True AdSense Experience - Defies All Logic

[avalon37]

So I run a website that is about X. And recently I took on a new Adwords client that is in the same consumer industry. I wanted to do a display test where for this new client I set up a display only campaign and placement targeted the site I own/operate. For about 4 days I was getting a very strong CTR rate and set an original max cpc VERY high. Way higher that any advertiser would. Like I said, I started getting a much better CTR than normal and all was good. Until 2 days ago, AdSense for some reason decides not to show my clients display ads anymore - neither text or display. I knew it wasn't a max CPC issue, but just to try and restart the system I raised the max CPC even higher. Luckily Adwords had not been charging my client anywhere near the max cpc. But I'm still not getting any impressions anymore. What doesn't make sense is that the CTR was very strong, contextually relevant, and there is NO way other advertisers are showing up because they are willing to pay more.

So something must be broken with the AdSense algorithm as to how they decide which ads to display.

Bizarre and completely unsurprising at the same time.

[netmeg]

You were running a clients ads on your own AdSense site?

[avalon37]

That's right - with permission. But it's not an AdSense site - it's a 30K+ monthly unique visitors e-commerce website.

[londrum]

Maybe google has just linked the two sites together, through you. It will look like arbitrage to them

[avalon37]

I can't imagine how they could link us together unless they are using gmail exchanges. By that I mean I've never accessed my google accounts at client's location and I've never logged into client's account from my home and/or office space. I think it's it's just their ad serving games, tests, whatever you want to call them.

[ember]

I would think Google sees you using Adwords to send traffic to your site with Adsense on it. If it looks like arbitrage, then Adwords will stop serving ads.

I can't imagine how they could link us together

Google sees all, knows all.

[avalon37]

Ember how does google link everything together given my previous separation?

[eek2121]

Avalon37, you'd be surprised, Google has gotten so good at this. Even if you never sign into the same Google account, the chances of 2 people in the same zip code visiting the exact same website are slim. Further more, compare browsing habits, what sites do you visit at work? What sites do you visit at home? Let's be more spooky, is there (and be honest) a site you visit both at work and at home? Please don't underestimate Google. Their fraud prevention teams are top notch. If they suspect you are gaming the system (which you are) then they will change the system.

[ken_b]

Could G have made a decision based on conversions or what they think the probability of conversions are?

[avalon37]

Well so far this morning impressions are active again so it doesn't appear Google made any connection. Nor do I believe I have violated any Adwords/AdSense policy. I'm not stupid enough to click on the ads. So, it looks like the whole reason for a few days when there were no impressions was just more Google tinkering. They play with that ad serving algorithm like they are addicted to it.

[netmeg]

It's not an arbitrage issue because there are no specific rules against arbitrage - and particularly not where the AdWords account and the AdSense account are not held by the same person.

What were your Quality Scores like in the AdWords account? Your Impression Shares? It should tell you whether you are losing impression share due to ad budget or ad ranking.

[hannamyluv]

It's not an arbitrage issue because there are no specific rules against arbitrage

No offense - I respect you alot, but *snort*

There are a lot of ways that Google HIGHLY discourages arbitrage. And they will take down any site they suspect of arbitrage with no questions asked.

[avalon37]

The scenario I described above has absolutely nothing to do with arbitrage - it's no different scenario than regular AdSense ads on a publishers page. The only difference is that I personally know/manage the ads spend for 1 particular advertiser showing up on my site. Additionally, doesn't Google do the same thing ALL the time by running banner ads for YouTube and other Google products?

And like I said the ads were back up this morning so it was nothing more than Google Ad Serving tinkering.

[londrum]

Maybe it's something to do with interest-based ads.
You say that the ads are getting a high click thru rate, but you didn't click any yourself. So maybe google thought there's no point showing the ads to you anymore (...you personally). They'd only work that out after some time had gone by, so maybe that's why they stopped.

Although it sounds like you are definitely visiting this other site, so you would think that would count it as an interest.

...and they started up again.

Who knows how it works! It's all a big mystery

[hannamyluv]

The scenario I described above has absolutely nothing to do with arbitrage

But, as someone else mentioned, it is a walks like a duck, sounds like a duck scenario.

You don't mean it to be arbitrage, but if Google's automated systems to find arbitrage thinks it looks like arbitrage, they will ax the campaign.

It may not be the issue, but given the set up, it is certainly worth considering in the realm of possible problems.

[netmeg]

There are a lot of ways that Google HIGHLY discourages arbitrage. And they will take down any site they suspect of arbitrage with no questions asked.

I respect you too, but you are incorrect.

[avalon37]

Hannamyluv the reason impressions were not happening for a few days was Google's ad serving algorithm. Like I said, everything's fine again. If they suspected something in violation, which I am not doing, the ads/impressions would not have resumed.

[ember]

You can send Adwords traffic to a site with Adsense on it, but you have to do it carefully. It cannot look as though you are doing it to make a profit from Adsense, which is arbitrage.

[denisl]

Additionally, doesn't Google do the same thing ALL the time by running banner ads for YouTube and other Google products?

There is no connection between the way G advertises its own products and how it will allow us to advertise our products using its services.

[hannamyluv]

It's not an arbitrage issue because there are no specific rules against arbitrage

Yes, they do.
[support.google.com...]

They REALLY don't like arbitrage (and for good reason). And while it may not apply to this case, they can get a little trigger happy if they suspect arbitrage.

[netmeg]

Ok, I stand corrected. That wasn't there last time I looked it up.