Can we click on MFAs?

In Google results

[Powdork]

I don't typically find MFAs in the sponsored results for my sector. I'm guessing the prices there are just too high. I did find one tonight, recognizing the URL from my competitive ad filter. I clicked on it once, but I want to click on it at least a hundred more times. Would G have a problem with this? I am (would be) doing it from the same computer that I log on to Adsense with.
Anyone else want to?

[jomaxx]

You been partying a little too hearty, Powdork? I know the questions aren't serious, but I can't figure out why a member with 3000+ posts would write this at all.

[MikeNoLastName]

I'd thought of that in the past, but as observant and caring (not-not!) G seems to be lately, it would probably only help support and encourage the MFA site.
Arrrrgh! There's just TOO MANY of them to report these days!

[Lagamorph]

I don't typically find MFAs in the sponsored results for my sector. I'm guessing the prices there are just too high. I did find one tonight, recognizing the URL from my competitive ad filter. I clicked on it once, but I want to click on it at least a hundred more times. Would G have a problem with this? I am (would be) doing it from the same computer that I log on to Adsense with.
Anyone else want to?

Internet cafe or your neighbors unprotected wireless. Not from home ;)

It would be wrong, a violation of the rules and funny. Tough call.

[Powdork]

The problem is, reporting them to google doesn't stop them. Blocking them in our filters doesn't seem to give Google a clue.
I would NEVER click on a competitor's site to drive up costs, because that's just wrong. But it's exactly what these MFA makers deserve. The only problem is that with Google's twisted pricing policy, bringing up their ctr would probably drive down their cpc to an affordable rate.

added-

neighbors unprotected wireless

I guess I could bounce around there for a while. I have like 4 to choose from.

[edited by: Powdork at 8:25 am (utc) on Dec. 29, 2006]

[david_uk]

Why on earth would you want to do this? Clicking on Google ads on your site is a violation - period.

If you want to see the destination of the ad so that you can block it, use the usual methods!

[Powdork]

You been partying a little too hearty, Powdork? I know the questions aren't serious, but I can't figure out why a member with 3000+ posts would write this at all.

Actually, i quit all that over a month ago, even coffee (powdork pulls hair out, then falls asleep). I've posted what seemed like very well written posts that I thought were on serious topics and got no response for days. I wrote this light hearted post about what is a serious problem, refreshed it 30 minutes later to find 4 replies.

How else can we convince Google there is a problem?

added- david_uk - I was talking about ads on google.com

[edited by: Powdork at 8:41 am (utc) on Dec. 29, 2006]

[jomaxx]

Dude, using your neighbor's wireless would not even begin to protect you if Google actually investigated those clicks. Move on to more important things.

[Powdork]

Dude, using your neighbor's wireless would not even begin to protect you if Google actually investigated those clicks. Move on to more important things.

So your opinion is that if I click on Google ads on Google's site, it could adversely affect my adsense account. Is that in the Adsense TOS? How many times would I have to do it? What if I did it once less than that?

[MikeNoLastName]

Hmm, I thought G LIKED it when you clicked on ads on THEIR site? All the profits, all the revenue. Anyone even think G TRACK'a that stuff on their own site? It's not like it benefits US as a PUBLISHER to click on their site.
I guess it might be along the same lines that G doesn't like you encouraging potential future advertisers to click on their comission FREE link to learn about how to "Target your ads, use G adwords". It's not like YOU get any PPC money from G just for telling them how it benefits them (and ULTIMATELY, down-the-line, you) to go check it out. Yet they specifically told me it was not permitted, so... I quit referring potential advertisers there using that referral option. Their loss.

"So your opinion is that if I click on Google ads on Google's site, it could adversely affect my adsense account."
Should I shoot my cat NOW for attacking my (computer) mouse?

[edited by: MikeNoLastName at 9:35 am (utc) on Dec. 29, 2006]

[Lagamorph]

Dude, using your neighbor's wireless would not even begin to protect you if Google actually investigated those clicks. Move on to more important things.

Dude, that's beyond paranoid ;)

[jomaxx]

Powdork, I wrote my posts before you had clarified you were talking about Google.com. I assumed this was related to the recent glitch in the AdSense ad filter. Why you would bother to care about what ads are running on Google's site, I know not.

It's possible Google would care if you launched a click attack on one of their advertisers, but I don't have a specific position on what might happen.

[sailorjwd]

Powdork,

Spend more time working on your new year's resolutions list. That would be time better spent for all of us.

[proboscis]

Dude, that's beyond paranoid ;)

Dude, no it isn't. Google has satellites out in space that can not only see every square inch of the Earth but - they can see through your walls. Believe it!

[jomaxx]

I'm not going to go into specifics because it wouldn't benefit anyone but the cheaters, but IP address is only one of many identification markers that Google can look at.

