Groupon Spam

[potentialgeek]

Why does Google let Groupon.com spam almost every site with Adsense? It's far worse than eBay's spam ever was. I kicked Groupon off my sites with the blocker, like other publishers here, but almost every site I visit now with Adsense has a Groupon ad. It is 100% irrelevant to the page content and it's usually the top-placed ad. The text is always the same. The irony is Google allegedly tried to buy Groupon recently. But why has Google become a sell-out and compromised its core principle of contextual relevance?

[Lame_Wolf]

but almost every site I visit now with Adsense has a Groupon ad

That's because those accounts are not managed properly. ;)

I also see untold adverts for Chrome on other sites too.

[woop01]

Have you visited Groupon lately? It sounds more like both of you are being remarketed.

[Lame_Wolf]

Have you visited Groupon lately? It sounds more like both of you are being remarketed.

Never. Don't want to either.

And as for Chrome, I don't use it... or want to.

(and I do not see them on any site that I manage).

[CMidd]

welcome to the new Adsense LOL

Big spender Adword advertisers can target board groups. ie Everyone in a particular city "regardless of keyword, or site subject". Groupon is probably paying per impression, not clicks, so Adsense publishers are being screwed.

During the weekend before presidents day I noticed two things.
1.My Adwords ad impressions dropped.
3.My Adsense earnings dropped

I did some research and seen Macys targeting almost every single site/page for their up coming "in store" presidents day sale. My site has nothing to do with shopping, clothes are anything related to Macys LMAO.

They controlled every single ad unit with Flash based ads that didn't call to action .

I blocked them and my eCPM increased, but my Adword impression stayed low until their campaign was over.

I clicked on one of the Macy ads on one of my pages that never gets clicks, and was paid peanuts. But i did make a few bucks from CPM at around $.001 per thousand impressions LOL.

Large impression based advertiser who spend million get top priority over your ad space "even when they are not the highest bidder". I tested this my self as an Adword advertiser / publisher targeting my own site.

My normal pay per click is $.45, so i targeted my own site at $1.00 and was beat for top spots by larger advertisers. I click on top advertiser and was paid $.15 cents. I found my ad "by clicking right arrow and browseed to my ad on page 3" clicked my ad and was paid $.68 cents, and was charged $1.00 by Google.

People don't talk about it much,but large Adsense publishers get special treatment and exceptions, AND large Adwords advertisers also get special treatment and exceptions.

I mean honestly if you were google who would you like to please.

1. $500 a month mom and pop shops and affiliate who spend $1000 here and there

-OR-

Multi Millions of dollar a month Groupon and Macys with 10's of millions of dollar ad budget?

expect this trend to increase as more large scale advertisers start using Adwords.

[edited by: CMidd at 3:21 pm (utc) on Mar 19, 2011]

[netmeg]

They're not considered spam, and people click on them like crazy in some niches. It's a land grab by Groupon, but they're not doing anything unethical or shady (so I don't think the post title is exactly correct); they're bidding high enough to show all over the net. I hate 'em too - I get followed around everywhere by a giant glazed donut from Living Social (same idea as Groupon) and I don't like 'em on my sites, but my revenue has never been higher over all, so I gotta think they're making money for the publishers, the advertisers, and Google. Which is how it's supposed to work.

That said, they're not appropriate everywhere, and occasionally I see other more regional coupon deals on my site that are not in my region.

With this explosion, Google should allow the ability to block these types of sites as a category - and they should also allow us some measure of geo targeting.

But by the time that happens, the Groupon bubble will probably be over.

[edited by: netmeg at 3:22 pm (utc) on Mar 19, 2011]

[netmeg]

Large impression based advertiser who spend million get top priority over your ad space "even when they are not the highest bidder". I tested this my self as an Adword advertiser / publisher targeting my own site.

My normal pay per click is $.45, so i targeted my own site at $1.00 and was beat for top spots by larger advertisers. I click on top advertiser and was paid $.15 cents. I found my ad "by clicking right arrow and browser to my ad on page 3" clicked my ad and was paid $.68 cents, and was charged $1.00 by Google.

There's a lot more too it than that; there is also quality score and smart pricing, so there's no way this is an accurate test.

(I know a little about AdWords)

Also, Groupon is NOT just CPM, because I see them on some of my sites that report virtually no CPM ads.

The *last* thing Google would want to do is rig the auction system in such a blatant fashion as you outline; there are enough trust issues as it is. That sort of thing would completely demolish it, and Google is in it for the long haul, not the short money grab.

[CMidd]

Also, Groupon is NOT just CPM, because I see them on some of my sites that report virtually no CPM ads.

