Why can't we click our own ads?

[tony873004]

If I do it from the same computer that I log on to my adsense account, they're going to know its me. It should only be fradulent if I try to hide that it is from me.

On my first day, I clicked my own ads 5 times before I realized I wasn't supposed to do that. I wasn't trying to run up my earnings, I just wanted to see what the visitors saw. They showed up as clicks but as $0.00 earnings. Google had it figured out and they didn't ban me or warn me.

Since the ads are targeted to my website, and I am a fan of the content of my website, the ads often are of interest to me. So Google is doing the advertisers a disservice by disallowing someone who genuinely wants to click the ad.

Also, sometimes, I want to click the ad just to see what Google is feeding my visitors. I know I can type the url directly but that's more work, enough to make me not do it.

I think it would be nice if Google said you can click your own ads from an IP that has logged-in to your adsense account in the last 1 hour, and when looking at your stats, they would exclude your page impressions and clicks. I build up a lot of page impressions by visiting my own site.

[chaaban]

That why they made something called "Google AdSense preview tool"

you can install it and you can click as much as you want on your ads .

[google.com...]

[google.com...]

[unreviewed]

>>Why can't we click our own ads?

Think of the class action law suit that Google would face … after we all get carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Roadkill]

I don't normally post to these type threads, but.....

OMG!

stop doing anything else untill you do some research. Read the TOS, browse this forum and pray. I am now going to crack myself in the head with a hammer.

[martinibuster]

Google has given you a better way to check your ads via the adsense preview tool, as others have mentioned.

You will not see all the ads by simply looking at your website, so that is not a valid reason. If you truly desire to see what ads are showing,you will see MORE ads if you download and use the AdSense preview tool.

Good luck.

[jomaxx]

You CAN click whatever ads you want. It's your right. Why should you have to type in the URL when that's more work for you? Besides, the less time you spend in the AdSense program the better.

[jema]

If you have a site that interests you, then you face this issue, many of us do. Just live with it.

[edited by: martinibuster at 7:40 am (utc) on Mar. 4, 2006]
[edit reason] TOS [webmasterworld.com] 4 & 19. [/edit]

[PinkFairy]

Is it just me, or is there a bit of over-reaction going on here? The guy knows he's cocked-up, violated tos by clicking the ads and won't do it again... he's simply suggesting that, as Google has logged his i.p., why can't he be given free run to click the ads?

Personally, the preview tool is good enough for me.

[jomaxx]

Actually I think I personally over-reacted in my response. It was a long post and some paragraphs of it read like he might expect to be paid for the clicks; I was reacting to that and to the "I know I can type the url directly but that's more work" part.

Anyway sorry Tony, no offense intended. However I doubt Google will ever build anything like this, so you should just train yourself to use the alternatives.

[david_uk]

Since the ads are targeted to my website, and I am a fan of the content of my website, the ads often are of interest to me. So Google is doing the advertisers a disservice by disallowing someone who genuinely wants to click the ad.

It's simple.

I'm an advertiser. I advertise to sell my product. Your site visitors will possibly click on the ads because they might want to buy it, or are interested in finding out more. Either way, there might be a sale in it for me. My ad has achieved what I wanted it to, and I consider the advertising spend to be worthwhile.

You, as webmaster are looking at the ads to see what ads appear on your site. I will pay you for that click. You have profited from that click, I cannot possibly profit from it. Therefore Google is right to enfore the rules in order to protect advertisers.

I do think they should provide better tools for publishers though.

I know you are new here, so it might be an idea to look at posts discussing click fraud. It's a topic that can cause temperatures around here to rise somewhat!