Adsense Account Disabled Today

[Tizzko]

Been an adsense member for about 4 years now, never had a problem. I had about $1400 in my account for the month of June and got an email today that it has been disabled. Never had any invalid clicks, no black hat methods. Nothing. Just poof, all my current earnings for the months of June and all my potential earnings have gone down the drain. Was averaging about $1900 per month.

[GeorgR.]

I keep repeating it over and over.

Adsense got VERY strict and there are MANY reasons why a site could be against AdSense TOS. I see so many site layouts and (well meant) "Tips" which are ultimately already against TOS...and all it needs is a manual review (which might come sooner or later) and you are GONE.

Keep using bad site navigation, "fake" menus (link units), low quality MFA sites, use so called High CTR themes (blues sense etc.)...and then after a few months come crawling here to the forums and crying that the AdSense account has been disabled.

MOST of those example sites from very known and established Adsense courses are basically already AGAINST AdSense TOS and would NEVER survive a manual review.

Example:

* Content not wrapped around ad COULD already be one reason for a ban. Headlines can never be on top of ads - which they usually are if you do NOT wrap your content "around" the ad.

* Link units on places where there is usually a menu plus bad navigation. All kinds of tricks which will lead to LESS converting ads and bad user experience, site navigation.

Yes, it will give you higher CTR, but it wont have any use once you are banned.

* Wrong Terms, Privacy Policy (not mentioning Google Dart Cookie etc.)

* Trash traffic with low CPC clicks, ads not converting (3rd world countries traffic etc.)

Even as a PRO i am amazed how easy it is to get many of those things wrong, believing that a site layout is 100% "ok" but finding out it still has elements which could be already against AdSense TOS.

Google: IS YOUR CLIENT if you do AdSense. They have no reason to be tolerant or mild on you if they spot inconsistencies with your site, traffic, conversions, content etc.

Google is using YOUR site for their business...so look over YOUR OWN sites and think about it why they should advertise on YOUR site and what benefits they (Google) have in terms of traffic quality, conversions etc. by using YOUR site.

[Tizzko]

Now that I don't have adsense, I want to sell my sites, but the problem now is that I can't log into my adsense acocunt to show proof of earnings. That sucks.

[Jeremy Banks]

Originally Posted by Tizzko

Now that I don't have adsense, I want to sell my sites, but the problem now is that I can't log into my adsense acocunt to show proof of earnings. That sucks.

Sounds like a trap! Even if it isn't "hey buy my sites that got my adsense account banned so your account can be banned too!" Either way it's a bad idea!

[Tizzko]

GeorgR - Thanks for the info. I'm not a rookie or newbie and I know most of these things, but my sites generated, real & fair clicks this month so the part I'm angry about is how they keep my $1400 for this month. I would be ok if they paid me what I earned and then disabled my account beginning next month due to failing to comply to TOS for whatever reason. Unless they return money to the adwords people who paid for legitimate clicks on my sites, then they robbed me.

[Tizzko]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Banks

Sounds like a trap! Even if it isn't "hey buy my sites that got my adsense account banned so your account can be banned too!" Either way it's a bad idea!

I see where you are coming from, but anyone in this field who is buying sites can see that my sites are legit, professional, and have high quality articles and themes on them. But, again I see where you are coming from.

[pompano]

What suggestions would you have as an alternative. I am in the same boat and want to be earning some decent money through advertisement.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by Tizzko

Now that I don't have adsense, I want to sell my sites, but the problem now is that I can't log into my adsense acocunt to show proof of earnings. That sucks.

That's hardcore If you sell/advertise those sites as Adsense sites, & don't tell the buyer straight up, those sites had your Adsense Ads on them when your Adsense account was banned.

The first thing Adsense/Google will think is, the new owner of the site is you (instead of the new owner) & you have multiple Adsense accounts (against TOS). Then the new owner will get his Adsense account banned.

[jerytohn]

Originally Posted by yukon

That's hardcore If you sell/advertise those sites as Adsense sites, & don't tell the buyer straight up, those sites had your Adsense Ads on them when your Adsense account was banned.

The first thing Adsense/Google will think is, the new owner of the site is you (instead of the new owner) & you have multiple Adsense accounts (against TOS). Then the new owner will get his Adsense account banned.

Why would you assume that the first thing Google will think?

[Jeremy Banks]

Originally Posted by GeorgR.

I keep repeating it over and over.




