Is Using RSS to Create Content Allowed by AdSense?

[alexawy]

Hi,
I am working at a newspaper as a developer for its online website.

I made a website based on the RSS from my newspaper website, and put google ads on it.

I started marketing the website on many places and I get about 50,000 unique daily visits.

I am surprised that Adsense is paying me about $400 per day! CRT is aroung 6%

It is a one page with 3 ad blocks, and an RSS reading from my newspaper websites.

Is there something strange about this!

I am really surprised as by this rate I would gain > $12,000 per month!

Is it possible for Google to pay this much on such a simple - well marketed website!

[netmeg]

It's good that you're making that much, because I have no doubt that the newspaper will fire you when they find out.

Google's also not crazy about serving up ads on repurposed content like that, so they'll probably throw you out too.

Duh - winning!

[darkyl]

Well it's not strange being paid 400$ for 50.000 daily visits.
But, are you just republishing news from the other website (basically copying their content)?

What's strange is the 50.000 unique visitors/day, not the money.

[alexawy]

RSS are every where, my newspaper is offering it for free to any one. It is RSS.

[mromero]

If this is not a troll it is outright theft.

I heard of someone who did this - the newspaper was clueless about website development.

When they found out the "webmaster" was fired. If I were the newspaper I would have filed a complaint of "obtaining property by deception" which can lead to jail time.

[alexawy]

and If i will get $12K per month, I will retire :)

[darkyl]

And what happens when you're fired, your site is banned for massive content scraping and you have to pay lawyers because the newspaper sued you?

[Play_Bach]

Second on the troll.

[alexawy]

wait please, my newspaper website are offering the RSS service for free to anyone. They are allowing any site owner to publish their RSS into his website. So, I didn't do any mistake for using their RSS because that was the reason it was made for.

I am getting the 50.000 unique visits because I have 12 years experience on the web, that's why they are hiring me.

The question is, Is a website like this allowed by google?

[explorador]

I've worked on Newspapers before. One thing is they not being aware and now knowing enough of that technology, and something different is their legal agreements, because as they deal with information trust me, those agreements are very tight.

Is very common especially among newspapers that they have specified on the contract that everything made under their roof using their equipment belongs to them, so what you are doing is not only in the eye of the storm, but also subject to fights for the money you already earned.

Besides that, for the newspapers I worked for, monitoring was a common thing (they have records of what you read, post, send and your chats using special software). I was involved on monitoring too. In case you didn't know, it can be done.

[explorador]

The question is, Is a website like this allowed by google?

Yes it is, but things are mixed here. Does G allows RSS sites with ads on it? yes. But you are not the owner of the material, so at any moment they can complain and get your account closed.

In my country many newspapers have RSS for free but they are moving from free RSS to paid RSS. The only way to get RSS from them now for free is to scrap it or resell it.

[alexawy]

look, I am sure you are understanding what is RSS.

check this link, it is for a live TV station.
[alarabiya.net...]

They are asking people to use their RSS, so there is nothing wrong or illegal in that.

If I put the RSS on a website with 10 visits per day it will be useless, the point is that I am getting 50,000 visits, who are making around 2,000 clicks, page CTR is 5% or less.

In RSS, when a visitor click, he will be redirected to the main website, so my newspaper gains too.

It seems like no one till now faced a similar issue like this before. I am here to ask, and share.

[darkyl]

Wait, it's not entirely clear what you're doing with those RSS.

Are you publishing the RSS links only or are you using the RSS feeds to create content on your website?

[netmeg]

Using RSS is a lot different than MONETIZING RSS.

[alexawy]

I am using RSS feeds to create content on my website

[darkyl]

Do you rank better or worse than the newspaper website?

[alexawy]

this is much helpful: [google.com...]

[explorador]

alexawy, I think you missed the point, the webmasters are not attacking your idea, just pointing how risky it is, despite the fact that a company might encourage people to do something while they already have legal terms that might trigger actions against you, specially when they figure out you were getting paid.

check this link, it is for a live TV station.
[blahblahblah . net...]

They are asking people to use their RSS, so there is nothing wrong or illegal in that.

No, you are wrong there. I visited the page and they are not encouraging people to "use" their RSS, they are encouraging people to suscribe to it. Even if those words were there, there's a huge difference between "enouraging to use it" than "encouraging - allowing you to profit from it".

[alexawy]

you may be right.

Anyway, using RSS to generate content is not allowed by adsense as I read.

[darkyl]

I think the interesting part here is the fact that he managed to have 50k unique visitors/day with scraped content.

I'm wondering if he, as a developer of the newspaper's website, has done anything on purpose that lets his site rank so good.

[Rockyou]

$400/DAY by this trick amazing, If Google pays you great for you, why don't you buy rights to use those feeds to use for commercial purpose. I think you can go to $4000/ day if this trend continues.

[DanAbbamont]

Legally you should be fine. They did implement something called "Really Simple Syndication". You would have to honor their wishes if they complain, but it's not that big of a deal.

As far as AdSense, a site that exists only to serve another sites content along with ads is pretty much MFA.

[alexawy]

[adsense.blogspot.com...]

What I did is not allowed. I really didn't know that it was not allowed, I have to get back to adsense support.

[wyweb]

and If i will get $12K per month, I will retire

I'm already semi-retired. That sure would make it sweeter though.

My advice to the OP is to bank the money. You may have to give it all back.

[wyweb]

I think you can go to $4000/ day if this trend continues.

Oh, I seriously doubt that. He's lucky to be where he's at right now.

[wyweb]

I have to get back to adsense support

Should have gone there first.

[alexawy]

I shouldn't contact support for every case.
They doesn't reply fast for such issues.

What was useful is the adsense blog
[adsense.blogspot.com...]

[DanAbbamont]

The traffic sounds like it's good quality, however you're pulling it in. There are a few companies that will let you in on their feeds for a cut. The rules are way more relaxed because they require minimums of over 1,000,000 impressions a month and they figure when you're at that level you're not going to pull anything sketchy.

Last I remember, I was talking to one called validclick years ago but it looks like they changed their name to Inuvo. Didn't care that I had no original content back then.

[netmeg]

Legally you should be fine. They did implement something called "Really Simple Syndication". You would have to honor their wishes if they complain, but it's not that big of a deal.

Hello? Adding a feed to an RSS reader is not the same as REPUBLISHING. For profit or otherwise. Particularly if you're doing to your employer.

[explorador]

What I did is not allowed. I really didn't know that it was not allowed

• Now that you realize where you are, you still could figure out a way to implement a solution inside your company
  
• you could present a bussiness plan to make things work along with the content and advertising. Remember that content is not yours (despite what one could think of what RSS is... this is not an opinion, its a fact). Also, you can't generate content based on RSS feeds
  
• Adsense + content, on the site sounds possible as a biz plan that you can present to them

Trying to get away could quickly damage your reputation on your area, not to mention they could go after you for the already earned cash or-and closing your account. You wouldn't want to associate your name to bad stuff on G's eyes.

Other than that, careful when presenting ideas, you have to try to get the most out of it (promotion, incentives, etc.) but remember, some companies love ideas and kick you out anyway. In my opinion you can still make it big presenting the idea to your company, generating great numbers and giving conferences or such... it could become a case of study in your area and guess who will be famous? you (in the good way).

Good luck.