But I have a friend who has been using Google for two months. In all that time, she only had one violation (accidently put the wrong display url).
Now, after two weeks of review, she got an email saying that she has had too many violations and now her account is suspended.
What's the deal? Have they gone to a "one strike and you're out" policy?
This is crazy.
I've had a Google Account for almost 2 years and have never been suspended. I'm always making minor mistakes (violations?) here and there like a bad URL or whatever, but never enough to get me suspended I guess...
I think it's just a matter of following the guidelines the best you can. I don't know if there is a limit to how many probs you have or what kind of probs you are having...
I don't know if there is a limit to how many probs you have or what kind of probs you are having...
Under normal circumstances, there's no limit to the number of disapprovals one may receive in one's account - so long as the disapproved ads are not repeatedly re-submitted without the requested changes having been made.
If an advertiser finds that their account has been suspended, the best thing to do is to reply to the most recent email on the subject, and inquire as to what can be done to get things running again.
BTW, if these disapproval emails have seemingly not been received, it's worth checking in one's bulk or spam mail folders for emails from AdWords that may have 'filtered' by the advertiser's email program.
AWA
Admittedly, I used to violate that on purpose in order to get more traffic (I know, I'm ashamed. :( Now I've learned my lesson). However, I did stop doing that a couple months ago, and everything had been fine, but I guess in reviewing my account they noticed that I used to do that a lot and decided I wasn't trustworthy.
I would like to get a fresh start because toward the end I was getting plenty of traffic without violating any of their policies, but I'm banned for a while until I figure out how to get things going again.
Oh well. Live and learn.
Word of advice to everyone: Don't f*** with Google! lol
If an advertiser finds that their account has been suspended, the best thing to do is to reply to the most recent email on the subject, and inquire as to what can be done to get things running again.
my ads stopped cause my payment wasnt processing, i had correct CC info and even checked with my bank that everything was ok, when i emailed adwords about it they replied "It has come to our attention that your Google AdWords accounts do not comply
with our terms of service and advertising policies. As a result, your accounts have been suspended and your ads will no longer run on Google."
all my ads were always validated and the only thing i could think of was that i had previos accounts that i made cause my CC was kept getting declined...i replied to their email asking what i can do about the situation, and asked them to cancel my old acounts even though i wasnt using them, but had no reply for 10 days now, and my old account still isnt cancelled
As I read threads like this one, I find myself wanting to stress that it is not to Google's advantage to suspend accounts - so it is not done lightly. It is very occasionally done, to protect the integrity of the program for users and advertisers alike.
I've talked to many of our advertisers over the course of years. And by this, I mean the same advertisers - ones who were running in early 2002, and who are still running today, non-stop.
I like this a lot. It means that the advertisers have been successful. As a consequence, AdWords has been successful. I'm quite proud to be a part of that.
AdWords accounts are intended to run long term, and to make their owner's successful over the long term. And, it's been my experience over the past three years that advertisers who are mindful of the guidelines and polices set in place to keep the program running smoothly, and who make good-faith efforts to adhere to them, will have no concerns with account suspension.
AWA
any suggestions would be welcome AWA...
any suggestions would be welcome AWA...
eves, I am only guessing of course, but I wonder if the answer might revolve around the multiple accounts you mentioned in an earlier post.
Please be sure to check the email accounts with which those accounts were associated, to see if there may have been some earlier communications you might have missed.
My best advice: reply to the most recent email you've received on the subject, ask whether the multiple accounts might be an issue of concern, and ask what you could do to get things running again.
AWA
I noticed no traffic from Adwords three days ago and headed over to my account. It wanted me to update my credit card information.
My card hasn't changed although the company did recently merge so had a slight name change. I put all the details in again and waited. Fired off a couple of emails to support. And waited some more.
Nothing. Far as Google is concerned I'm out of business. I haven't had an email to say my account is suspended! Not even an auto response! I've checked that email address - its functioning perfectly and I checked my junk mail folder too.
Incidentally, I am not the only person who is having problems. A friend of mine just asked me to look at one of his client's accounts and he can not get any ads to appear at all and two weeks of 'support looking into it' was going nowhere fast.