Example:

* Content not wrapped around ad COULD already be one reason for a ban. Headlines can never be on top of ads - which they usually are if you do NOT wrap your content "around" the ad.

Here is a post from google touching on that for anyone interested in learning more. I am sure a lot of people do this to increase CTR

Another look at optimizations - Inside AdSense

[yukon]

Originally Posted by jerytohn

Why would you assume that the first thing Google will think?

Because Google is smart enough to know, that the first thing a banned Adsense publisher is going to do is try & get back into Adsense.

If you don't believe that's the first thing that a banned Adsense publisher thinks about, search this seo/adsense forum for any thread titles that include "Adsense banned" (or similar keywords). Being banned from Adsense is one of the most popular subjects on this WF forum.

Put your Adsense Ads (pub#) on OPs sites that included his Adsense Ads when he was banned, see how that works out for ya.

[Tizzko]

Originally Posted by yukon

Because Google is smart enough to know, that the first thing a banned Adsense publisher is going to do is try & get back into Adsense.

If you don't believe that's the first thing that a banned Adsense publisher thinks about, search this seo/adsense forum for any thread titles that include "Adsense banned" (or similar keywords). Being banned from Adsense is one of the most popular subjects on this WF forum.

Put your Adsense Ads (pub#) on OPs sites that included his Adsense Ads when he was banned, see how that works out for ya.

I'm pretty sure google doesn't keep up with all the sites someones pub id was on. For me, as an example I have about 80 sites and when I filed my appeal with google they wanted some example sites that they could go look at manually. If they really kept up with the sites I had on my account they wouldn't ask this question - they would already know.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by Tizzko

I'm pretty sure google doesn't keep up with all the sites someones pub id was on. For me, as an example I have about 80 sites and when I filed my appeal with google they wanted some example sites that they could go look at manually. If they really kept up with the sites I had on my account they wouldn't ask this question - they would already know.

Google knows every site/page that Adsense has ever been displayed on. What do you think your Adsense Admin. is all about?

Your banned account is & will always be tied to those sites you had Adsense on when you was banned.

No offense but I wouldn't touch those Adsense sites with a 10ft pole.

[GeorgR.]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Banks

Here is a post from google touching on that for anyone interested in learning more. I am sure a lot of people do this to increase CTR

Another look at optimizations - Inside AdSense

And we see those (bad) examples all the time used in the latest and greatest Adsense "training courses" and/or Adsense themes sold.

Do they KNOW they are basically already banned? It's really only a matter of time until someone looks over those sites.

Typical example is that someone runs such sites/themes for a year or later..then he gets a review...and then is surprised because he says "i was working with adsense for over a year already, never had a problem...now they disabled my account without a reason".

And heck, it could be really as trivial as some Adsense employee having a bad day.....and it doesnt matter whether other people "do this too"...because if it HITS YOU and you lose a multi thousand dollar business...what do you do?

Read the TOS twice, three times...and realize how really strict they are when it comes to layouts. And so many sites do not even remotely comply.

[dp40oz]

Originally Posted by GeorgR.

I keep repeating it over and over.

Adsense got VERY strict and there are MANY reasons why a site could be against AdSense TOS. I see so many site layouts and (well meant) "Tips" which are ultimately already against TOS...and all it needs is a manual review (which might come sooner or later) and you are GONE.

Keep using bad site navigation, "fake" menus (link units), low quality MFA sites, use so called High CTR themes (blues sense etc.)...and then after a few months come crawling here to the forums and crying that the AdSense account has been disabled.

MOST of those example sites from very known and established Adsense courses are basically already AGAINST AdSense TOS and would NEVER survive a manual review.

Example:

* Content not wrapped around ad COULD already be one reason for a ban. Headlines can never be on top of ads - which they usually are if you do NOT wrap your content "around" the ad.

* Link units on places where there is usually a menu plus bad navigation. All kinds of tricks which will lead to LESS converting ads and bad user experience, site navigation.

Yes, it will give you higher CTR, but it wont have any use once you are banned.

* Wrong Terms, Privacy Policy (not mentioning Google Dart Cookie etc.)

* Trash traffic with low CPC clicks, ads not converting (3rd world countries traffic etc.)

Even as a PRO i am amazed how easy it is to get many of those things wrong, believing that a site layout is 100% "ok" but finding out it still has elements which could be already against AdSense TOS.

Google: IS YOUR CLIENT if you do AdSense. They have no reason to be tolerant or mild on you if they spot inconsistencies with your site, traffic, conversions, content etc.

