Is This Allowed?

Auto-refreshing AdSense

[ccDan]

I just came across a site (actually a network of sites) that uses frames. The top frame is the main content of the web site. The bottom frame is just for Google AdSense ads. That frame refreshes every 15 seconds. So, if you stay on the page reading something, the ads will change periodically.

Interesting idea. While I think frames may be a bad SEO move, I wonder how well the auto-refreshing of ads works. I also wonder whether it's something allowed by Google.

[Jean]

I can see that it would hugely inflate Page Impressions but very much doubt that it would have any advantage in terms of earnings. It's highly improbable that anyone would just sit there waiting for the ads to refresh in order to see if they want to click on them.

BTW, the autorefresh could also be due to a coding error.

[nippi]

it would draw unatural attention to the adds.... sounds dodgy to me

[marcel]

Any method that artificially generates clicks or impressions on your Google ads is strictly prohibited.

[google.com...]

I wouldn't take the chance...

[Fuzzyfish1000]

definitely a violation of TOS. Also, it will lower the click-through-rate...

[MThiessen]

There is a certain weather site that does this on it's radar page. It refreshes every 60 sec.

Been using that site for a while now and they show no signs of stopping the practice...

[eflouret]

Well, I believe that should be strictly prohibited. It generates artificial impressions of CPM ads.

[ahmadjordan]

i think this is not allowed

[chrisco]

Some possible advantages:

- changing ads might draw more attention.

- all those extra impressions might make the CTR look less suspicious if they are also artificially generating clicks somehow.

[MThiessen]

But for CPM ads it's a total rip-off to G.