[Lagamorph]

Too late, we already know about the space satellites :)

[BigDave]

Gosh, why would Google be upset with one of their partners who generate fraudulent clicks?

And yes, they are fraudulent because you are clicking in an attempt to cost them money, and for no other reason.

From dictionary.law.com:

fraud
n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some dishonest means to deprive another of his/her/its money, property or a legal right. A party who has lost something due to fraud is entitled to file a lawsuit for damages against the party acting fraudulently, and the damages may include punitive damages as a punishment or public example due to the malicious nature of the fraud.

Then go read section 5 of the Terms & Conditions. Do you maybe see something in there that you might be violating? When they mention fraudulent clicks, is it limited to your own site? Might you be doing something that they would consider damaging to their reputation?

[Lagamorph]

Huh, maybe I was wrong when I said "It would be wrong, a violation of the rules".

[farmboy]

On a related note, if the topic of the MFA ad is similar to the topic of your site, making a visit to the MFA site can be beneficial. Some of these MFA's have done the research on keyword phrases associated with the topic and ...well.... the information is there for your review.

FarmBoy

[andrewshim]

Dude, no it isn't. Google has satellites out in space that can not only see every square inch of the Earth but - they can see through your walls. Believe it!

oh sh#t. Does that mean we have to shower fully clothed!?

[Powdork]

Some of these MFA's have done the research on keyword phrases associated with the topic and ...well.... the information is there for your review.

This one hasn't, or rather, these haven't. They buy the keyword and then on the landing page there is ZERO content. There are three ads, not sure where they come from because I can't decipher the 800 character URL. After those three ads there are the YSM ads in the order in which they appear if you use the same search on Yahoo. The only internal links lead to more of the same. There is no content and no way off the site except paid ads.

For the record, clicking the ads multiple times is something I want to do, not something I have done. I visited it once via Adwords and after that via my history.

BigDave, thanks for pointing that out in the TOS. But I should point out that by letting these crap MFA sites advertise, google has already damaged their reputation without any help from me. In fact, Google's inability to have a working ad filter has damaged my site's reputation by placing these ads on my site long after they were blocked.

[John Carpenter]

I can't figure out why a member with 3000+ posts would write this at all.

Quality is more important than quantity.

[Powdork]

Thanks John, that's touching, and truly a quality post.

If you read the entire thread (it's short), you would realize when jomaxx said

I can't figure out why a member with 3000+ posts would write this at all.

she was under the impression I wanted to click on ads on my site, rather than on a Google serps page.

If you look hard enough, there is info to be gained here.
1. To the best of my knowledge, we haven't ever discussed the consequences to an adsense partner that would arise from repeatedly clicking ads in Google serps. Would/could/should we get in trouble? is the fact we are clicking on an ad (from an adsense login computer) a factor in the price of the click?
2. MFA's are much less likely to show up in google's serps than they are to show up in the content network. What does that say about Google's view of us?

[jomaxx]

He (not she).

Anyway I don't think the situation has ever come up, so there's no way to know what's likely to happen as a result. I have heard a number of claims of AdWords users launching click attacks against competing advertisers. I wonder if that behaviour has ever been identified and punished?

[DamonHD]

I damn well hope it has.

Rgds

Damon

[Powdork]

He (not she).

Anyway I don't think the situation has ever come up, so there's no way to know what's likely to happen as a result. I have heard a number of claims of AdWords users launching click attacks against competing advertisers. I wonder if that behaviour has ever been identified and punished?

Oops, sorry about that. For some reason, when i see jomaxx, my brain sees joann, or something to that effect.

I would have to say Google has identified it. Google has found fraudulent clicks. I don't know why it would be any harder to identify fraudulent clicks initiated by an adwords advertiser's competitor than those initiated by an adsense publisher (assuming neither was done by a computer associated with a particular Google account).

[John Carpenter]

Thanks John, that's touching, and truly a quality post.

No problem. You still didn't get it...

[Powdork]

Enlighten me.

[Powdork]

I should point out that the whole premise of this thread is a bit off (my bad). I called it an MFA site, when there is no adsense on it. It is also not a scraper site, as there is no content, stolen or otherwise.
The proper term should actually be Made for Content Network Arbitrage Site (which is why it's wierd that is on Google). I wish the adsense program would disallow their advertising within the network, but enforcement should be up to Adwords, who is supposed to assess the quality of the landing page.
How hard can it be to find out there is no content. How hard can it be to determine the only thing on the page is 10 links. Every link starts with the offending domain name followed by ppcredir and then 800 characters.

[edited by: Powdork at 9:47 pm (utc) on Dec. 30, 2006]

[paul2yall]

oh sh#t. Does that mean we have to shower fully clothed!?

I guess you haven't received an invitation to GoogleShower (beta) yet.