Domain name history does not make any difference

[toldan]

I purchased new domain, only to learn (through Internet Archive) that somebody else owned it back in 2004.

I e-mailed Adsense support and told them I am developing a new website and will be adding it to Adsense in few months or so. I asked them politely to check whether or not somebody else previously registered my new domain with Adsense and what would be consequences if the previous user (who previously owned my domain name) were banned from Adsense.

They said they consider every application individually and I am welcome to apply with my new web site regardless of its history with Adsense (aka: regardless of previous users' history).

This makes sense, doesn't it?

[toldan]

PS: please note I already have one website registered with Adsense, and once I develop second website, I will just add it to my Adsense account (no need to apply again).

[leadegroot]

You got a canned response - they didn't understand that you have an account and will be adding a new site and want a status on it.
I would send another email more or less ignoring the first one which is written more clearly and hope it gets to someone else.
Try bullet points?

Did you look in the wayback machine, etc, to try and see what the previous site was like?

[fredw]

Concidentally, I just got the same response to the same question I asked today. It was not a canned response.

Basically, without quoting it, G said, "We understand your concern about domains that have been previously registered," and then went on to say exactly what toldan said above.

[jatar_k]

but i am wondering, if they said the exact same thing that would sort of corroborate the canned response thought

though I would hope they consider them seperately, they have access to whois, they should know it is a different owner

[leadegroot]

I just got the same response to the same question

So it looks more and more like a canned response, and one that isn't appropriate to the question - IMHO
*shrug*

[wheelie34]

welcome to apply with my new web site

They didnt understand your question, ask again, word it completely different.

Dear Google
My Ref: Publisher ID 123456345453

I have just purchased a new domain and noticed it has been registered before, please let me know if it was previousley used for adsense, if it was and has been banned in the past, please advise if I will be able to add it to MY AdSense account.

Something like that, but IMHO they didnt answer the question you asked, never assume they know what your asking. Before buying a domain always check the wayback machine, that will give a reasonable indication of what was on the site.

[activeco]

Adsense account is tied to an user, not to a domain/site.
If one of your adsense sites does something against the TOS, the chance is great that the account holder will be banned from the program.
However, the domain/site in question could be transfered to another account holder without consequences, under condition that the new owner clean the site.

Take this just as an opinion, not an advice.

[fredw]

I was hoping my point would be that even though my reply from G appeared to contain what might be some canned content, their reply to me was personal and included a direct response to my concern about previously registered domain names and the possibility of getting banned because of them.

[Mohamed]

I had that problem before. I contacted adsense support before the registration and they told me that I can register and run adsense as long as I am not violating TOS. though I did some manipulation.

[blairsp]

They must have changed their policy on this. I asked them about a site which had been previously been banned (note the SITE, not the person) and they stated categorically that the URL is banned also.

[Hobbs]

I specifically asked about a domain name I bought and later discovered that it was not new, they responded specifying that this domain has no bad history with AdSense, as others said, be specific, hope this helps you toldan.

[activeco]

The response from blairsp alone should be reason enough to contact them again and ask for clarification. Do it and save yourself time and fears.

[ann]

Sounds like a dog chasing its tail.

APPLY with new site...Not recognizing the part of your email that says you are ALREADY a publisher! Google, this is an important issue to a lot of existing publishers....remove the blinders and REALLY READ his email!

Ann

[goonewb]

I am really surprised that answer to such an obvious and important question has not been answered. Is it possible to get confirmation from Google? If Google only bans the account, and not the sites, then people who were banned can still "monetise" their site by selling it to another user. I would really like some affirmative answers on these. I was banned from Adsense for click frauds which I did not commit and if this is true, I can at least have second chance using my good friend's account, for example.

Thanks for any comments.

[jomaxx]

No you can't use a friend's account on your banned domain, unless you want him to get banned too.

If a domain has expired and become up for grabs, Google is aware of this and they actually discount any existing inbound links. IMO there is a reasonable chance Google will see that there is no connection to the previous owner and allow AdSense on the domain even if it has been previously banned.

OTOH, if the ownership was transferred directly by the owner, then Google really has no way of knowing if it was due to a good-faith arm's-length transaction, or whether the owner is simply signing it over to his brother-in-law. In this case, I would expect Google to say NO to using AdSense on it. At the very least they would take a very hard look at the situation.

[goonewb]

Do you know for a fact that google is so detailed in their analysis of which sites were banned under a different account or are u just guessing this is how Google work logically? My previous site is a blog under blogger so it won't expire. Can I put in another publisher's adsense on it, if this blog was one of the many blogs under my previous adsense account which is now terminated? Appreciate any answers.