Google is using YOUR site for their business...so look over YOUR OWN sites and think about it why they should advertise on YOUR site and what benefits they (Google) have in terms of traffic quality, conversions etc. by using YOUR site.

5. Prohibited Uses. You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: (i) directly or indirectly generate queries, Referral Events, or impressions of or clicks on any Ad, Link, Search Result, or Referral Button (including without limitation by clicking on “play” for any video Ad) through any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means, including but not limited to through repeated manual clicks, the use of robots or other automated query tools and/or computer generated search requests, and/or the unauthorized use of other search engine optimization services and/or software; (ii) edit, modify, filter, truncate or change the order of the information contained in any Ad, Link, Ad Unit, Search Result, or Referral Button, or remove, obscure or minimize any Ad, Link, Ad Unit, Search Result, or Referral Button in any way without authorization from Google; (iii) frame, minimize, remove or otherwise inhibit the full and complete display of any Web page accessed by an end user after clicking on any part of an Ad ("Advertiser Page"), any Search Results Page, or any Referral Page; (iv) redirect an end user away from any Advertiser Page, Search Results Page, or Referral Page; provide a version of the Advertiser Page, Search Results Page, or Referral Page that is different from the page an end user would access by going directly to the Advertiser Page, Search Results Page, or Referral Page; intersperse any content between the Ad and the Advertiser Page, between the page containing the Search Box and the Search Results Page, or between the Referral Button and the Referral Page; or otherwise provide anything other than a direct link from an Ad to an Advertiser Page, from the page containing the Search Box to the Search Results Page, or from the Referral Button to the Referral Page; (v) display any Ad(s), Link(s), or Referral Button(s) on any Web page or any Web site that contains any pornographic, hate-related, violent, or illegal content; (vi) directly or indirectly access, launch, and/or activate Ads, Links, Search Results, or Referral Buttons through or from, or otherwise incorporate the Ads, Links, Search Results, or Referral Buttons in, any software application, Web site, or other means other than Your Property(ies), and then only to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement; (vii) "crawl", "spider", index or in any non-transitory manner store or cache information obtained from any Ads, Links, Search Results, or Referral Events, or any part, copy, or derivative thereto; (viii) act in any way that violates any Program Policies posted on the Google Web Site, as may be revised from time to time, or any other agreement between You and Google (including without limitation the Google AdWords program terms); (ix) disseminate malware; (x) create a new account to use the Program after Google has terminated this Agreement with You as a result of your breach of this Agreement; or (xi) engage in any action or practice that reflects poorly on Google or otherwise disparages or devalues Google’s reputation or goodwill. You acknowledge that any attempted participation or violation of any of the foregoing is a material breach of this Agreement and that we may pursue any and all applicable legal and equitable remedies against You, including an immediate suspension of Your account or termination of this Agreement, and the pursuit of all available civil or criminal remedies.

I don't see anything that talks about page design in the manner you've described. I just read the whole TOS. Maybe I missed it, its definitely possible.

Also that Google Blog post is not in the TOS and was just a Google suggestion not a rule.

[Tizzko]

Originally Posted by yukon

No offense but I wouldn't touch those Adsense sites with a 10ft pole.

So if I offered to sell you a site with an exact match domain that gets 14,900 exact searches per month, sits at the #1 position in google and bing for 3 keywords totaling 22k exact searches per month. You wouldn't touch it? Adsense isn't the only way to make money, ya know.

[dp40oz]

Originally Posted by Tizzko

So if I offered to sell you a site with an exact match domain that gets 14,900 exact searches per month, sits at the #1 position in google and bing for 3 keywords totaling 22k exact searches per month. You wouldn't touch it? Adsense isn't the only way to make money, ya know.

I'll take it tonight how much?

[ZILLIONAIRE]

Originally Posted by Tizzko

Unless they return money to the adwords people who paid for legitimate clicks on my sites, then they robbed me.

...as far as i know, they do just that. i am sure i read it somewhere in the past but i just cant seem to find it! when an account gets banned Google returns the money to the people who paid for the clicks.

[Fraggler]

Originally Posted by dp40oz

I don't see anything that talks about page design in the manner you've described. I just read the whole TOS. Maybe I missed it, its definitely possible.

Also that Google Blog post is not in the TOS and was just a Google suggestion not a rule.

You got to point 5 without seeing and reading the URL in point 1?

