frames adsense and my new directory,

is this ethical / against adsense tos?

[cicru]

I am in the process of building a directory. (this post is on adsense please read on) I am in a bit of a dilemma on how to link to the sites listed in this directory.

My options Are

* directly

* indirectly
#1 I need to keep stats on the links clicked. (Easily not via the logs)#
#2 I would like to open the site in a window with 2 frames the top one (10%) with the directory's logo and the bottom 90% with the site listed. From the SEO point of view, I will be loosing value if I do not link directly but redirect to the script again.

I read that I can link directly via html and then do a re-direct via javasctips and hide the scripts from the bots with the robots.txt file.

anybody any ideas?

More on the header ......
My idea was to have a small header at the top of the frame including a adsense ad.

Is this possible under the current adsense terms? (probably not)

There is the problem of the site having 2 adsense ads and the ethical of making money from someone elses content.

But on the other hand, nothing is free in the world and I plan to only make money from advertising all the submissions will be free. If that click came from a PPC campaign it would have cost the target site $$$.

Would a by "clicking here I accept the terms and conditions ....." . One of the terms and conditions being this adsense in the top frame ....

I am only brain storming here looking for ideas to increase revenue ....

[richmondsteve]

cicru, consider using the onClick JS event fake image load tracking method which Google uses to track clicks in their SE results. As far as putting an AdSense ad unit in a frame other than the frame considering the main content, I believe that's prohibited via the AdSense Terms and Conditions, but some others can confirm or deny.

[birdstuff]

IMO there are several potential problems with this approach, the largest being the possibility that a page you're framing will have AdSense on it resulting in double serving (not allowed currently).

The ethical concerns will have to be dealt with by you and Google. Google apparently has no problem with people making money off other people's content because they allow the makers of the free version of the Opera browser to do it. Of course unless you're a premium publisher they might not allow you to do it.

All in all, I think you're playing with fire, but if you wear asbestos undewear the decision to go for it is entirely yours.

[Jenstar]

First, people have been warned and suspended for utilizing a top frame running AdSense while displaying a different site in the bottom frame (a site the publisher does not own).

Second, you must have the AdSense code in the frame that contains the main content of the page - this would not be true if it was in the header frame.