I notice the initial $5 payment was never taken. Never attempted either, for all I know.
Another friend is having severe problems too. Ads showing erratically, if at all. So, out of the three people I know who are using Adwords - all three of us are having delivery problems.
It would seem to me there is a massive problem in the Adwords Billing department. More precisely, the credit card processing section where it interfaces with account management.
I'm thinking the lack of communication is a desire to minimize bad publicity at a time when Google's public image is under some strain, but frankly, as its my neck on the line too I think one auto generated email isn't asking too much.
Yes, I have made many, many mistakes in URL display, typos, grammar, credit card declines, and on and on... And in each instances received an email from support to correct the problem.
I've been with adwords for about 8 months and have gotten a quick response from support for every stupid questions. Just last month I received a "Service Level Enhancements" email from G thanking me for my business.
kz
No answer on a Sunday, nor should I think there'll be one on Monday as its a holiday in the US.
When I do get an answer, experience would suggest I won't get a solution. Adwords is permanently hosed in my opinion, and the longer I waste on them the more chance I'll be permanently hosed along with it.
Yes. I know Google say they only make money when I make money. And they don't want to destroy me personally, deliberately.
But until it happens to you, like it has to me and two friends this past week, you have *no idea* how little comfort that is, even if you do believe it.
Bankrupted by the Good Guys is as helpful as being killed by friendly fire.
Almost everyone Google touches they will eventually destroy, I think, and that will include thousands of smaller businesses. They probably intend to keep the larger Adwords clients for themselves plus a few untouchable big affiliates in the SERPS. The rest of us get to scrabble through the dirt for the leavings rather like the way the affiliate networks preferred half a dozen parasites to thousands of website based clients. I see the exact same platitudes being trotted out about Us Not Making Money Unless You Make Money. Well thats what CJ said!
Google is a business that created itself from an affiliate program then destroyed affiliates. There is no innate moral superiority to Google, and a lot of instability. They morph and they change and they leave a trail of destruction in their wake. One day they are a search engine, next an email provider, today its satellite photos and tomorrow they're the new Paypal?
I'm a bird! I'm a plane! Whoooo!
If Google was a person, I'd be force-feeding it tranquilizers and finding it treatment for its Manic Episodes. All I wanted was a little traffic and I was willing to pay!
But they won't settle for mere money. It will probably take every hour of every day for the forseeable future and even then chances are I'll be worse off than when I started. When I cannot even speak to the person supposedly looking at my account, the one I poured thousands of dolars into, what hope could there be?
Organisations can go nuts just the same as people can go nuts. Even, due to cascade phenomena, when every single person in that organisation is entirely sane.
Once again, I'm left to pick through the rubble of its latest tantrum just to see if there is anything worth salvaging. In response to my entirely reasonable questions Google just sits there, drooling down its Good Guys Bib.
It did eventually spit out one auto response. More by way of reflex than any actual life sign.
.
One day they are a search engine, next an email provider, today its satellite photos and tomorrow they're the new Paypal?
Alex, well said. My sentiments exactly.
When I cannot even speak to the person supposedly looking at my account, the one I poured thousands of dolars into, what hope could there be?
You're right, they're not there on weekends, and Monday is a holiday. But I've found that they can sometimes be more helpful on the phone than by email, and it doesn't take as long. Give it a shot.
Google can't run my ads because they are having trouble processing my card. The one they've been billing for a year already.
They want me to photocopy it - front and back. Then scratch out everything but the last 4 digits with my pencil, or whatever implement I have handy. Next I'm supposed to fax or snail mail or pony express it to them, or something.
I think this must be a Beta Test for Googles new Superduper Payment Gateway. Obviously they need my assistance with all the high tech stamp licking and pencils and stuff but they are too embarrassed to just ask me straight out.
My suspicions were confirmed when I looked in my bank account today, after reading the Adwords email, and noticed the card they wanted photocopying and faxing, had been used only *yesterday* by Google to help themselves to several hundred dollars.
.
