What should I do if I clicked an ad?

[flicker]

I put adsense ads up recently, and today I clicked an ad on my own page by accident. I hit backspace right away, but I think it still registered. Should I email Google and let them know, or just hope they let it slide this time? The Adsense site just says not to click ads; it doesn't say who to contact if you've already done it.

Am I worrying too much? I'm new at this.

[ken_b]

You may well be worrying too much.

But if it helps, you can always email adsense and tell them what happened.

Others have done that and it seems they usually get a "thanks for letting us know, you're fine" email in response.

[RoySpencer]

You're fine...we clicked a few on the first day before we realized we weren't supposed to.

[RoySpencer]

...um...I mean a FRIND OF OURS...had a web site where he clicked a few...yeah, that was it...

[Loony]

I clicked on a few the first day, and afterwords realized how stupid I was. Emailed Google just to be safe and "fess up." They told me it should be OK - just don't do it again... If anything, it eased my mind to let them know, and to have them reply.

[annej]

It appears that Google can tell the difference between a few mistaken clicks and someone who is clicking to make money for themselves.

I have accidentally clicked before with no consequences. My only problem is that now I've trained myself so well to avoid clicking that I have to remind myself that it really is OK to click on ads on other people's sites and even my own Amazon ads. I think it's some sort of click guilt paranoia.

[zulufox]

annej I know what you mean!

Honestly when I see a google I like and move to click it, something in me screams NOOOOOOOOOOOO, I actutally have to consciensely look at the address bar to make sure it isnt my site.

Medicial disorder? Absolutely...
Class action Lawsuit? That depends on my April Adsense Revenue

[shortz]

My only problem is that now I've trained myself so well to avoid clicking that I have to remind myself that it really is OK to click on ads on other people's sites and even my own Amazon ads. I think it's some sort of click guilt paranoia.

I've actually found myself finding the URL at other sites with Adsense and doing it just like I would on my site!

Funny...

Some of them are pretty interesting, I think this is why it works as well as it does. Contextual ads are FAR better than banners for CTR! At least, this has been my experience.

Shortz

[mquarles]

It's possible that I clicked one the first day just to see where I went, and one another time by accident while looking at my page and my finger slipped. Have seen no problem.

I think Google knows your IP, so I don't think they give you any $ credit for it, and if it happened once or twice by accident I doubt they care. Don't make a habit of it.

MQ

[flicker]

Okay, I emailed them just to make sure I'm clear. It does make sense for them not to charge the advertiser if the click came from my own IP, so hopefully it's no harm done. Thanks for the advice. :-D

[HitProf]

I keep wondering why they don't simply exclude the IP's used for setting up the account, perhaps with the exclusion of AOL. There can't be that many webmasters with shared dial-in connections from large ISP's?

Some websites will be missing some clicks that way, but that's a lot less hassle then scaring the living daylights out of every AdSense-running publisher. Am I missing something?

[mvander]

I think if you login from an IP, then click on the ad from that same IP, the click is registered, but no payout given. I accidently clicked on an ad on a site being developed, so there would be NO other clicks or traffic but my own, and adsense showed 1 click registered, but no earnings that day. So they must have some "auto" blocking going on. (I did email them later on to let them know about my transgression.)

[anallawalla]

HitProf,

That wouldn't work for people sharing a gateway, e.g. in a school, since they all present the same IP address. At large ISPs, ADSL customers can get a new IP address if they log off each time and log on the next day.

My guess is that Google would use a combination of cookies, time, and IP address to narrow down the list of offenders. e.g. Did the same apparent user also check his AdSense account within x hours from that address?

[Jesse_Smith]

it really is OK to click on my own Amazon ads.

Not if you plan on ordering items!

[Powdork]

I think if you login from an IP, then click on the ad from that same IP, the click is registered, but no payout given.

They should use this so that we can login, then go click on the ads we want to block. That we we can block the mistargeted ones as soon as we see them. It could be like 'Whack-A-Mole" with our mouse.