Webmasterworld being watched by Google

[nomis5]

I've watched and participated in this forum for several years and often wondered how much notice does Google take of the posts here. My impression is that ASA reads every single post and only posts a response in very specific circumstances.

What do you think?

Even if they don't respond, do you think that some posts are noted and acted on by Google Adsense?

Do they take the time to link Webmasterworld posters back to Adsense accounts? Am i being totally reckless by asking such a question :)? After all, I have a family who depend on me finacially.

P.S. I can still live on affiliate earnings, or, at least, I know a man who can!

Go on, be reckless in your responses. It will be very interesting to see who responds.

[Scurramunga]

They do watch posts here and on other forums too. However I doubt if they would normally take them seriously. I guess they would only sit up and take notice if say an article was written about Adsense on a prominent news site and it carried refrence to the originating source of discussions held within forums such as Webmasterworld.

[jimbeetle]

Do they take the time to link Webmasterworld posters back to Adsense accounts?

In a very general sense you should always approach discussing business in an open forum with a healthy dose of paranoia. You never really do know who's listening, whether a person or company you have a business relationship with, or a competitor.

As an example, that "no specifics" WebmasterWorld rule that some folks don't quite understand, besides protecting the integrity of the conversation, in many ways also protects those who don't have a clue as to how much identifiable information they've just given out -- often when discussing hinky situations.

[BillyS]

I've got nothing to hide and no reason to "pull punches" with my posts.

There are a lot of webmasters here that are pretty sloppy and post eCPMs or other information that could get them kicked out of Adsense. We don't see or hear that happening all the time.

I think Google views this forum as a quid pro quo enviroment. They last thing they would want to do is hammer every poster that says someting negative. That's like killing the messenger.

[BigDave]

Of course they watch WW, and it's a lot more than ASA. So what? Most of us don't have too much to worry about as long as we think about what we write before hitting the "Submit" button. They are in business, and sometimes business partners are unhappy with you. You learn to get over it.

On the other hand, if someone seems to be on a vendetta against Google, while making money off AdSense at the same time, or posting about how they are trying to cheat the system, then it's in Google's (and honest publishers and advertisers) best interest to trace them down if they can.

[jomaxx]

Heh, if I were Google that's exactly what I'd do, but I don't think there's any evidence that has really ever happened.

[celgins]

Of course Google watches threads on WW. I'm sure Yahoo and MSN do as well. In fact, it is probably in their best interest to watch WW and other forums to see what web-masters/developers/novices are talking about.

Not sure if ASA or AWA will read every Adsense/Adwords thread - but I'm sure they watch threads regarding new Adsense/Adwords projects and hope to receive feedback. AWA sometimes asks WW members to provide feeback. ASA has asked a few times as well.

As far as linking threads back to specific Adsense accounts, I'm sure it would happen if Google read about a blatant violation.

Of all the topics included in the WW TOS, I don't think any of them say Google isn't allowed to protect its own business interests.

[Green_Grass]

Just to clear the air..

I have always maintained I Love google.

and I reiterate my position.

:-)

[zett]

I am almost certain that there are other people, aside from ASA, who get paid to monitor this forum, and to frequently post a positive message or two.

And guess what? I even do understand this point of view: Google are watched by so many people (analysts, journalists, activists) who all want to find a hair in the soup, that they need to reduce their interaction and communication to an absolute minimum. Why would Google want to expose to critical questions and participate (!) in threads that discuss serious questions? That would open just a can of worms.

Nah, it's much better to get their paid/outsourced reps do that and keep their own turf clean.

[loudspeaker]

Ok, time for another round of big brother jokes. We love you, Google!

P.S. Although honestly, I'd much rather they didn't listen to our conversations here. Remember when you were a kid? How would you like it if your parents could hear every word you were saying? Of course there are some legitimate reasons for them to be concerned, but still it's nice to have an outlet for your thoughts and emotions and I bet you'd rather share them with equals.

[europeforvisitors]

Why would Google want to expose to critical questions and participate (!) in threads that discuss serious questions?

More important, why would they bother responding to the conspiracy theories, venting, and vendom that clutter this and other forums? What would the point be? If Google's reps were to say "No, we didn't cut your payout percentage" or "No, we didn't ban member X, Y, or Z arbitrarily and without reason," would you believe them?

[Hobbs]

I would say many forums are cluttered with brown-nosing folks as well as conspiracy theorists, a good company should be able to filter out the noise for themselves, the rest of us do anyway.

Has anyone seen any recent posts for AdSenseAdvisor?

[europeforvisitors]

I'm sure they're more than capable of filtering out the noise, but why would they be foolish enough to get into arguments with people who are irrational or have axes to grind and won't believe anything they say?

Also, let's not forget that Google has expanded its own Adsense help and support areas, so there's less reason for them to participate in third-party forums (such as this one) than there was back in 2003 or 2004.

[Hobbs]

Actually no, they have more reason to monitor where their most avid partners/clients hang out, and would be wise to monitor where people are more likely to speak their heart out, their own AdSense board is the last place I would go for information or a discussion anyway.

arguments with people who are irrational

Rational is relative, when there is light there is less fear & theories, I sympathize with those you call irrational knowing that one day it could be any of us.

[europeforvisitors]

Actually no, they have more reason to monitor where their most avid partners/clients hang out, and would be wise to monitor where people are more likely to speak their heart out

I never suggested that they don't monitor this forum. I merely suggested that they'd be foolish to get into pointless arguments with unhappy people who are irrational (or who have axes to grind) and won't believe anything they say.

I sympathize with those you call irrational knowing that one day it could be any of us.

Only if we're foolish enough to ignore evidence that doesn't agree with our preconceptions, as irrational people tend to do.

[ecmedia]

All Fortune500 companies monitor web conversations about their products and their company using sophisticated data mining tools. Makes perfect sense to me and there is nothing devious about it. In the past they used news clipping services.

[bumpski]

I once wrote a post concerning an Adsense performance problem. Adsense adviser contacted me directly via Sticky mail and offered to investigate the problem. Unfortunately I had to turn him down, the problem caused earnings to tank, so I had to go back to a more traditional (and poor performing time wise) solution.

So there has been unsolicited, direct, contact from Google staff due to postings at WW.

So I think we can conclude they (Google) are listening and may be responding in ways one can't detect.