Clicked on my own ad by accident

Should I inform Google?

[rubenski]

Have you ever clicked on one of your own ads and what did you do? Report it to Google?

I accidentally clicked one of my ads today and I am a bit nervous about it.

Before you can scroll a page using your mouse wheel you need to focus it into view and that's why I had to click on the page somewhere. When I did that I accidentally hit an ad. :-(

[dmorison]

Just let Google know; others have and received a "Thanks for informing us, don't lose sleep over it".

Also, if you are dynamically creating pages using a server side scripting language; consider using some mechanism to prevent AdSense showing for your own page views - such as a secret cookie.

[ken_b]

I wouldn't worry about it, if it's the only time.

Some folks here ahave mentioned that after reporting they get a response saying thanks for letting us know, don't worry, but try not to do it again.

[rubenski]

Ok, I'll write them an email. Should I specify which ad I clicked on wgich page and my ip?

[Bluepixel]

You don't need to write them....

[Clark]

I just did it once the other day. I've informed them in the past... I don't think just a couple are enough to trigger anything... I noticed on the stats that the clickthru showed (it was a new channel) but there was no payout. Therefore they are detecting IPs and not counting your own clicks.

[rubenski]

I hope that is true Clark. I wouldn't want to get booted for a mistake. There is still this concern I have with other people on my network, they use the same ip, etc. I know this is a recurring theme, but I haven't seen any evidence as to how Google actually deals with clicks from the owner ip. Would they be able to distinguish between me clicking my own ads and my room mate clicking my ads?

Anyway, as dmorison suggested to get rid of this problem forever I will have to put a server side solution in place.

$my_ip=****.xxx.xxx.xxx;
if($REMOTE_ADDR!=$my_ip)
echo "adsense_code_goes_here";

[HughMungus]

Therefore they are detecting IPs and not counting your own clicks.

That would be both expected (finally) and GREAT. I've clicked on my own twice. The first time, I did email them so that they knew that (a) I know I'm not supposed to click on my own ads and (b) so they could reimburse the advertiser and (c) so they know I'm not doing it on purpose. CYA.

[flyer727]

Isn't that assuming your IP is fixed? For most of us, it isn't.

[jouwpagina]

I click, if the ads are interesting me. I think I clicked about 25 times. [I've got MANY different pages, with different subjects]

But it depends on how many clicks you get. If it's over 100 a day, really don't worry about this. You're money, is Google's money. If they will remove you, they will also lose money.

[Clark]

jouwpagina they told me specifically that this is not ok.

[Zipper]

I click, if the ads are interesting me. I think I clicked about 25 times.

gosh, you shouldn't go about telling this to everyone, you never know when you migh 'actually' slip it to a google agent.

You're money, is Google's money. If they will remove you, they will also lose money.

Ya right. but I think the money we webmaster would be losing is far more tighter than what google would be losing. they do millions while we humbly take the hundreds...

[jouwpagina]

Yes, but I've got ***.*** clicks. I don't think they make trouble about xx clicks? That's 0,01%.

And, if they track it, they've seen it already. I don't click anymore, but I didn't know that it was really forbidden to click your own ads. But I (and I think also the other ones in the family with the same IP) click if I'm interested. I don't click more or less on my own ads.

25 was a bit extravagant, but sometimes I clicked:)

If Googe is reading: I feel very sorry, but I can't turn the time back. I will never click anmymore!

[jimh009]

I've informed Google twice about accidentally clicking on my own links. Both times got an email saying thanks for letting us know and don't worry. Better safe than sorry is my theory - plus you aren't bilking an advertiser for a useless click (my main motivation for letting G know about the clicks). You should probably also let them know what ad you clicked on if you remember - and more or less what time it was. Not sure if they do anything with it - but never hurts to provide the info.

[Powdork]

Try and find out how much the ad you clicked on was worth and then send Google an email saying their payment has been approved and you will mail them a check within 2-10 days.

[iProgram]

>$my_ip=****.****.xxx.xxx;
>if($REMOTE_ADDR!=$my_ip)
>echo "adsense_code_goes_here";

rubenski, you can simply add
127.0.0.1 pagead2.googlesyndication.com
to you hosts file at c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

But I don't think it's a good idea. I hope google can add IP fliter feature asap.

[Powdork]

But I don't think it's a good idea. I hope google can add IP fliter feature asap.

For those that did get the survey. Hint, Hint

[Roomy]

I clicked an ad by mistake, I was actually trying to block it. I mailed Google, after I had added it to my block url list, telling them.

They sent me a nice reply, with a reminder on how I can view the ad destination if I want to add it to my block list.

I didn't tell them I was going to block it, so they must have actively checked my account and noticed I had blocked it. I somehow feel a lot safer after this event, a real person might just have looked at my site and decided it was ok. It might be my imagination too but I think my EPC has risen a cent or so!

[jouwpagina]

I've mailed Google. I'm so honest:)

[rubenski]

Try and find out how much the ad you clicked on was worth and then send Google an email saying their payment has been approved and you will mail them a check within 2-10 days.

Mail sent :P

The piece of code I posted indeed assumes you have a fixed IP. I know some ISPs will give you a fixed IP if you ask for it. At least in the Netherlands they do.

I am not sure how I would create a solution for this with a dynamic ip. Would it be possible to request the ip related to a specific MAC address? If so, you could check your MAC address and block ads for the ip it is associated with.

[mayor]

Check with Brett. Twenty "Hail Maries" per click should do the trick :)

[rubenski]

I am reading the bible backwards and praid to God in Aramaic today. I think that should do the trick. :0)

[surfer67]

I accidentally clicked one of my ads today and I am a bit nervous about it.

May the lord be with you. You will be in our prayers.

[amznVibe]

If you ever want to click on an ad because it's interesting, this bookmarklet/favlet will remove most redirects from most links, and works great on adwords/adsense to convert links as "safe" to click:

[squarefree.com...]

(works in all major browsers)