[billcale]

It looks as if Google IS directly responding to this. While you may be an AdSense publisher in good standing and are requesting a Google thumbs up or down on one website - yes, a very simple request - Google can't allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to send an arm's-length list of domain names to be checked out before an individual purchases one domain! Yikes! That would keep an army of Googlers busy all day. The letter specifies that they'll check it upon application to the program and that they treat each application individually. The note about the domain's history seems to speak to the integrity of the transaction - if Google feels that a banned domain is being resurrected for AdSense in an honest and responsible manner and not merely to avoid the penalty. Personally, I think Google's lack of specificity in this area is reasonable.

[leadegroot]

Google can't allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to send an arm's-length list of domain names to be checked out before an individual purchases one domain!

Yes, that is sensible - although that does leave one with a small problem when picking up a new domain name.

The letter specifies that they'll check it upon application to the program and that they treat each application individually.

Ah, but the problem is that once you have an Adsense account you do not 'apply' to Google, you just start putting your account ID on sites.
The only 'application', for very loose values of 'apply', is when you start using a new domain its possible Google may do some internal checks.

It seems a little sad that it is possible to:
- be an honest publisher in good standing
- buy a new domain and discover its 2nd-hand
- ask Google if its ok to use
- be told they will check it when you 'apply'
- start using your shiny new domain
- receive a banned notice, for using a banned domain - the new one.

Could it happen like that? Who knows! Google isn't telling us :(
The question is: if you are a publisher in good standing, how do you determine if you are jepardising your account when you buy a new domain? It seems Google says 'try it and see if we ban you'.
My thoughts are that I would be to send them a note very clearly saying:

Account XXXXX-YYYYY-ZZZZZ
I am about to start using adsense on my new website at newdomain.com I am aware that it has previously been used. Can you confirm for me that it is 'clean' and I will not be banned for using adsense on this new domain name I have just bought?

which is very similar to what someone posted earlier in this thread.
Its important to make sure your note is easy to understand.

[Alioc]

I don't beleive Google bans so easily with such an issue being the primary reason. It may be the last drop causing the flood but can not be the single reason of cancellation of a good standing account.

Humans do mistakes, publishers and Google employers alike. It is your history with Google what really matters I think. So, if you have faith that what you have done so far wasn't questionable, just relax and start building up your new web venture.

[goonewb]

Believe me..Google cancels account easily without listening much to your appeal..or at least to my appeal..

Thats why, I am left with no other choice to get into Adsense except using my friend's account on my old blog, but I do not want him to get into trouble. People here warn that it is better to be safe than sorry, and just do not associate any good accounts with "bad" sites...but I just want to know the facts..

Does Google ban accounts or do they also ban all sites/blogs associated with that account? I am not talking about reapplying a new account using old sites..just use existing account on an old site previously associated with a banned account...

[Juan_G]

It seems that Google sometimes allows a different webmaster to use a previously banned domain if they think the new owner is really an unrelated person, and other times they send the dreaded goodbye email about your account related to a disabled account.

So, they try to do it correctly, but misunderstandings can happen.

Some related threads (the first one with a reply from AdSenseAdvisor):

Buying a site that was banned from adsense
[webmasterworld.com...]

Bought Expired Domain, Put Up Adsense Then Account Disabled
[webmasterworld.com...]

Purchased a website that is banned from AdSense
[webmasterworld.com...]

Disabled for invalid click activity but i've never had an account
[webmasterworld.com...]

Etc.

[toldan]

Believe me..Google cancels account easily without listening much to your appeal..or at least to my appeal..

Thats why, I am left with no other choice to get into Adsense except using my friend's account on my old blog, but I do not want him to get into trouble. People here warn that it is better to be safe than sorry, and just do not associate any good accounts with "bad" sites...but I just want to know the facts..

Does Google ban accounts or do they also ban all sites/blogs associated with that account? I am not talking about reapplying a new account using old sites..just use existing account on an old site previously associated with a banned account...

I guess, when they ban your account, they also ban your address/name/banking account/phone number/your associates (wife, friend, roomate, etc who live on the same address) etc.

[goonewb]

You guess or is this a fact? Some have said that they have successfully put in adsense codes from another account to a previously banned site.

[cagey1]

I emailed Adsense about this topic a couple of months ago, and here is a summary of Google's response:

1. We can't tell you if a domain was previously disabled

2. A current account in good standing will not be disabled simply for showing ads on a domain that was previously associated with an unrelated disabled account.

This was not a canned response - it came from a real Google human employee.

[goonewb]

thanks.

This is a very important answer to me and the others who were banned but who still wish to monetise their previously banned sites.

Thanks again.