CPA mails sent out in Germany

mail just dropped in

[pontifex]

Folks,

my german account just received the note from Google:

<snip> and so forth...

looks like they are getting finished with that!

Cool! Someone mail me some time, please :->

P!

[edited by: martinibuster at 1:50 am (utc) on July 14, 2007]
[edit reason] Removed email quote. [/edit]

[alika]

And I suppose you read the section that reminds you that all information about this test is confidential :o)

[kidder]

I got a confidential letter also... Australia. This should be interesting.

[peego]

also received this mail today. wonder if its a good thing?

[sailorjwd]

If I got a confidential email in Maryland I would not be able to talk to you about it.

[Scurramunga]

Activate the cone of silence.

[Edge]

I have been voluteered for a confidential test by an organization that I cannot tell you about in Georgia, USA.

[kidder]

This part got my attention.

<Snip>

[edited by: martinibuster at 1:50 am (utc) on July 14, 2007]
[edit reason] See TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

[jomaxx]

What I don't understand (hypothetically) is how they can simply start running CPA ads on my site. I thought the whole point was for the publisher to go in and manually select relevant offers they wish to participate in?

[wheelie34]

yup jomaxx, I read mine 3 times to see how, where is the trigger for it, seems they just gonna kick it into action.

[disspy]

Is there anyone who didn't get this email?

[Edge]

The tracking of CPM and now CPA ads bothers me. I don't mind being volunteered, however let me monitor the performance...

[Alexstar]

I did not get it!

[europeforvisitors]

What I don't understand (hypothetically) is how they can simply start running CPA ads on my site. I thought the whole point was for the publisher to go in and manually select relevant offers they wish to participate in?

Maybe that was then, and this is now.

a.k.a.:

AdSense CPA 2.0.

Google's original CPA scheme had more in common with Commission Junction than with AdSense. Ideally, CPA ads would be just like CPC and CPM ads: They'd be served automatically, based on Google's estimate of which type of ad would perform best in any given situation.

[tallguy]

sites are being selected by manual review?
Only big publishers being chosen?

[Green_Grass]

This is not good.

I checked my referral product list and find G has added products of competitors I donot want to promote, on my website.

This is NOT fair.

I added a few non threatening referral products and they automatically added products THEY THINK, I should promote..

[Green_Grass]

I did not get any mail. Saw this thread of the forum and just checked and ..got a shock.

They are doing it automatically.. Guys check your referral reports..

[oddsod]

kidder:

<snip>

I don't know about how carefully they "selected" or if almost everyone got that mail. The fact that it is opt-out rather than opt-in leads me to believe that they think they will earn more by running CPA on my account. ;)

With all the secrecy at Adsense I will never know whether it's in my financial interest - or not - to allow this experiment to continue. I don't believe Google will ever share with me what I would have earned had I taken the other choice. So, why even bother to send the email?

[edited by: martinibuster at 1:52 am (utc) on July 14, 2007]
[edit reason] Removed email quote. [/edit]

[SEOPTI]

I got that mail a few weeks ago, this is old news. I think they select the big players first to try it, then a few weeks or months later they work their way to the small fish :)

[Edge]

SEOPTI,

Let's test your theory, how big are you?

[iwannano1]

I'm using it since last 3-4 weeks and results are quite good :), Google shows CPA ads based upon users history and other stuff. End result it more sales and more money, it is better to collect $20-30, than 100 clicks with $10 . However it doesn't work with all website only with certain topics (ymmv)

[drall]

SEOPTI, we are not little fish and I will leave it at that.

Anyhow has anyone seen this start yet on their account and if so is it tracking in the regular stats or the referal stats?

[incrediBILL]

Look at this thread, for shame.

Google shouldn't trust you all with protecting the cheese while it ripens let alone confidentiality.

Maybe, just maybe, this is a test and everyone that discloses any information whatsoever will get booted for T&C violations of their confidentiality clause.

DISCLAIMER: My participation in this thread is purely for admonition purposes only and should not be construed as either a claim or denial of receipt of any confidential information via email.

[sailorjwd]

Big fish..

I'm this big:

<$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$>

[kidder]

It's as simple as this, if my numbers suffer I will opt out. Maybe they are making initial selections by vertical. Think of it like this, there are two sides to a CPA and the other side needs to determine what constitutes an "action" and Google has to approve it - So they select advertisers from verticals where they expect good conversion rates. I have good volume in automotive so maybe that is one of the test categories. As an adwords buyer in a different vertical I have had no such email telling me that there is a great new CPA product available to me and I have a high enough spend to get me a direct phone line to an account manager, I might just give them a call.

[oddsod]

incrediBILL, I don't recall sending Google an email agreeing to keep this information confidential.

Further, the TOS do not require blanket confidentiality of emails. And if you don't agree with that interpretation... "Google Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known through no breach by You or Google"

Is it true that nobody has seen you and EFV in the same room at the same time?

[Green_Grass]

I did NOT even receive an email. I am not in Germany and am a very small fish..I just checked the referral ads list and found advertisers automatically added as per G's convenience..

For a while I was very annoyed but have now decided to let it go on for a while to see what happens...

There is NO confidentiality issue involved here... This is a new feature with some accounts and I was sharing it.

[incrediBILL]

incrediBILL, I don't recall sending Google an email agreeing to keep this information confidential.

Further, the TOS do not require blanket confidentiality of emails. And if you don't agree with that interpretation... "Google Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known through no breach by You or Google"

If you never got the email, then you aren't involved, those that started this thread caused the breach in the first place.

If you did get the email, then you would be wrong as your original agreement with GOOGLE when you signed up for ADSENSE claimed that the anything in writing about AdSense from Google stating it was "confidential" was confidential.

You remember, the CONTRACT you agreed to abide by when you signed up for AdSense?

Maybe this clause rings a bell:

7. Confidentiality. You agree not to disclose Google Confidential Information without Google's prior written consent. "Google Confidential Information" includes without limitation: (a) all Google software, technology, programming, specifications, materials, guidelines and documentation relating to the Program; (b) click-through rates or other statistics relating to Site performance in the Program provided to You by Google; and (c) any other information designated in writing by Google as "Confidential" or an equivalent designation. However, You may accurately disclose the amount of Google’s gross payments to You pursuant to the Program. Google Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known through no breach by You or Google, or information that has been (i) independently developed without access to Google Confidential Information, as evidenced in writing; (ii) rightfully received by You from a third party; or (iii) required to be disclosed by law or by a governmental authority.

Read if for yourself:
[google.com...]

The phrase "(c) any other information designated in writing by Google as "Confidential"" pretty much applies here, and I'll assume an email from Google is legally "designated in writing by Google".

Keep those lawyers in fancy cars, breach away.

Is it true that nobody has seen you and EFV in the same room at the same time?

Considering we're both in quite different geographical locations, that would be true.

However, I assume you mean it's because we're both capable of reading, understanding and abiding by the terms of a contract which really isn't that difficult given at least an 8th grade education.

[oddsod]

There was a "And if you don't agree with that interpretation..." which anybody with an "8th grade education" would have had no trouble noticing. ;)

[europeforvisitors]

I'm not IncrediBILL, and I don't play him on WebTV, but he makes a valid point about confidentiality. Still, since the OP let the cat out of the bag, the other people who are discussing their "CPA mails sent out in Germany" can take refuge in the part of the confidentially clause that reads: "Confidential Information does not include information that has become publicly known through no breach by You or Google."

As for me, I'm not saying whether I did or didn't receive an e-mail from Google, but I will say that I don't live in Germany even though I do visit that country from time to time. :-)