Program Participation. Participation in the Program is subject to Google’s prior approval and Your continued compliance with the Program Policies ("Program Policies"), located at https://www.google.com/adsense/policies, and/or such other URL as Google may provide from time to time. Google reserves the right to refuse participation to any applicant or participant at any time in its sole discretion. By enrolling in the Program, You represent that You are at least 18 years of age and agree that Google may serve (a) third party and/or Google provided advertisements and/or other content (such third party provided advertisements, Google provided advertisements and other content, collectively, "Ads"),

The policies are where Google talks abuot misleading clicks and page design. Google uses their blog to help AdSense publishers understand the lawyer talk. It is up to you to use some common sense though.

Google doesn't want their customers to be mislead. It's as simple as that. If they are interested in the ad then they will click the ad - this is what advertisers expect.

A lot of the time ads that stick out as ads will get the higher click through rate as it lets the reader actually see them. The advertisers usually know how to write good copy; let the readers see them and they will get clicked. Tricking them is a false economy.

To the OP:

If you were acyually making $1900/month with Adsense then you should have the traffic levels to adapt to a different monetisation method. Look at selling industry specific CPM ads for starters, if your site is actually quality and an advertiser will get value from the exposure.

[steve*]

Hi Guys, I'm brand new to the forum. Just listening to all this adsense talk begs the question to me anyways.....is there an easy method to look over my sites and see if they comply...I hope they do...I am worried now tho.

Best regards Steve

[markowe]

About headlines, it's clear from that "suggestion" you shouldn't put ads under MISLEADING headlines like "Hot deals". Still, I stopped doing ads under ANY header, at least without wrapping the text. I took a CTR knock but I sleep better at night.

[RuthBabe]

Originally Posted by dp40oz

I'll take it tonight how much?

Yes, I like it too! Is he selling it for $100?

[michalsemen]

Personally I can say that one should use Amazon affiliates or some other good paying affiliates to earn money online other than adsense.

[WealthWithin]

Originally Posted by Tizzko

I'm pretty sure google doesn't keep up with all the sites someones pub id was on. For me, as an example I have about 80 sites and when I filed my appeal with google they wanted some example sites that they could go look at manually. If they really kept up with the sites I had on my account they wouldn't ask this question - they would already know.

Lulz....


If you put a good AdSense code in a 'disabled AdSense' site, then your days of AdSense are numbered. It's algorithmically detected.

BTW: Don't 100% believe what AdSense gurus or even the stuff their optimization team is saying. The information is correct in general, but use it with common sense.

[sousen]

It won't be help you to sell your site showing adsense income proof because the person wil not able to allow his ad sense account if he buy your account if he/she do this there account will banned. that site won't be able to use for ad-sense anymore

[RuthBabe]

Originally Posted by GeorgR.

I keep repeating it over and over.

Example:

* Content not wrapped around ad COULD already be one reason for a ban. Headlines can never be on top of ads - which they usually are if you do NOT wrap your content "around" the ad.

What about if the adsense is wrapped and is located below the post title (left or right) is it also prohibited?

[RuthBabe]

Originally Posted by ZILLIONAIRE

...as far as i know, they do just that. i am sure i read it somewhere in the past but i just cant seem to find it! when an account gets banned Google returns the money to the people who paid for the clicks.

Do they really returns the money to the advertisers? Where can I find proof that Google did return the advertiser's money?

[markowe]

Originally Posted by RuthBabe

What about if the adsense is wrapped and is located below the post title (left or right) is it also prohibited?

Again, they are not giving hard-and-fast rules about this stuff - whenever you give clear prohibitions like that you will get people trying to find loopholes, so a lot of this stuff is left deliberately vague. What is clear from the blog post is that your ad placement in relation to your article title should NOT mislead the user into thinking the ad is related to the heading.

I am certainly not going to say what is and isn't OK, but FWIW if they started banning everybody who flows their ad units into their article text below a headline they would have to ban most Adsense publishers. For that matter you can probably get away with placing ads directly between header and article, like the whole Xfactor method recommended, provided there is no intent to mislead, but they are certainly not going to say that, are they, and I would rather not place them like that because it gets me too high a CTR and I fear my sites will start yielding a low conversion rate and get smart-priced or worse.

Still, look at Google's OWN Adsense heatmap: Where should I place Google ads on my pages? - AdSense Help - if you placed ads in some of the places they show there your site would look like the worst MFA on earth - take from that what you will!

