AdWorders With No Landing Page!

Is this becoming more prevalent?

[HuskyPup]

Last night I was looking for a specific product and 3 of 4 AdSense ads I clicked on went straight to a 404!

This was on a publisher's site however I have also noticed in Google SERPS results that some ads do not even connect to the advertiser let alone a 404.

Bearing in mind the recent changes seen by AdSensers and their problems, is a non-existent landing page becoming more common and thereby "putting off" searchers?

Has this anything to do with October 19-21?

Has anyone else seen this or was I just unlucky?

[OutdoorWebcams]

Haven't seen this, but one of my big wishes comes back to mind:

Google introduces/enforces QualityScore for the Content Network.

Maybe even the MFA Filter could turn back into a Competitive Ad Filter.

[nondescriptive]

I know what you mean! I clicked on the uppermost result in a google search for a high traffic keyword, think I was looking up blackberries or some sort of pda. There were a ton of right hand links too so it was a high traffic term. The page brought me to nothing but a 404. I tried to refresh the actual address from ad to no avail. I felt bad cause someone paid for it, I at least wanted to see the site!

[incrediBILL]

I showed Martini an ad today for a website UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

That's right, some demented fool is paying out good money to bring people to a website that doesn't exist yet.

[Khensu]

Whoa!

(In my best Keanu Reeves voice)

I have seen similar things, usually an MFA and they have FUBARed their code and don't know it. Just gives me a good snicker.

[incrediBILL]

Not FUBARed, this one really said "UNDER CONSTRUCTION" and some idiot was running ads just to get people to know they were coming or something.

Fools.

[Scurramunga]

That's right, some demented fool is paying out good money to bring people to a website that doesn't exist yet

Demented? Yes. Either that, or our clicks are a dime a dozen.

I seen it all before. On a couple of occassions I actually reported the advertiser to Google.

[Hobbs]

Have been seeing it for years ever since the Adsense preview tool was invented, additional considerations to the above:

- Cloaking for your IP range, the offers are not available to your area, webmaster too lazy to build a 'sorry' page.
- Free Adwords credit that came with a burger purchase.
- Advertiser changing hosts mid campaign and thought it will only take few hours or just is not aware his site is down.
- Advertiser ran out of stock/steam/business and an Adwords refund is not worth it.
- Advertiser thought he did pause his campaign.

[vincevincevince]

The host might've pulled the site due to a DMCA or similar. Hosts don't pull Adwords and they will continue until QS'd out or the client realises and stops them.

Your adblocker may be blocking out ads, leaving nothing to be seen. The domain might be '127.0.0.1' listed in your personal HOSTS file due to previous abusive use.