Forum Moderators: martinibuster
While reviewing your account, we noticed that you are currently displaying Google ads in a manner that is not compliant with our policies. For instance, we found violations of AdSense policies on pages such as #*$!#*$!x. As a result, we have disabled ad serving to the site. Your AdSense account remains active.
I suppose the last sentance is the key one as they have not disabled my whole account but just one particular site.
Is this common? Done quite a bit of searching and found hardly any other instances..?
Anyway I have fixed the issue and emailed them back in the hope they reinstate the site (which just so happens to be one of my main earners!) but I am already considering other forms of alternative advertising.
Which you did. Thanks for posting about it--and I hope we will be hearing soon that the site has been reinstated.
'However, we strongly suggest that you take the time to review our programme policies (https://www.google.com/adsense/policies) to ensure that all your remaining pages comply with these policies'
Anyway I have fixed the issue
What was the Issue?
I replied back to them and was advised that my links pages were not good and that my account was still open but I would never be able to serve ads on that particular site (my main money earner).
I removed all links pages and emailed them a very respectful letter asking they reconsider. Frankly, I did a LOT of praying as well, as the email was so definite about stopping ad serving to my main site.
I feel my prayers were answered when I received an extremely nice reply thanking me for removing the links pages and they reinstated ad serving to my main site.
I have seen more and more posts about this particular letter.
I think Google is going over sites with a fine tooth comb these days, so if I were you (anyone reading this), I'd check out my site for anything even remotely "mature" or any links pages that are questionable.
Just so you know, my links pages were pages that I had on my site since the beginning and I have not actually even done any link exchanges in a couple of years simply due to lack of time. So, it tells me that changes are underfoot and we all need to be very careful.
What are "questionable" link pages?
I really don't know.
My links pages were in place for years before I even got my AdSense account. I went by the rule of not having more than 50 links on a page, etc. I had a page where one could fill out a form and request a links exchange and that page was one of the ones pointed out by Google as not complying with TOS.
I am really confused about links pages and it makes me assume that the rules have changed and Google does not like link EXCHANGES. Maybe just outgoing links but not reciprocated ones perhaps? Beats me. I removed them to keep my ads serving, but why I had to do so I have no idea.
I am really confused about links pages and it makes me assume that the rules have changed and Google does not like link EXCHANGES. Maybe just outgoing links but not reciprocated ones perhaps?
Been that way for quite some time now. ;)
Been that way for quite some time now.
How do you get others to link to your site then? I know all about content, etc. however, when one has an ecommerce store it is not always easy. I have articles and have created content, but one can only create so much content about products for sale.
Also, like I said, I had not even done any additional link exchanges in a couple of years due to trying to run a business and not having the time to play with that. What is your suggestion pageoneresults?
What is your suggestion pageoneresults?
To heed Google's warning and take a real close look at that links directory. Do you have one of those Submit Your Link thingies? Is it more or less a laundry list of those who have requested links with you? If so, I don't think Google likes those in their 90s format. ;)
I just would like to know the best way to get back to the top of the Google for my keywords like I used to be.
I am not sure of what to do any more. I know this is now going in another direction, but since it can affect your AdSense income, I think it is still relevant to this discussion.
I honestly don't think my blending was too misleading. I have seen other sites blend their ads far more!
pageoneresults, I removed ALL links pages and the links form.
That might have been a bit of a "knee-jerk" reaction. I would have reviewed those links carefully and picked the creme of the crop. And then I would have figured out a way to redistribute those from more appropriate areas of the site where they are "relevant".
I know, it is tough for an ecommerce site to gain inbound links, it really is. Many have resorted to the very same thing you've done and it has harmed their presence in many instances.
Instead of looking for commodity links, go to your suppliers and work links from that angle. Forget about the bottom feeding portion and just go staight to the top. Links from the manufacturer sites, articles by them, etc. Just "one" of those may be worth 50 of those low quality links. ;)
My own policy for linking is just "will it benefit the users in any way" and if it doesn't, then I don't do it. Consequently, I don't tend to have a lot of links coming in or going out.
Are you all saying that Google/adsense does not like the links pages and the forms for link exchanges or are you saying that Google does not like Adsense on those pages.
If it is the latter then I find that fully understandable as ther would not be a greatdeal of content.
I think the issue was blending ads too much with my content
There was a day when Google encouraged blending.
I received an email back this morning stating they were happy with the changes I made and were satisfied that I had read and understood the terms and condtions of Adsense.
Phew!
I think if this happens to you make sure you write a polite email back listing the actual steps you have taken on your site in order to comply and mention that you have fully read and understand the T&Cs. Then sit back and pray!
Better still, make sure you know and comply fully with the T&Cs now before you receive an email from them!
There was a day when Google encouraged blending.
There's a difference between legitimate blending and deceptive blending, and Google may have learned through experience that many AdSense aren't able (or aren't willing) to distinguish between the two.
I received an email back this morning stating they were happy with the changes I made and were satisfied that I had read and understood the terms and condtions of Adsense.
Happy with the changes? What changes were made? Was it just the removal of the "entire" links directory?
The scary part is that the same pages received the second warning (after a year) and we had not changed them since the original warning and correction!
Also scary: It looks like nowadays they disable the serving of the ads immediately, while in the past (in our cases) they gave 3 business days to correct before any further action on their part.
Have a screenshot by chance?
[edited by: MikeNoLastName at 4:30 am (utc) on July 25, 2008]
I think the issue was blending ads too much with my content
We had a good CTR prior getting banned cause we blended background/border colour with page colour but now we require a different background colour or a border around ads.
It was just a site only bann adsense account was still running.
