Google Backfill

Scam or Blessing?

[peewhy]

I've just received a proposition from a firm offering a service called 'Google Backfill'.

For all intents and purposes it replaces the PSA's with their own sponsored links.

Here's a quote from their email.

Does this violate Google's Policies?
Absolutely not! By using the alternate ad url in your adsense admin panel, Allfeeds
backfill ads will only be displayed when Google decides to display a Public Service Ad.
Google gives you this ability and we have found a way for you to profit from it!

Here's a section from Googles TOS

If you have elected to receive contextually-targeted Google ads, this would include all other contextually-targeted ads or links on the same page as Google ads. This would also include ads throughout the site that mimic Google ads or otherwise appear to be associated with Google on your site. Although you may sell ads directly on your site, it is your responsibility to ensure these ads do not mimic Google ads.

How to get kicked out of Adsense ... join!

[xxxxxpp]

Sounds good at first sight. But it's in violation with the TOS, right?

[peewhy]

Certainly is!

But if you took the email as being factual, you can fall foul of Google.

I'm pretty sure it is breaking the law by misrepresenting.

[howiejs]

Why is this not valid?

I thought you can use whatever alternate URL you want (as google ads are not being displayed on that page at that time)?

[ronin]

It may or may not be against the new conditions.

Google has replaced its references to "individual pages" with references to "site". There is some confusion here which needs to be cleared up.

It certainly wasn't against the old conditions to have alternative text adverts replace PSAs as long as there were no other AdSense adpanels showing on the page.

Now it's no longer clear whether any competing text ads are allowed anywhere on a given site as PSA-alternatives or anything else.

[ncreegan]

If you have elected to receive contextually-targeted Google ads, this would include all other contextually-targeted ads or links on the same page as Google ads.

If you're serving an alternative ad on a page with one spot on it, Google ads aren't appearing WITH the alternative ad, it's one or the other. As far as I know, there is no problem with that.

But, programs that need to recruit via unsolicited e-mail usually aren't worth taking a chance on.

[peewhy]

It likes like a 'grey'area.

I would say that if falls under this

This would also include ads throughout the site that mimic Google ads or otherwise appear to be associated with Google on your site

I'd bet that's what Google would throw at you.