[markowe]

Originally Posted by RuthBabe

Do they really returns the money to the advertisers? Where can I find proof that Google did return the advertiser's money?

Invalid click credits - Inside AdWords

[yukon]

Originally Posted by Tizzko

So if I offered to sell you a site with an exact match domain that gets 14,900 exact searches per month, sits at the #1 position in google and bing for 3 keywords totaling 22k exact searches per month. You wouldn't touch it? Adsense isn't the only way to make money, ya know.

If you really believed the sites could be monitezed so easy, I doubt very much you would sell the sites.

I do know Adsense isn't the only way to make money. To answer your question, all my comments are based on adding Adsense to the site. See my first comment, top of the page.

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by GeorgR.

Even as a PRO i am amazed how easy it is to get many of those things wrong, believing that a site layout is 100% "ok" but finding out it still has elements which could be already against AdSense TOS.

I'm no PRO, but keep learning and digging daily.

Amazing how people refuse to consider all cases when google can't possibly
give every friggn example of a violation. Common sense must apply.

I am also amazed that people swear they do nothing wrong, etc., even
crow about never getting invalid clicks. Fat chance. I get them daily.
There is no way you can avoid it. Invalid clicks will not get you a ban
unless you have 1,000 clicks and 1,000 invalid. (Hyperbole on purpose
for point)

If you login and see 40 clicks and $50, you have no idea if you had
an invalid click. That is until the end of the month and your earnings
are finalized lower. I see mine lowered each month. I can't see how
a person who makes decent money on adsense will not get invalid
clicks.

Google undoubtedly credits money back to advertisers. Why wouldn't they?
They pride themselves on giving paying customers a decent ROI. Anything
that lowers ROI google takes seriously. Do they refund money in all cases?
Of course not. If you violate the terms, but had valid clicks, they keep
the money from you, but probably do not need to credit back an advertiser.

They keep "your" money because of your stupidity. You violate the terms,
they have no legal reason to pay you. You agreed to this when you signed
up. Yes, I know. Nobody reads shinola. Prisons are full of innocent people.

Robbed? Come on. The money was never yours in the first place. As soon
as you get a me, me, mine mentality about adsense, you are going down
a tricky path. It is a privilege to earn with adsense, not a right. That
privilege can be revoked anytime.

All TOS could be summed up by GeorgR

Google: IS YOUR CLIENT if you do AdSense. They have no reason to be tolerant or mild on you if they spot inconsistencies with your site, traffic, conversions, content etc.

Paul

[dp40oz]

Originally Posted by paulgl

Robbed? Come on. The money was never yours in the first place. As soon
as you get a me, me, mine mentality about adsense, you are going down
a tricky path. It is a privilege to earn with adsense, not a right. That
privilege can be revoked anytime.

This is the exact mentality that allows Google to get away with this garbage. If all webmasters walked away from adsense right now Googles stock would tank and they'd lose almost the majority of their business. Its not our privilege its a partnership. If anyone actually challenged their TOS legally they probably would get paid for those final valid clicks that Google has "robbed" them of but who's gonna challenge the all mighty Google in court for $1500?

To stand by a huge business like this and claim that they have the rights to do what ever they want is just naive. They've never been seriously challenged legally on anything and now there are huge civil lawsuits mounting for Google. This is fact. Things will change in the next few years. The days of Google's "vague" legal documents are coming to an end. You've said it yourself time and time again, "be smart", "don't do stupid things that Google can interpret as bad" ect.. Well Google has done just that with all these "vague" TOS's and guidelines and now webmasters are finally legally challenging them. Things are changing and this is not right no matter how you slice it. They've taken this mans money that he earned for Google and himself and have given him no reason and no proof. If you think this will stand up in court just watch the next few years pan out.

[dp40oz]

I would also like to mention that this comes from experience. I challenged Myspace's TOS agreement and won. These things are not the end all be all.

I also always like to point to Myspace when people talk about Google's flawless ways and how they are "too big to fail" so to speak. 4 years ago Myspace was one of the top 3 websites in the world and had been for years. Their attempt at over policing their system, having captcha codes everywhere, their ignorance to ever listen to the user, their idea that users don't matter at all ect.. ect.. all lead to their massive and quick downfall. Hmmmm some of these things are starting to sound a bit familiar.

[Carl Brown]

From your lips to God's ears

There is definitely a problem. If only from a business perspective. I think Google is leaving themselves wide open for a better competitor.

