Is it OK to add a fake directory name at the end of the displayed URL?

Example: http://www.domain.com/productname

[budbiss]

Is it ok to make the displayed URL include a directory name in it for the sake of displaying a keyword in the URL?

I have this ad configured so that the URL that is displayed looks like this: "http://www.domain.com/productname". However, the real URL that the user goes to after clicking the ad is simply "http://www.domain.com".

Also, just in case someone sees the ad and for some reason manually types in the display URL, I added a folder on my server named "productname" and I set up a 301 redirect which goes to "http://www.domain.com".

[ryancole]

Fake directory names are fine in my experience. The only thing Google really specifies as far as display URLs go, is that your display URL must refer to a domain that actually exists. (I can't remember if you actually have to own that URL, but it seems that you really don't, since affiliates often use the name of the website they're promoting.) It says nothing about directories. I've got dozens of ads with fake directories, and not one of them has ever been disabled.

[netmeg]

Yea, I've been doing it that way since day one, with fake directories and fake pages, so that I can do my own tracking. Never had a problem, as long as it hits the right landing page.

[budbiss]

OK, it sounds like there is no harm done when doing this with legitimate intentions. Our site is completely relevant to the targeted keywords. Thanks for the feedback guys!

[QualityNonsense]

I can't remember if you actually have to own that URL

No, you don't.

[deep_alley]

I noticed and advertiser doing this and wrote to adwords support - cause it looked very spammy but they replied saying that having a display url wasnt against their policy so it was legit...

[HitProf]

If you want to avoid any problems: make sure the fake directory 'exists' when one types it into the browser (301 redirect to real page).

[jtara]

No, it's NOT ok, but it's widely done.

The page must actually exist.

If your ad points to your own website, you can obviously arrange for the page to exist.

If you are an affiliate directing to the merchant's website, you don't have control over this. You need to choose from among the web pages that the merchant actually has.

It's not acceptable for the URL to resolve to a 404 error, or a custom error page. It needs to be a real page.

Unfortunately, this is one of those things that Google could easily check automatically but doesn't. If you complain about a competitor, Google will EVENTUALLY make them correct it.