Google AdSense bug?

Google AdSense

[TheCookieMonster]

Hi everyone,

I noticed something strange with google adsense - it doesn't appear on some pages. Now, we have over 1,500 pages generated from the same template - so it's not a scripting error because Google adsense ads show Ok on almost all pages. So far we have less than 10 where it doesn't show.

I also tried looking at the pages through proxy server from several countries (US, Germany, Croatia ) and another person looked at them from Italy - same thing.

no google ads are being displayed even though they have the code for adsense.

Now comes the REALLY STRANGE PART:

When I copy that page into a different folder and under a different file name - ads show normally.

The exact file as the one before - only in different location and under a different file name. No changes in the file content. However, on one place it shows ads and on the other it doesn't.
I verified - google redirects to url specified in google_alternate_ad_url field.

Other than bug on google end - I can't think of any other explanation. Did anyone have any similar issues?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

[edited by: mack at 12:06 pm (utc) on Dec. 5, 2005]
[edit reason] Removed url's [/edit]

[Noel]

TheCookieMonster, you better remove the links.. They do not like that here!

[Nikke]

In never saw the links, but it is most probably not a bug, but a matter of stop words.

Do you get PSAs, or your own backup ads on the pages?

I have a few pages where my use of language has offended Googles stop word filter. That's where I'll get my FastClick alternative instead of AdSense.

Some such pages have been "reinstated" over time (think rap lyrics) but others just cannot get passed the stop word filter.

If you get AdSense ads when you place tha page in a different position, that might be default site themed ads that are showing before the Media bot comes by to spider the page properly.

[endomorph1]

TheCookieMonster,

I have a very similar problem. The front page on one of my sites every couple of months goes silly and starts showing some of the strangest adverts.

If I change the name, for example from page.asp to page1.asp, it's all ok.

I have contacted Adsense and they say that when they are looking at the page all is OK.

I just accept it and change the page name when all goes wrong.

[TheCookieMonster]

Thank you for your feedbacks.

I think Kafka must be laughing his butt off right now.

I post one page at one place and it doesn't do what it is supposed to. I post the same file on the other place and call it defferently - then it works.

Then I post the question about it and they delete my links, because links are not allowed and so noone can see what I am talking about ... :)

Still, that is a valuable info guys...

Nikke - Yes, I understand why they would not send ads to pages with bad language, but I don't think this is a case here. This particular page was about some guys in Japan who decided to "slow down" and get away from the hectic business life. No bad word or anything like it in the entire page.

However, one of the affected pages did talk about Tsunami. I can imagine that they would refrain from showing any ads on tsunami related pages (to avoid "cashing in" on it).

But that is only one of the pages affected...
So far the cure that endomorph1 and I are using is working, but this is still a problem. We can't just keep renaming the pages forever...

Hmm... I asked the adsense support.
I'll make sure I let you know what they say.

[vbignacio]

reading this thread reminds me of a page in my site where the topic is about impotence and the url i made for it is ...com/impotence.htm. the page loads slowly and when it finally did, the AS ad showed PSA.

[endomorph1]

Cookiemonster,

Are you running any other Javascript on the page?

I just removed my seasonal Java snow and things have returned to normal.

Just thought this might help.

[allthewhile]

I'm having this exact same problem, only the adsense banner that I have at the top works correctly. The other two ad units on the page are completely blank. I know it's not an error with the page because my pages are all created with the same php code dynamically. I'll try the name changing thing and see if it affects my ads showing up.

[JohnKelly]

CookieMonster, what happens when you reload the page?

[david_uk]

It's worth running this by support.

I had a problem a few days ago where my blog page had PSA'a on, but all of the constituent posts were showing ads. I emailed them and they fixed it.

So they do have problems with algorythms :)

[ken_b]

I've had similar problems with a few pages. And on some pages the regular ads will show fine, but the Adlinks unit will only show the default search box.

The only way I've found to fix this is to rebuild the page. I've scoured the code on the original pages looking for problems and never found anyhting.

So I pull up the same old template, dump the same content into it, modify the same links in the same way, load it to the server, and presto, the world is fine again.

There has to be something wrong on those original pages when this happens, but I sure can't find it. Fortunately it doesn't happen often.

[hunderdown]

I've noticed that AdSense is very sensitive to an extra space or a missing space in the code, and will not display ads in cases where one of those problems is present.

I discovered this when doing multi-file find and replaces to change the ad colors (or something similar, can't remember). I thought I set them up very carefully. I didn't want to create code that was any different from what the AdSense code creator gives us. But it wouldn't display. And I eventually figured out that this was because a space was missing.

Something of the sort may be happening here?

[endomorph1]

David_UK

It's worth running this by support.

I already have detailing specifics and giving screen prints etc.... Got a very short generic email back which was no help at all.

I just removed my seasonal Java snow and things have returned to normal.

I was wrong. I have just checked things and they have gone back to their original "incorrect" state.

What else can I do? I don't want to p**s support off by keep emailing them (I have already email 8 times) but all I get back are non-specific generic support emails. In the mean time I am looosing about $30-$50 a day from the one page.

[allthewhile]

If you're losing 30-50 dollars off of this page a day, and you're a fairly experienced web master, imagine how much google is losing per day system wide!?

The thing is I'm gettting the exact same issue but not on every page. I have a wordpress created site and some pages work other don't.

-jayson

[endomorph1]

Exactly, this is why I can't understand why they won't help.

I have one problem, with one page that has been fine for 8 months. If I change the name of the page, the problem goes away for circa 2 weeks and then comes back.

Something IS wrong but they either won't admit it or I am stuck with a junior support member who is wet behind the ears.

What do I do? Maybe AA can help? {nudge, nudge}

[endomorph1]

I see another thread has started with problems on the Adlink bar.

Mork calling ASA, come in ASA ... We need help!