Can I put Adsense on a custom 404 error page?

[spaceylacie]

From what I understand, it is allowed, but I wanted to make sure. I have decided that less is more and I am in the process of deleting pages containing outdated information. Instead of re-directing the pages I have set up a custom error page telling visitors where to go to find their way around with a link provided. My question is, can I put Adsense on the custom 404 error page? Maybe my visitor doesn't feel like "finding their way around" and would prefer to move on. I'd prefer they click an ad instead of clicking that "back" button.

[Knappster]

From AdSense T&C:

You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to ... (v) display any Ad(s), Link(s), or Referral Button(s) on any error page

[stapel]

According to the Google AdSense Program Policies, "No Google ad may be placed on any non-content-based pages".

Since error pages usually contain no content (just an error message, plus maybe links back into the site), a regular error page almost certainly would not qualify for AdSense ads.

I could be wrong, of course....

Eliz.

https://www.google.com/adsense/policies

[makes a little sense]

Just how many 404 pages are you going to feature on your website. :)

[jetteroheller]

I have decided that less is more and I am in the process of deleting pages containing outdated information

There are no outdated information, there is only history.

The world is flat.

This is no outdated information, it's an interesting fact about ancient cultures, a lot of conflicts with the round world party.

[david_uk]

It's an interesting idea :)

To be honest, the average custom 404 page has a lot more content than the average MFA that Google won't ban. I'm arguing with them about a site that contains only a single ad block in white space and a few keywords in an unreadable colour about 14 pages below the fold. If they won't ban that despite being nagged for months about it I'd suggest that a 404 page on a good site that has a reasonable amount of content on the error page should be perfectly acceptable :)

The other issue is that ideally you don't want the page to be shown at all. I look at my server logs and try and correct the 404's. Google may penalise you in some way either on adsense or serps for a lot of 404 errors.

Seriously, I wouldn't do this without checking with Google first, but it's a neat idea!

[JayC]

>> According to the Google AdSense Program
>> Policies, "No Google ad may be placed on any
>> non-content-based pages".

The Terms and Conditions document is more specific than that, saying that you can not place ads "on any error page, on any registration or 'thank you' page (e.g., a page that thanks a user after he/she has registered with the applicable Web site), on any chat page, in any email, or on any Web page or any Web site that contains any pornographic, hate-related, violent, or illegal content."

Seems pretty clear to me that would counter the idea that if you had "enough content" on an error page it would be OK.

[topr8]

the main thing is that i can't imagine that the ads will be well targeted on a 404 page

[Alioc]

I will place AdSense ads on my car plate soon. There's some content there, no?

[spaceylacie]

JayC, that part of the TOS was removed a while back, not it just says, "No Google ad may be placed on any non-content-based pages."

Text describing how to find your way around the site is on the error page along with links to the site's main features. There should be enough text on the page to get targeted ads. Before I do anything, I'll show Google the page and ask. Maybe I should just keep the "historical data".

[Yogesh Sarkar]

one thing that i fail to understand is, how so many hosts display adsense ads on parked domain. isnt this against the adsense TOS as well?

[BillyS]

Maybe my visitor doesn't feel like "finding their way around" and would prefer to move on. I'd prefer they click an ad instead of clicking that "back" button.

Think about what you're saying... If I were running Adsense, I'd kick you out just for suggesting this. Are you that desperate for clicks?

My only conclusions are:

1. - That your website must be horrible to navigate - "finding their way around"

2 - Your content is so awful that a vistor would rather go somewhere else .

3 - You're more interested in getting a click than providing a visitor with good information. (I'd prefer they click an ad instead of clicking that "back" button. )

Pitiful. I cannot believe anyone with any pride in their website would even suggest such a thing.

[Car_Guy]

"Maybe my visitor doesn't feel like "finding their way around" and would prefer to move on. I'd prefer they click an ad instead of clicking that "back" button."

That makes about as much sense as:

Yesterday a friend came to visit. Shortly after they arrived, they pronounced a word incorrectly. I immediately carried them to the door.

[spaceylacie]

I guess I feel like I deserve to keep being paid for pages I have built in the past even when they no longer exist. Arriving to a page with upcoming 2003 events is probably awful enough to make them want to go somewhere else, that's why I wanted to remove the "historical data". The site has about 1500 pages, so yes, they have to find their way around if they get lost on an error page. The error page is meant to be helpful. My thinking is that related ads would give them an additional option, making the page even more helpful?

[Car_Guy]

In the future, it might be better to create an events page that you update without changing the URL, rather than creating an updated version with a new URL and deleting the old one.

[bose]

As I see it, even if Google TOS were to allow this, you would be better served if you were to approach it from your user's (long term) perspective.

Furthermore, as Adsense Mediabot continues to chomp up on the "new content" off those URIs, Adsense Algo will (eventually) discern the "new theme" and serve "better targeted" Ads for your new (404 page) content. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that your visitors will continue to see the Ads that they are seeing now on those pages destined to go AWOL.

<thinking aloud>
* Would that "stock template text" not raise a dupe content flag for all those URIs?

* Would it not be better to do a 301 in stead?
</stops thinking>

[hyperkik]

There's nothing to prevent you from putting ads on your error pages, consistent with the terms and conditions of the ad program you use. You just can't use AdSense.

From the current Google AdSense Online Standard Terms and Conditions:

Prohibited Uses.] You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: ... (v) display any Ad(s), Link(s), or Referral Button(s) on any error page....

[google.com...]

[JayC]

>> JayC, that part of the TOS was removed a while
>> back, not it just says, "No Google ad may be
>> placed on any non-content-based pages."

The confusion here is because the language you're quoting is in the Program Policies; I quoted (just seconds before pasting and posting) from the Terms and Conditions: Section 5, under Prohibited Uses.
[google.com...]