if my adwords account is shut, can this ever affect my organic SERPs?

[kads]

where is the proof that adwords has no effect or influence on organic rankings? Does it say anywhere in their webmaster guidelines or anywhere else?

My adwords account was recently closed, for something that was fine in 2007 and totally in their T and C's but hey ho... my business is 90% organic listings so not a major issue.

I just want to know whether the adwords suspension will have any effect on organic listings e.g since google doesn't allow the sites in adwords, due to violations, those violations also in organic listings would cause a low user experience and make the site slapped or something? Google obviously knows all my websites since they are in webmaster tools etc

Thanks in advance

[LucidSW]

I would say it depends on the type of violation. The organic listings are following their PPC rules more and more. So if you are an affiliate for instance and your ads don't show because of having a bridge page, I'm sure Google would like to remove these bridge pages from their organics as well, if they are not doing so already. That's what they mean by quality landing pages by the way which also includes misleading and inaccurate claims.

[kads]

in my case there are no affiliate landing pages, bridge pages or anything dodgy like that.

the sites I promote in organic are totally clean white sites, and many existed before I started to use adwords. The suspension/violation happened because of an affiliate ad in 2007, which is unrelated to my websites.

I closed the whole adwords account in August 2010...only to get a ban in April 2011 for that 2007 ad!

It says in Google guidelines here:

[google.com...]

"Keep in mind that the Google search results page includes organic search results and often paid advertisement (denoted by the heading "Sponsored Links") as well. Advertising with Google won't have any effect on your site's presence in our search results. "

So, just BECAUSE my adwords account is suspended, it shouldn't mean my organic listings are penalised like that. So long as I follow the webmaster guidelines I should be ok.

Also, there are grey areas.: You could get banned in adwords for promoting weapons, but there are obviously lots of sites selling weapons online in organic search, with high PR, traffic from Google, well SEO'd etc. So a violation in adwords doesn't always mean violation for organic search and vice versa.

So yes, it depends on the type of violation.

[luke175]

"Keep in mind that the Google search results page includes organic search results and often paid advertisement (denoted by the heading "Sponsored Links") as well. Advertising with Google won't have any effect on your site's presence in our search results. "

ADVERTISING won't have any effect; they didn't say getting BANNED wouldn't have any effect.

In short, no one knows. Even if your site got dinged today it would be unknown what the cause really was. You can't expect any sort of logic out of Google these days, especially since panda.

[kads]

good point BUT;

the sites were already promoted through organic search way before they ever appeared in Adwords. So, to get penalised in organic just because the Adwords paid advertising account has gone would be totally crazy and an FTC anti-trust case all the way

also, if getting banned would cause an effect, people would create accounts in the name of their competitors and get them banned, so as to effect organic listings

next, things like weapons, #*$! sites and pharma sites are all banned from adwords, but they aren't affected in organic lisings

finally, the ban was unrelated to the sites im promoting in organic search anyway - all of the sites are white hat. the organic algorithm is totally different from the adwords one. true, there is overlap in the guidelines but so long as you're ok on the organic front, you should be ok

so, with that in mind, I think I should be ok

[luke175]

FTC anti-trust case all the way

LOL, the FTC has been relatively silent about numerous things Google has done.

Like I said, there is no definite answer and no real way to determine what happens. Even if your site gets penalized today or rides high forever you'll never really know why. Google isn't going to tell you.

FWIW, my account was suspended for a ridiculous reason and I still have sites on page 1.

[kads]

well, I did send in a complaint to the FTC about them shutting my account, so the more people that complain the better it will be.

adwords is taking a heavy hand because the FTC is coming down on them. I promoted a weight loss ad in 2007, and got the ban for that in april 2011 - the same month the FTC bought out its new guidelines on weight loss products

so, the FTC has its eyes on google and theres no where to hide. Google is trying to hide it tracks by banning accounts that might raise a flag to the FTC BUT in doing so, there causing problems on the advertiser end, who then report to the FTC and bring that into the limelight as well!

their digging a bigger hole for themselves!

I agree we need to diversify beyond google and build a concrete business that way - google can be unreliable at times

[luke175]

Interesting, did the FTC ever send you a response to your complaint?

State attorney generals are also an option too.

[kads]

nope, no response for the FTC complaint but they don't guarantee that anyway...I would urge everyone to file a complaint just for their own safety and there is no harm in doing so

we as marketers have rights too...the complaint system is very easy and if enough complaints are given, the FTC will investigate directly

also, yes attorney generals are also good. California would be the state for that since google is based there