What is 'bad traffic' for Adsense ?

[pixar24]

For some months now, I'm seeing a serious adjustment in estimated and finalized earnings in my Adsense account.
I checked all points Google reffers to, concerning my website, and all looks ok.
Only point left is that Google points out the adjustment can be caused by 'bad traffic'.
I've read on the Google Forum:

"any difference you are noticing between your estimated & finalized earnings can be due to adjustments for traffic quality."

"If you are curious about how to avoid drawing bad traffic to your site, it is a good idea to segment & track your traffic using Google Analytics"

What is 'bad traffic' ?
How can you determine bad traffic in Google Analaytics ?

Thx

[netmeg]

If you buy traffic from some source, that's usually considered bad traffic (even when it's from AdWords, but not always)

If you participate or your site ends up in some kind of click fraud ring, that's bad traffic.

If your traffic is looking for something completely different than what your site is about, or coming from an entire different part of the world (i.e. if I have a site about Michigan and I suddenly get a spurt of traffic from Malaysia)

Basically, any traffic that's not likely to convert for the advertisers.

I, as an advertiser, pay close to attention to which sites send me traffic that converts (either into a lead or a sale) Google doesn't have all the stats on what converts (not everyone uses Google Analytics) but they have enough data to be able to predict the likelihood of conversion.

[edited by: netmeg at 3:41 pm (utc) on Nov 9, 2011]

[ember]

I believe bad traffic is any traffic that could hurt the advertisers on your site. People that click with no real interest in the advertisers' products and who do not convert for the advertiser.

[dontono7]

Things like link exchanges are probably considered bad traffic too, since it isn't search engine driven. There are probably many others too, like incentivized traffic.

[koan]

Things like link exchanges are probably considered bad traffic too, since it isn't search engine driven.

Search engine traffic is not the only good source of traffic. In fact, since Panda, we've been hearing constantly not to rely only on free search engine traffic. Link exchanges with quality sites is a fine alternative as long as the motive of the visitors is genuine and on topic.

[CMidd]

bad traffic = any traffic Google feel is bad.

estimated earning != finalize earning = Google doesn't want to pay you for those clicks

Based on Google own Internal "Un-Audited" process, ad clicks that visitor made on your site shouldn't be paid for.

No one hear knows exactly.

The reason could be anything under the sun.

* Premium Advertiser felt they didn't want to pay for those clicks
* Visitor didn't stay long enough on advertisers site
* Advertiser wasn't earning enough from ad clicks from your site and isn't going to pay you.

The whole un-paid clicks and smart pricing issue is Google Bending to advertiser who want more bang for their buck "Sometimes at your expense"

With Advertising, every advertising action should be paid for.

If it's CPC, each click is chargeable
If it's CPM each 1,000 impression should be charged
If it's CPL each lead should be paid for.
If it's CPA each sale should be paid for.

In CPC, CPM, CPL if the advertiser or network isn't making enough return "or worst losing" they try to implement system to not pay, or justify not paying advertisers. It's been happening since the beginning of advertising.


The true cause of the issue might not even be your fault or your traffic's fault, it might be the advertiser, his ad copy, or his landing page, his reputation, his competition or many other factors.

Google will penalize you when an advertiser isn't making enough, but not reward you when your traffic convert exceptionally well.

Best advice i can give you that worked for me. Experiment by rotating Affiliate Offers in those ad zones.

[pixar24]

Thx for all advice.
No traffic is bought, no member of some click fraud ring, only organic traffic.
Must be one of the other causes then...
thx