The *last* thing Google would want to do is rig the auction system in such a blatant fashion as you outline; there are enough trust issues as it is. That sort of thing would completely demolish it, and Google is in it for the long haul, not the short money grab.

i clicked on Groupon Ad it was CPM "well atleast in my city"

it's not rigging the auction. it's preference. Take a look at Ezinearticles.com They can do thing other adsense publishers can't.

Do you really think Google Treats Expeda.com who spends millions the Same way it's treat Uncle Joe's $200 a month budget Travel company LMAO.

[CMidd]

Why does Google let Groupon.com spam almost every site with Adsense? It's far worse than eBay's spam ever was. I kicked Groupon off my sites with the blocker, like other publishers here, but almost every site I visit now with Adsense has a Groupon ad. It is 100% irrelevant to the page content and it's usually the top-placed ad. The text is always the same. The irony is Google allegedly tried to buy Groupon recently. But why has Google become a sell-out and compromised its core principle of contextual relevance?

Potentialgeek You bring up a good point a lot of adsense publisher like to play the ostrich approach to "sticking they head in the sand and ignoring"

Adsense ad spot are prone to what i call big brand, branding spam. ie ads that brand "like a TV commercial, or billboard", but don't call to action and encourage a click. And these off topic non targeted ads are slowing pushing their way onto some publishers adspace.

I routinely check my site, and block some large advertisers all the time.

that block filter is you best friend, us it.

[Lame_Wolf]

I clicked on one of the Macy ads on one of my pages that never gets clicks, and was paid peanuts.

You have read the Adsense TOS, yes ?

[CMidd]

You have read the Adsense TOS, yes ?

yes i have and i was fully aware that i was violating Adsense Term of service. If adsense wants a credit I will gladly credit them.

I was personally interested is seeing what the offer was about, and curious as to how this ad was able to beat out all of my existing advertisers who usually dominated by Adsense units.

if google wants it's $.02 cents back they can have it plus interest, penalties, and fees, but to ignore the true revenue from your sites'and to be in the dark is robbing yourself.

don't forget I also click on my own ad i created as an adwords advertiser also.

now i don't go around clicking on my own ad, I don't need to, i make enough from user clicks, but this situation demanded research.

[CMidd]

if you guys never did a tested by clicking on your ads, or targeting your own sites ads an Adwords advertiser how do you know if Google is being 100% fair with you and your advertiser?

I wouldn't recommend clicking on your own ads, but at least target your own site as an advertiser.

[Lame_Wolf]

i make enough from user clicks, but this situation demanded research.

It is enough to get you banned. As you are aware of that...

[CMidd]

It is enough to get you banned. As you are aware of that...

can't have growth/research without risk...

I click on the ad from my girl friends' smart phone "Droid" that supported Adsense, so it was impossible for Google to track it back to me "i also purchase from Macys all the time LMAO"

but if you want to judge me for that single click, so be it.

But when I see a Huge Macys Ads taking over all my 728X90, 300X250, 160X600 ad spot with Flash ads for an entire weekend while knocking out a total of 12 relevant text ads, that have been earning me money, I needed to know why?

also for that .02 click i lost around $20 while their "Macy" ads were running.

[Lame_Wolf]

but if you want to judge me for that single click, so be it.

It's not me that judges you, it will be Google. I was just bringing it to your attention.

At least WebmasterWorld will be relieved there will be one less "I didn't know you could click on my own adverts" kind of thread.

[CMidd]

At least WebmasterWorld will be relieved there will be one less "I didn't know you could click on my own adverts" kind of thread.

I'm not going anywhere, and my account won't get banned! Trust me ;) LOL.

[netmeg]

it's not rigging the auction. it's preference. Take a look at Ezinearticles.com They can do thing other adsense publishers can't.

Yes, everyone knows there are premium publishers who have different TOS. And presumably, premium advertisers. What of it? That doesn't mean that they still don't have to compete for a publisher's advertising space, or that they're not the highest paying available ad for that spot at that exact moment. I'm reasonably sure that these ads are high paying, because my revenues starting going way up when they started appearing (and my demographic fits pretty closely to whom they are marketing)

As for clicking on my own ads - nope, never intentionally. And I most certainly don't bid in AdWords on my own keywords. I don't need to.

[Play_Bach]

@CMidd - from someone who's been here since 2005, you may want to check out some of the older threads from people who got banned. It's no joke.
[webmasterworld.com...]

[incrediBILL]

Arrogance about playing fast and loose with the AdSense system with no repercussions is usually the first sign of someone contracting the Google virus SitezBenBand which often has no cure.

However, none of this has to do with the Groupon ads, let's keep it on topic please.

