The New Affiliate Policy is Implemented

Looks like the button has been pushed

[cagey1]

Continued From [webmasterworld.com...]
It is Official : AdWords Policy Takes Aim at Affiliate Ads

--------------------------------------------------------

Read it and weep - EST

Looks like Google needs use use a case filter...

[eWhisper]

Hmm, I think G jumped the gun on this.

The first search I do, comfirms that there seems to be something going on.

The second search, makes me think for once - someone didn't jump the gun on this one - looks like what we're expecting to see.

The third search I do brings up the same site 3 times, but with these as display URLs.

BlueWidget.com
bluewidget.com
Bluewidget.com

A click on the first ad results in: A redirect site that breaks the back button. (landing page, correct display URL)

A click on the 2nd ad results in: A redirect site that breaks the back button. (landing page, correct display URL)

A click on the 3rd ad results in: A redirect that doesn't break the back button. (landing page, correct display URL)

A click on the 4th ad results in: A redirect that doesn't break the back button, but instead of going to RedWidget.com - I goto BlueWidget like the other 3 ads on the page.

A click on the 5th (RedWigets.com) ad does the same thing as above.
A click on the 6th ad (GreenWidget.com) does a broken back button redirect that goes to BlueWidget.com, but a different landing page.

6 ads on the page, 5 end up at one landing page, all 6 go to the same domain.

Not a single unique landing page.

Hmm...

A click, actually means copying the URL from properties, not actually clicking on all the affiliate ads before people jump all over the post

Think G needs to look a little closer at these ads...

[eWhisper]

Note to G:

You need to add the 'What do you think of these results' or a link to 'Google AdWords - see your link here' or something else where these types of issues can be reported before all your regular support system is flooded with spam reporting from people.

[inasisi]

I find 2 ads for each keyword of mine going to the same merchant. That seems to be consistent for all of my keywords for which there were more than 4-5 ads for the same merchant. So I guess, G relented and now allow 2 ads each.

[cagey1]

Google seems to be treating

Example.com
example.com

as different URLs/Domains (or whatever they are calling them)

I don't expect this loophole to last long, lest we start seeing

Ad1
Example.com

Ad2
eXample.com

Ad3
exAmple.com

etc.

On the plus side, some of my ads that used to reside on pages 2 and 3 are now on page one :)

[FromRocky]

It was used to have 5 or 6 ads with the same URL in the first page (6 of 10 ads). Now there are two ads left: One in the premium position (merchant) and other on the right column (aff.). Nothing change in the last 15'.

[cagey1]

I don't see any repeats yet on page 2, so it looks like the filter is per search, not per page.

[FromRocky]

I still see 2 ads on page 2 (one in premium and other on the right. And the same on page 3.

[eWhisper]

Don't forget, premium ads are carried over from one page to the next. That's the real benefit of being in that position (assuming their daily budget is high enough to be shown that often).

So, looking at multiple pages, discount the premium ad if you're looking for the possibility of ads being filtered per page or by search.

[cagey1]

Are they the same two ads as page 1?

When I click "More Sponsored Links »" I don't see any duplicates, but if I click the page 2 link I see the same two aff ads (both in the premium spots) as on page 1, but the other ads are not the same.

[eWhisper]

If you click the 'next' page, you're seeing the 2 premium ads staying the same, and then ads (1-10 were on the first page IF there were 2 premiums) 11-18 on the 2nd page.

If you were to look at the page displaying 100 results at a time, you're more likely to be able to see what's being displayed for any one search.

[FromRocky]

The premium ad (merchant) repeats on every page plus a different aff. on each page. Based on this observation, it seems an ad per URL per search per each page?. This is for a high cost keyword.

[eWhisper]

Just updated:
[adwords.google.com...]

It's disappointing. It's the same email that just went out - they didn't add the specifics to the newspage at all.

[cagey1]

FromRocky - is it the exact same spelling in the Display URL (and the exact same capitalization)?

[FromRocky]

30' ago:
Premium ad www.MyExample.com repeats on every page
Page 1: www.myexample.com
Page 2: www.Myexample.com
Page 3: www.Myexample.com

10' ago to now:
Premium ad www.MyExample.com repeats on every page
Page 1: www.myexample.com
Page 2: disappeared
Page 3: www.Myexample.com

Now:
Premium ad www.MyExample.com repeats on every page
Page 1: www.myexample.com
Page 2: www.Myexample.com (re-appeared)
Page 3: www.Myexample.com

[eWhisper]

The 'disappearing' ad is mostly likely due to a low daily budget that doesn't allow the ad to be shown 100% of the time.

[patient2all]

Thanks cagey1 for being the first to bring this to our attention!

patient2all

[jim2003]

Hello,

Ads that are no longer showing return this message in the ad diagnostic tool:

"Our system is experiencing technical difficulties."

Regards,

[werty]

I was upset about this when I first heard, but after seeing the results I am quite happy. It looks like some of the merchants I compete against as an affiliate need to learn how create better ads... I am seeing far less competition(merchant included) and steady gains in my position (c:

Thank you Google.

[cagey1]

I expect to see many merchants who can't win the Display URL auction to simply prohibit their affiliates from competing with them on more and more keywords. That way they don't have to be very good at ad copy.

I've heard of several merchants that have already informed their affiliates that affiliates must link to a landing page (and not show the merchants URL as the Display URL). This eliminates the auction altogether and leaves the merchant as the sole survivor for all keywords.

[FromRocky]

The premium ad seems to be an exception of the rule.

Another observation: A right hand site ad has jumped to the second premium position. So, two premium ads plus another ad on the right side on the second and third page. Now, some pages have three ads with the same URL. A war just began. Interesting!

[toddb]

Awesome, it took 5 minutes for people to find work arounds and now they look about the same.

[PeteM]

LOL!

Maybe they left the case thing in as a cheat!

How about leaving it as it is.

Amazon can use a small 'a'mazon.com
Us scum of the earth affiliates can use 'A'mazon.com

Nice bit of testing big G!

Seriously, I do think the way that google roll these things out is appalling. why can't they get everything working a then give everyone 7 days notice (at least)? One day they're going to really screw thing up.

[patient2all]

Pete,

You mean like last year with 'Florida'?

patient2all

[eWhisper]

I'm wondering if they're seeing more ads/keywords submitted tonite than any other evening in the U.S. before...

[Sweezely]

Just checked the Ad Diagnostic Tool for one of our keywords which isn't showing due to the new rule:

Ad not shown ¦ Reason: Another ad in your account is showing for this keyword.

Despite the fact that this keyword occurs exactly and precisely once in our account, and isn't showing because of an ad in SOMEONE ELSE'S account. Well done Google!

[chrisk999]

Tell you what - this is a terribly implemented policy. You'd have thought they'd have realised about capitalisation, especially when testing! :)

The interesting bit is, from first looks, my CPCs have dropped significantly (up to 70% in some cases) across the board. Potentially good news?

[MovingOnUp]

Not just capitalization, but also subdomains. www.ebay.com, ebay.com, and eBay.com are all considered different domains. They shouldn't be.

[cagey1]

Yes, the fine art of Live Beta Testing.

In my former life as an old-fashioned software developer, we used to do it when changes were so complicated, no one could figure out how to test them

This was also known as "What the Hell" Testing. You said it once before the release and many times after :)

[jim2003]

Hello,

Is the consensus that the capitalization and sub-domains issues are a glitch, or an intended implementation of the policy?

Regards,