Scraper sites apparently are OK with Google

[bossgobbler]

I've been curious about this since I joined Google. I ran across some very sketchy scraper/directory sites the other day (obviously made for Google Ads) and decided I should report them. I hadn't ever done this before but I thought it was my responsibility to help Google weed out the trash sites. Apparently, the type of site I thought was illegal is fine with Google.

One site had no original content but was one of those auto-generated scraper sites with links and descriptions and of course Google Ads. The other site had a list of keywords on the right side and the Google ads were set up to look like search results down the left side. If you clicked on a keyword, it brought up another page of Google Ads and more different keywords. I've always read that these type of sites weren't allowed in Google but I guess I was wrong.

So basically, any page with just a few words on it is OK with Google? In fact, they were basically bragging on the effectiveness of these sites when they replied to me. I now know their rules are open to a lot of interpretation by them since to me these sites broke at least 2 of their rules.

I guess if it makes them money, it is OK. It might be helpful if Google would provide sample sites of what's acceptable and what isn't. That would clear up a lot of questions I think.

Anyway, I won't waste any time reporting any sites that are breaking rules from now on. I'd probably be wrong anyway.

[jomaxx]

Actually tons of scraper sites use AdSense and it's not at all clear that Google considers them to be violations of the TOS. There is one banning of a scraper site that comes to mind, but that could have been for other reasons.

As for the other stuff, all you can do is report things that are violating AdSense rules and not get too bent out of shape if things don't happen fast enough for you.

[annej]

Did Google say these sites were fine or is it just that they haven't acted on them yet?

[bossgobbler]

They said the websites were in compliance.

I posted this because I know a lot of other people are probably confused about what's legal and what isn't. Now I'm just a little bit more confused actually. I thought I understood the rules fairly well but I guess I don't.

[adamsaka]

I have also seen "domain parked" sites full of google adds.

I also found a page on google where they are actually offering advertisment programmes for parked domains, if you get a certain number of hits. Although apparently you arn't allowed to do this with adsense.

I think these kind of sites are bad for the web, and that google should not support them. Thats just my 2 cents.

[JohnDoealias]

bossgobbler,

They might be one of Domain Park sites. [google.com...]
And there are many specially-approved-by-Google sites, too.
I also have seen amazing Google TOS violated sites running OK with AdSense.
Could you please sticky mail me those URLs please? I would like to check.

[bossgobbler]

Yes, they did mention they were part of the Domain Parked sites. I don't know what that means but apparently they are specially approved by Google?

[dollarshort]

Scraper sites are benificial to google in the term but will probebly be weeded out in the long term.

[JohnDoealias]

Domain Park is service by Google for those who has very big traffic- 750,000 page views per month. But usually people with thousands domain name use it as landing pages for their domain names without content. It look like perfect violation of Google AdSense TOS though. :-)

And there is a service called Google AdSense Premium Service for the sites receives more than 5 million search queries or 20 million content page views a month. Check it out: [services.google.com...]

But I am not sure about the scraper/directory sites you mentioned. So please sticky email me those URLs please.

[Rodney]

Yes, they did mention they were part of the Domain Parked sites.

You didn't mention that in your original post.

That's different than a "scraper" site.

DomainPark sites are usually on domains that are very strong keyword domains that probably has very low search engine rankings but a high volume of "type-in" visitors looking for products or services related to that keyword (like people looking for widgets typing in widgets.com)

I don't think that's considered a scraper site, since all the content comes from Google and it is a Google sponsored program. There are many sites that provide revenue for domains that get type-in traffic. They can send some pretty targeted visitors to advertisers.

[jenkers]

Parked domains are a difficult issue, but I know as an advertiser on adwords that they are extremely valuable and can deliver very good quality traffic (this has been my experience).