[nick28]

I hate 'em too - I get followed around everywhere by a giant glazed donut from Living Social (same idea as Groupon) and I don't like 'em on my sites, but my revenue has never been higher over all, so I gotta think they're making money for the publishers

I have realized the same, since Groupon ads are there, once I blocked them, my earing was decreased.
But it is annoying to see almost the same ads, especially if one has more repeat users.
I think they sould change every day design of their ads:-)
Another thing is, why doesn't Adsense consider rotating the ads , say every 5 minutes, instead of showing small arrow of their ads which I guess most users don't realize.
By the way, I am aware of that rotating is not allowed, But Google itself should do.

[Leosghost]

why doesn't Adsense consider rotating the ads

Because it would burn CPU cycles on the machine that was displaying the page ..like flash ads do ..open enough tabs on a slow machine and the ads can / could bring it to a total halt.

say every 5 minutes

Any page that takes 5 minutes to read is either being read by people with reading difficulties ( and thus by definition less likely to understand fully the text of an ad ..be it display ? image or other ..and generate more "worthless clicks" ) ..or the reader would have scrolled down in that time past the adsense ( even a vertical skyscraper )..and if the page had its own images/ photos that would hold anyones interest for 5 minutes? Then its unlikely the page owner would want adsense ..and the advertiser would probably not see good ROI.

Plus Google would have to make such features customisable ..not everyone would want "rotating changing ads" dancing on their pages.

Ads are supposed to be unobtrusive and complementary .."not in yer face".

Else we'd have them proposing using CSS and javascript to have them floating down or over the page like DHTML nav or some networks ad systems do ..

If the plex is reading ..that is not an idea to run with ..please ;-)

Oh.. and to stay on topic..Groupon ads irritate me also ..because I'm not their demographic ..and I find they are too "In yer face" ..

I and the rest of us here know that the site owner isn't responsible for what show up in adsense ..I know from a great deal of observation that most people do not know that ..and "tacky ads" can leave a bad impression of the page and site as a whole.

[edited by: Leosghost at 12:26 am (utc) on Mar 20, 2011]

[nick28]

Because it would burn CPU cycles on the machine that was displaying the page

Doesn't load the pages, hidden behind the arrows of Text ads all before?
I mean yes , and it is the same as rotating.

and if the page had its own images/ photos that would hold anyones interest for 5 minutes?

Consider entertainment site with movies, shows, TVs ...!
OK, at least G could set an option in Adsense interface , who wants to do that.

[edited by: nick28 at 12:36 am (utc) on Mar 20, 2011]

[Leosghost]

OK, at least G could set an option in Adsense interface

Indeed they could ..problem is they tend to make things "opt out" and not "opt in" ( and I wouldn't want singing dancing ads anywhere on anything I own )..and even their "opt out" option is not respected..
You can "opt out" of being show "interest based " or "history based" ads ..and have the "not logged in" /"history is not active" confirmed in the search page on your machine.

And yet still be followed around by adsense ads based upon pages you have visited..and see these ads on totally irrelevant sites where the site owner also has opted out of "interest based" ads being displayed to their visitors.

Btw ..I think you misunderstood me here when I wrote this

and if the page had its own images/ photos that would hold anyones interest for 5 minutes?

I did

Consider entertainment site with movies, shows, TVs ...!

and find it highly unlikely that anyone with that kind of content would want distracting "all singing all dancing ads" along side / over / under their content.

[Leosghost]

Doesn't load the pages, hidden behind the arrows of Text ads all before?
I mean yes , and it is the same as rotating.

Not quite the same ..pre loading ( and doing nothing until/unless a user clicks on the arrows ) uses less cycles than auto rotating the preloaded items.

Btw.I find that at least 7 out of ten people don't know that the arrows mean that they can click on them to get more ads showing ;-)..I do run lots of test on what real "average", non webmaster, non tech, non geeky people do on web pages.and software..and computers... real eye opener that is ;-)

But that should be the subject of another thread ..we are drifting wildly from Groupon

[incrediBILL]

and find it highly unlikely that anyone with that kind of content would want distracting "all singing all dancing ads" along side / over / under their content.

Well go watch most TV channels then and pay attention to the bottom of your screen.

Animated junk flying across, dancing and bopping in the right hand corner, too late, it's already being done, and it's becoming noticeably larger and more annoying by the year.

[BillyS]

I click on the ad from my girl friends' smart phone "Droid" that supported Adsense, so it was impossible for Google to track it back to me "i also purchase from Macys all the time LMAO"

People like this disgust me. Committing fraud and laughing about it. Must be a remarkably smart fellow. Can't wait to see the "why did I get banned" post. I believe in karma. :)

[Leosghost]

Well go watch most TV channels then and pay attention to the bottom of your screen.

