We want you as an AdSense Case Study!

Email asking for permission to use my site as a Case Study

[tstaheli]

I received an email asking if my site could be included in a book. Is this against the TOS? Here are some excerpts:

<snip>

Any feedback would be helpful.

[edited by: engine at 1:09 pm (utc) on Dec. 7, 2005]
[edit reason] No e-mails, TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

[nutsandbolts]

Possibly genuine - but being the suspicious type, I reckon things like this are just an excuse to find out how much you are earning so they can rip off your site.

[Perfection]

I'm not sure about the TOS, but unless it was Google themselves asking, I'd say no.

A book with a title that starts with "What Google Never Told You..." is the last place I'd want my site to be associated with.

[Hobbs]

You are only allowed to reveal total earnings and non ad specific general site statistics. Sounds that they would need more than that, so first get their questions and forward them to Google for an approval to be on the safe side.

Sounds like a good marketing opportunity for your site, but be careful, all scams sound like good opportunities! Before you send any info, contact the publisher and verify this project.

Also unless know your site is exceptional enough for it to attract this kind of attention, be careful, it could be competition doing intelligence work on your business or worse, luring you into a TOS violation.

[jetteroheller]

What Google Never Told You About Making Money With Adsense

The title is a nonsens.

Google is happy about the money, we make, because they have a share from it.

[lcampers]

don't do it

[hyperkik]

The distribution would be along with an eBook on how to make more money with AdSense? (As an incentive to buy that eBook - "order now, and also get....") So the only additional traffic it would be likely to bring to your site would be people who want to see what you are doing, and copy it for their own sites? If so, that doesn't sound very enticing.

[tstaheli]

This is his follow-up email:

<snip>
Are screenshots against the TOS?

[edited by: engine at 1:10 pm (utc) on Dec. 7, 2005]
[edit reason] No e-mails TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

[bts111]

I would keep what you are doing to yourself ;)

[Aircut]

got a similar web contact, they promised me a free e-goods, i never replayed but kept the email for couple of months as i smelled problems....

[incrediBILL]

If your ego really needs stroking beyond the monthly checks you get by all means, enjoy being a case study ;)

This is a wonderful idea, show everyone else just how you make more money so they can copy what you do and put you out of business. People will visit your site, run up the page views, click the ads out of curiosity or malice, you never know but it's playing russian roulette with the good old "Invalid Clicks" letter IMO.

[joeking]

I don't see what you have to gain from saying yes so if you have the slightest doubt say no.

[Leosghost]

Isn't the promise of possible fame a powerfull thing :)..even in an ebook ..;)

[edited by: Leosghost at 11:53 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2005]

[anchordesk]

Who's the publisher of the book? Will the book be available everywhere once published?

[Marcia]

I wouldn't go anywhere near it. There are too many "get rich quick & easy" schemes being promoted out there, and what advantage is there with being associated with them? Being included is tantamount to being an endorsement - kind of like being used as an example, as though "your" success is somehow due to their big "secrets" that they're selling.

BIG thumbs down.

[incrediBILL]

kind of like being used as an example, as though "your" success is somehow due to their big "secrets" that they're selling.

The proper way to spin that with a book would be:

"Learn the Secrets of Successful AdSense Webmasters"

[alika]

Try asking them to pay for using a screen shot of your Web site and definitely, they will not pay. These people want to make money but they want to get everything for free.

[tstaheli]

From G! They were quick to respond.

<snip>

Thanks for all your input.

[edited by: engine at 1:11 pm (utc) on Dec. 7, 2005]
[edit reason] No e-mails TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

[alwaysthinking]

Ask the e-book publisher for a % of the e-Book sales...

Because the traffic you receive will be WORTHLESS to the Adwords advertisers that have ads appearing on your site.

All the visitors coming from the e-Book link will only be intrested in figuring out how to make money with AdSense, NOT purchasing any of the products or services that are displayed in the AdSense ads on your site. Worse yet, the more nosey one's will click through without any intention of purchasing anything, and dramatically lower the advertisers conversion rate from visitors from your site...

Then SMART PRICING will kick in and devalue your earnings per click, knocking your total AdSense earnings into the dirt! That is, if all the Advertsers don't decide to completely stop advertsing on your domain, leaving you with ZERO DOLLARS Revenue.

[wheelie34]

@ the OP

Go to his forum and see what type of people hang out there, I guess his formu is built up around the people who bought his first e-book, they all talk about mass produced sites (scrapers) keep well away from them, they will be the traffic you attract.

Just SAY NO

[edited by: jatar_k at 4:30 pm (utc) on Dec. 7, 2005]
[edit reason] no urls thanks [/edit]

[ownerrim]

I would respond with something like this:

"Thank you for your interest, but, after consultation with my attorney, I feel I must decline your proposal".

[trillianjedi]

Absolutely no way. Don't do it.

TJ

[anchordesk]

What happens if instead of a book, it's a same topic web site that links to your site ... and OK, it is spammy ... will you be penalized by Google? No. Same should apply if it's a book and you're wearing a white hat. If you live under a black hat, then yes, be afraid.