Fleas from everywhere invading my websites!

Picked off 15 since yesterday morning.

[ann]

All of a sudden I started getting an influx of baaaad ads, crummmmy ads, misleading ads, BUT all targeted to the correct keywords.

Tell me please why Google will allow free ringtones to target my keywords and write an ad lead in that fits my widget site perfectly? Until they click on it....And it is not just ringtones :(

Yesterday morning before daylight I took down four really bad ones and my income, ctr, and epcm took an immediate rise. Today I noticed around 3 pm they were trending down again. Just took the time to check them out and killed 11 more. WHERE THE HECK ARE THEY COMING FROM? Did someone let the crummy crawlies out of their cages?

Come on Google, tighten up on the advertisers for the content network.

Ann

[Khensu]

Bugs That Eat My Flesh (and yours too ann)

We need to howl louder so they can hear us over at the GooGplex!

[edited by: Khensu at 2:20 am (utc) on Sep. 28, 2006]

[ann]

I've hollered a lot but with no results.

I do find it appalling that Google can tighten up the ship for advertising in the serps but not the content net. Seems a bit sneaky to leave the content net hanging thus allowing fraud and bad ads to dominate us rather than the serps so that eventually ALL the advertisers will turn to the serps and we will be of no more use to them.

Just notice the discrimination between the two and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

[Khensu]

Why do you think I have been expecting the filter enhancements.

Push them all over to the content network and then let the publishers crush them. It's a no-brainer and the GooGsters come out the heros!

They have an official name now,

Pirannasites

[edited by: Khensu at 2:35 am (utc) on Sep. 28, 2006]

[ann]

Yes, Giving us better ad filters would be a step in the right direction but they will need to be working to clean up the ad inventory for that to be an absolute fix. (if we ever get them)

Guess I do get upset and go overboard now and then...:) Sorry Google, but please help your loyal publishers.

PLEASE!

Ann

[Play_Bach]

> ALL the advertisers will turn to the serps and we will be of no more use to them.

I hear your frustration Ann but I really don't think this is going to happen - simply too big of a market for Google to let the content side of things disappear. The ringtones (and other vile ads) were all over one of my domains awhile back. I tried doing the whack-a-mole blocking for a bit with the competitive filter but eventually just gave up - WAY too much work/time involved with too few tools to know what really was going on. So removed all the blocks and have been just letting Google run AdSense. Thankfully, earnings are up - stress down.

[edited by: Play_Bach at 3:10 am (utc) on Sep. 28, 2006]

[mrSEman]

We need to howl louder so they can hear us over at the GooGplex!

First, good luck trying to get an 8yr old to listen and second, it's their birthday so they're all too wasted to listen. Try again tomorrow. :)

[Car_Guy]

Blocked Keywords Filter

AdSense for Content

AdSense for Search

AdSense for Content filters

Enter keywords to filter from ads on your content pages.

.info
about
allthe
best
blog
cash
cheap
directory
discount
easy
find
free
gift
great
hot
less
link
money
quick
quote
result
ring
search
sites
top

Save changes

[Khensu]

An 8yr old, that's good!

They certainly behave like one!

Commear you Googlebrat, I'm gonna put you over my knee and sp^nk you!

I told you to stop playin' with those MFA boys but you don't wanna listen. Now look at all of their bugs crawlin' over poor auntie ann.

So now how do you feel?

I want you to come home this week after school and work on that new filter code, no more foolin' around.

[Atomic]

Don't forget to add .biz, ebay, easy, profit, credit, survey, clickbank, wisegeek, shopping, yahoo to your filter!

[Car_Guy]

Blocked Keywords Filter

AdSense for Content

AdSense for Search

AdSense for Content filters

Enter keywords to filter from ads on your content pages.

.biz
.info
about
allthe
best
blog
cash
cheap
click
credit
directory
discount
easy
ebay
find
free
gift
great
hot
less
link
money
profit
quick
quote
result
ring
search
shopping
sites
survey
top
wisegeek
yahoo

Save changes

[ann]

Play_bach,

Did that numerous times only to lose revenue.

If this is a partnership then the other party should be holding up their end instead having a big birthday bash.

Ann

[Play_Bach]

> Did that numerous times only to lose revenue.

That's what's so odd - I do better not blocking, others claim just the opposite. It seems like every time I've tried to 'help' Google run AdSense on my sites, it winds up hurting the bottom line - so I don't anymore. Again, if I felt I had the tools from Google to be able to rationally determine/influence how AdSense really operated then I might be more inclined to do more - but I don't.

