No Pop-upsWe do not allow links to landing pages that generate pop-ups when users enter or leave your landing page. We consider a pop-up to be any window, regardless of content, that opens in addition to the original window.
This is a very clear requirement and I don't mind meeting it. However, it is deeply frustrating when I am in accordance with this guideline yet my ads are still rejected. This is how my site works:
I set a cookie on each page view. After a visitor has seen 3 unique pages, he is given a popup. This popup occurs once and then goes away. Based on Google's guidelines, my site does not "generate pop-ups when users enter or leave your landing page." However, the nice folks at Google refuse to approve my ads. Because they are viewing many pages on my site, they are seeing the popup right away, since the page view cookie is already set from the first few pages that they saw.
I have tried to explain that the popup is cookie based and that a new visitor to the site would only see it after 3 page views. This method is not working, and I am becoming increasingly frustrated. I don't feel that Google has the right to tell me how to run my site beyond the landing page that they send a visitor to.
Has anyone else had the same problem? How did you solve it? AWA, is this a common problem for your staff?
Just get rid of the popup. I know that's not the solution you're looking for, but I think it's the one you should take :).
I respect your opinion but I don't want to make this discussion about the pros/cons of popups. I'd like to see if anyone else has had the same issue with popups and Adwords.
AWA, is this a common problem for your staff?
Stevenmusumeche, it is to everyone's advantage to have an advertiser's ads running, so ads are not disapproved in a cavalier way. In the case of pop-ups, the process is really quite simple: if they see a pop up of any sort, on entering or leaving your site, then the ad is disapproved. Based on what you've said, I'd guess the review team is seeing a pop up when leaving the site.
I have tried to explain that the popup is cookie based and that a new visitor to the site would only see it after 3 page views.
It sounds as if you have already written back and 'made your case' on this, without success. However, you may wish to reply to the most recent email on the subject, with a clear and concise summary of why you think your ads meet the policy - and ask that a policy manager review the case. Please be certain to reference the campaigns and Ad Groups involved.
AWA
