an Adsense account that has also been hit by lightning post here and let us know how you are doing. :)
There are only two people in our office. And we have been banned from apparently too many clicks from an ip address with Adsense.
We have asked for confirmatiom of this ip address, and also how the google search bar is used. Basically, if we had done a search for an item and used the google search box - fine -but my only issue is that if we have a google search box, we cannot actually search from it?
Also, we anticpate that one of our bitter clients and now competitor may have generated these clicks. How are we to know?
We have pleaded our case explaining that we operate ethically, explained our website hosting business model etc. But all we get are the generic responses - nothing specific, no way to talk to someone on the appeal.
As we haven't generated more that $2-300 in two months with the adsense, I doubt they would want to give us any attention.
And I've also mentioned that we are launching a new, large web site (for significant traffic ) and wanted clarification on the use of the search box on a site.
All in all, seems silly now - if you even buy from anyone on adsense, you can lose your google account.
So - what qualifies to start a new thread?
This is my first post and something that has required that i finally sign on to this board. I attend PubCon and love it as it is refreshing to meet the professional people who attend.
There should be a system in place, listing steps to be followed as to what you need to do to have the ban lifted. If your site is in total non-compliance, they could tell you that your site cannot be reinstated as it exists. If you the victim of someone else's click fraud, you should be able to present your case to them, showing server logs, etc.
How would you prove that your logs are accurate? For that matter, if Google handed over to you some logs that represented clicks on your ads, how would you be able to prove their logs are accurate?
Google AdSense can represent a significant amount of income to publishers. To cut them off without notice, give them no recourse, or no opportunity to fix problems is unfair. Most AdSense publishers want to work within the rules, and most would adjust their sites to come into compliance if given half a chance.
If you were Google, how would you determine what is fair? If your customers complained that you were unfair, what would you do?
If you were Google, how would you determine what is fair? If your customers complained that you were unfair, what would you do?
Just as important, publishers aren't Google's customers. Advertisers are Google's customers. So priority #1 is convincing advertisers that fraud will be dealt with mercilessly.
Advertisers are Google's customers.
Google's role is more that of a broker working on commission than a vendor in the normal sense. The publisher is then a partner in this transaction with Google.
Google abuses their partners because they can.
Though I'll grant you, I have done well under this arrangement, abuse notwithstanding.
edited for clarity
[edited by: andrea99 at 3:32 am (utc) on Mar. 18, 2006]
I do understand that there are lots of people out there trying their hardest to scam the system...that seems to be the nature of the internet...but my guess is that the vast majority of AdSense publishers want to work within the Adsense framework. They should be provided the opportunity to argue their case.
I don't think the existing situation is abusive, it's just not considerate enough.
If you've been a victim it's abuse, if you're a bystander it's a lack of consideration, rudeness perhaps.
You say tomay-toe...
many AdSense publishers are living in fear of being banned from AdSense
Only the paranoid publishers, tho I walk thru the valley of the shadow of Banned, I fear not DO NO EVIL for thou direct advertisers and YPN art with me.
Only the paranoid publishers...
I don't think this differs much from the universal and eternal human fear of losing income or livelihood.
I think the Psalms parallel is appropriate and amusing...
Just as important, publishers aren't Google's customers. Advertisers are Google's customers. So priority #1 is convincing advertisers that fraud will be dealt with mercilessly.
And given this, when presented with suspicious clicks, Google has no choice but to ...