;-)
Different country ( France ) on a different continent Bill ;-).TV doesn't do that here ..yet ..and probably won't ( the rules are much much tighter on advertising ) ..not that I watch much TV anyhow ..the "content" isn't worth the loss of my time most of the time .

[CMidd]

Yes, everyone knows there are premium publishers who have different TOS. And presumably, premium advertisers. What of it? That doesn't mean that they still don't have to compete for a publisher's advertising space, or that they're not the highest paying available ad for that spot at that exact moment. I'm reasonably sure that these ads are high paying, because my revenues starting going way up when they started appearing (and my demographic fits pretty closely to whom they are marketing)

As for clicking on my own ads - nope, never intentionally. And I most certainly don't bid in AdWords on my own keywords. I don't need to.

Not to be all conspiracy Theorist, but i know from experience that large advertisers with large ad budgets "millions $$$" don't use Adword like a small publishers.

They don't go and create an Adword Accounts and start entering keyword and setting bids LMAO.

Matter of Fact Google Sales teams goes after them in an to show them results on their ad spend. Even doing presentation at their offices. Can you imagine Google employees coming to your house to show you how they can help you better use you advertising budget ? LMAO you'd be happy for a email response.

Yes they get to meet "not email support, or beg ASA" Real people, even having presentation at the clients office, and personal assistance. You don't get this treatment unless your are a Huge Advertiser spending million, but they do get way way way different treatment then the rank and file www.google.com/adwords users.

They also allow large advertiser to test new ad beta products before the rank and file even get's a chance to even see them.

I also know that different large advertiser have different needs and goals. Some advertiser don't convert fully online, or target niches they are more interested in general branding, and their sole goal is to get their Image/Flash ads of their brand in front of as many eyes as possible for the lowest rates, and if Google wont do it, they will find a different medium.

CTR, Quality scores etc, they don't know or care anything about those and usually aren't affected by them. LOL

They set a Large Dollar amount to be seen by X amount of people in these states/cities or just national at predefined times. "tip, create a local html file, with adsense (local un indexable) and see who advertisering LOL")

Google would prefer to lose couple of hundred Mom and Pop advertiser spending $1,000 a month then to lose a recurring Multi Million dollar account.

I don't work for groupon and never have, but the way they're ad show is similar to an advertiser i know. But i can be wrong.

I can't say for 100% fact cause I don't work for google, and neither can you or anyone else who post on this form "except ASA" So we are all in speculation!

Orders are nobody can see the great Oz! Not nobody, not nohow! - Guardian of the emerald city gates, the Wizard of Oz




As for the click on the single ad LMAO, you guy can't be serious LOL. yall live in Google TOS fear.

[Lame_Wolf]

Two things...
What is with the LOL and LMAO all the time? You come across as rather childish, especially when you are overdoing it.

The other thing... yall live in Google TOS fear... not at all. They have rules, you either follow them or not.

When you get older, you may have children. When you do, no doubt you will give them rules too.

Life if full of rules... On the road, in shops, everywhere.

I guess you drive how you like with a bottle of alcopops, and steal your food ?

</end off topic>

Back to on topic, if you do not like and advertiser... block them and be done with it. They weren't the first and won't be the last. Next week it will be belly fat adverts.

[Leosghost]

CMidd ..you need to be carefull of "trying to teach your grannies to suck eggs"

There have been many huge adwords account owners ( or account managers )here in the past ..and some are still around..but don't or ( only rarely ) join in to these sort of threads ..

Likewise there have and still are many huge adsense account owners here ..who also rarely join in .

There are also many people here with many decades of experience in online and offline advertising ..in many cases of accounts spending hundreds of million of dollars annually.

And there are some brand managers here for household name brands over more than one continent ..who also rarely join in ..

Some of us who have been around here and elsewhere a while know who some of those people are ..and why they tend to try to avoid threads which include comments like your last ones ..because those who do "know" rarely post what they know ..to do so would be either breaching of agreements ..or a waste of their time because most people either don't listen ..or can't apparently discuss rationally .or as in the case of a recent poster in another thread ..they are met with disbelief because others don't have the same income or spend or experience.

read the old threads ( not just in the adsense forum )..enough reading in there for a few years at even 4 or 5 hours per day ..and you'll maybe understand better.

Me <= smiling ruefully ..not laughing ..

HTH ;-)

Next week it will be belly fat adverts.

Now those were really ugly ads .especially the drawn ones. Oi! ~:o....is there an emoticon for "Beeeuuurrrk!"