Sharing Earnings - TOS Clarification

[kmander]

Conceptually, would be possible to share AdSense earnings to contributors of content?

For obvious reasons I am providing sparse information on my intentions. Needless to say, I need to know that my sites wouldn't be kicked out of AdSense in the future. If my content has high value to consumbers and is created for such a purpose, incidental earnings from AdSense should surely be acceptable by Google.

Feedback appreciated.

[Mr_Smithee]

If they try to increase their share by clicking on the ads or if they violate the guidelines or terms of service in any other way, you'll be the one without an Adsense account. As far as Google is concerned, you're the one who is responsible for your site (terms and conditions, paragraph 4).

[diamondgrl]

It's a really bad idea. You will inevitably have unethical contributors bringing your whole site down by engaging in a click scheme.

[kmander]

Agreed. This is a problem.

Solution: Share of earnings determined by volatility from a normalized CTR. Thus no incentive.

[Eltiti]

I have actually contacted G regarding this matter, and the answer I got was (paraphrased): It is not against the TOS; but we do not encourage it.

As others have written, there are reasons to think this through very carefully...

Personally, I still haven't decided if I want to *share* revenues, or *pay* contributors a lump sum.

Apart from the "fraud factor", you need think about the risks you want to take --the money you've paid "for nothing" if the idea doesn't take off; or the multi-year revenue stream you'll need to share when it *does*!

[Eltiti]

Oh, I need to add that I asked G about a specific technical implementation of the revenue sharing idea that I thought would minimize the risks to my AS account... :-)

[incrediBILL]

Give them incentive to write well, and drive traffic.

I would opt to pay outright for content - like previously unpublished exclusives $0.10/word up to $150 max, or reprints @ $0.03/word. Then give an option for higher pay available for higher traffic authors based on popularity of submissions.

[jomaxx]

The solution you suggest is still susceptible to being gamed. Frankly I don't see any way to reimburse contributors based on AdSense earnings that won't end in tears.

Even if you come up with the perfect solution, you are still assuming that people will act rationally and in their own best interest. This is not a good thing to assume.

[momotan]

I wrote to G about this asking if what #*$! does (share revenue between forum posters)is ok. The answer I got was no and that they would investigate. That was 4 months ago and they are still doing it so who knows.

[tntpower]

You may hold the earnings for several months before mail that to your panters. And declare in advance if for any reason, you got banned, everyone else never expects to get his cheque.

[PatrickDeese]

Risky because:

Publisher and Contributor enter revenue sharing agreement.

Contributor tells Mom, Spouse, and Neighbor about how they earn money through a website via clicks on ads.

Mom, Spouse and Neighbor all decide to "help" contributor by clicking on all the ads 3 times a day.

Publisher gets kicked out of adsense.