[Scurramunga]

get
brands
shop
guru
here

[Scurramunga]

What if we had the ability to block keyword phrases, that way we don't have to worry about words that are too ambiguous.

we have found
we've found
we've compiled
it's all here
find the best
search for
on the net
the top
the best
8 sites
4 sites

[ann]

The what ifs are nice but stark reality is that a lot of publishers are feeling the heat because we can't get the basic tools needed to combat the "theft" that unscruplous advertisers are performing on our websites. I for one feel that with all the PHDs running around the 'plex at least one could come up with a fantastic filter.

Ann

[mzanzig]

we have found
we've found
we've compiled
it's all here
find the best
search for
on the net
the top
the best
8 sites
4 sites

Scurra, how long will it then take to have garbled ad copy, like...

wi hav fund
wi've found
w've compiled
it's all hear
fint the best
seerch for
on the nat
te top
te besd
7 sitez
5 sites

[Scurramunga]

Scurra, how long will it then take to have garbled ad copy, like...

To the best of my knowledge, adwords advertisers can't mispell words.
Although I have seen 9 sites lately.

[edited by: Scurramunga at 8:56 am (utc) on Sep. 28, 2006]

[plasma]

Maybe it's only the end of the month and some budgets are running low?

[mrSEman]

I for one feel that with all the PHDs running around the 'plex at least one could come up with a fantastic filter.

pssssssst.... they do!
and they also have a car that runs on water...
...but you didn't hear it from me!

The reason MFA are alowed to breathe is the same reason we only have 200 channels is the same reason we only have 200 filters is the same reason we don't have all the tools we want.... They want it that way.

[UserFriendly]

Well, the alternative to these somewhat malfunctioning contextual ads that an algorithm chooses for you, is to choose advertisers yourself.

I'm currently trying out a small list of relevant advertisers (through CJ.com). My site traffic is way too small to have seen any conversions yet, but I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the CTR so far. I was expecting much less. Now, if only my site had enough traffic that some of the clicks converted.

[edited by: UserFriendly at 1:41 pm (utc) on Sep. 28, 2006]

[joeking]

I too seem to get better results without filling my filters - not sure why, but maybe a lot of the abusers target American websites

[Atomic]

I lose revenue by blocking. The choice is to block these ads or look like a flea market for utter crap. In my opinion it's better to block the ads and take the revenue hit than to let the ads damage your website's image.

[netmeg]

I do find it appalling that Google can tighten up the ship for advertising in the serps but not the content net.

I absolutely believe that they WILL at some point clean up the content network, but they just haven't gotten to it yet. I also still think they're understaffed on both the AdWords and the AdSense sides.

My content filter is almost full; I'm going to empty it out completely (except for direct competitors) as soon as the new rates for the API go into effect (supposedly Oct 1) I'm just curious to see what the effect will be.

[mrSEman]

new rates for the API go into effect

huh? Whats that?

[greatstart]

Everytime I login and look at my daily stats, I keep scratching my head. I must have fleas!

[netmeg]

Google API - Charging for usage starting 10/1 [webmasterworld.com]

[david_uk]

I think that thread mentioned the cost of 25c per 1000 units (ads shown?). That doesn't strike me as likely to kill off fleas who already exist on low profit margins, but it will do the same as QS. IE drive away even more genuine advertisers. The fleas will simply shrug their shoulders and find new tricks.

Here's a couple of suggestions Google:-

1. If sites showing adsense don't comply with the existing TOS then don't show ads on those sites. Most of the sites we moan about are clearly MFA's, and the existing tos prohibits webmasters from displaying ads on pages of no content that are specifically made for showing ads.

2. Give us the tools we ask for - blocking by advertiser, unlimited filter etc.

QS wasn't the answer to the problem of tacky ads, charging a paltry fee for using the api isn't either. They only act as a deterrent for quality advertisers.

[Arctrust]

David is correct and I would like to add one more to the list...

How about someone at the "Plex" actually looking at everyones' filter list?

I would assume that if G really wants to enforce the TOS... and I personally have no objection at complying....look at who is on the filter lists...

Now there is a good place to start.

Quality advertising on quality sites.

No different than quality search results - that is what made G the winner it is.... now apply the same quality benchmark to advertisers.

ARC

[ann]

Picked off 10 more! One from bigdotcom is the third reincarnation for that bad actor...the one with one big grapic and 3 small ones next to ads and google adsense all over....also about 3 directory ads. sheesh.
Ann