I'm just trying to hold out until they ban everyone and have to start over. Or until one of the adsense alternatives can compete.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by dp40oz

I would also like to mention that this comes from experience. I challenged Myspace's TOS agreement and won. These things are not the end all be all.

I also always like to point to Myspace when people talk about Google's flawless ways and how they are "too big to fail" so to speak. 4 years ago Myspace was one of the top 3 websites in the world and had been for years. Their attempt at over policing their system, having captcha codes everywhere, their ignorance to ever listen to the user, their idea that users don't matter at all ect.. ect.. all lead to their massive and quick downfall. Hmmmm some of these things are starting to sound a bit familiar.

Facebook is what killed MySpace, it was a huge migration.

I know this for a fact based on every single female I know (family & friends). They were all on MySpace & then it was like over night the migration to Facebook happend.

Live by the web, die by the web!

MySpace R.I.P.

[dp40oz]

Originally Posted by yukon

Facebook is what killed MySpace, it was a huge migration.

I know this for a fact based on every single female I know (family & friends). They were all on MySpace & then it was like over night the migration to Facebook happend.

Live by the web, die by the web!

MySpace R.I.P.

Facebook was around for years before Myspace collapsed. Yes there was a huge migration, I was apart of that migration personally but there were warning signs for years, things Myspace could have listened to and they didn't. If people think Google is too big to fail then take a look at the history of the internet. Lets just see if Steve Jobs ever get into search and PPC advertising. Google will be begging us to use adsense.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by dp40oz

Facebook was around for years before Myspace collapsed. Yes there was a huge migration, I was apart of that migration personally but there were warning signs for years, things Myspace could have listened to and they didn't. If people think Google is too big to fail then take a look at the history of the internet. Lets just see if Steve Jobs ever get into search and PPC advertising. Google will be begging us to use adsense.

Sure, everything fails sooner or later.

Just like MySpace, Google & Facebook both will fail sometime in the future.

The reason sites fail, is when something new & better comes along.

No other PPC has tried to challenge Google Adsense, I mean really challenge them, with higher pub. payouts, easier application process, etc...

The reason Google Adsense hasn't been challenged, is because Google owns two of the largest sources of free traffic (Google Search + Youtube).

No other PPC can even come close to that. Facebook might be able to If they restructured & provided a new search engine, they might have a chance to topple Google Search, Facebook has the traffic.

I don't see Adsense failing anytime soon, considering no other PPC has the same amount of resources as Google.

[dp40oz]

Originally Posted by yukon

I don't see Adsense failing anytime soon, considering no other PPC has the same amount of resources as Google.

I don't either but I do think there are openings. If Apple decided to build a search engine that was included within the safari toolbar on both Mac's, iPhones and iPads I think overnight you'd see a huge chunk of Googles traffic taken out. Bing has already started to make a little headway and Microsoft isn't what Apple is anymore. I think mobile PPC can be a game changer and someone new could come out on top of that. Who knows, all I know is Google isn't winning any browny points with Webmasters and their dealings with adsense. A viable alternative would be welcomed by all..... As I slowly browse to my adsense report for the 127th time today

[Justin Stowe]

Although Adsense can be a decent business model (I just got paid today :-p ), I have to admit that it isn't always the best.

Any business that is reliant on only ONE source of income, ONE source of traffic will be doomed when times go bad.

So when your MFA site gets your Adsense account banned, you're screwed.

When your one authority website gets sandboxed by Google and you have no videos, press releases or anything else giving traffic to it, you're screwed.

When Clickbank decides to start shaving some of your sales, you're screwed.

Diversify- have multiple income streams and multiple sources of traffic. Or you can just pray that Google is always nice....

P.S. This is why people say to build a list :-)

[guitarjosh]

Like the post above me states.. AdSense isn't the ideal business model since we're reliant on the mood of any Google reviewer on any given day to determine our fate. But.. having said that, my heart goes out to you on this one. I'm making about $2000 a month now and if it just disappeared, I'd be pretty bummed.

Having said that.. I would also just view it as a setback.. not a loss. Take action right away and get this going again so the loss is just for a few months. I'd be hitting up coworkers/Mom/Grandma.. getting someone else's ssn and telling them how they're going to get 10% every month for free.. and I'd have every blog that just had adsense successfully running on it.. recreated within the next week. Import and export those mysql databases, create new domain names on a different server and try to correct what you think what may have happened.

My neighbor had a $4000 a month AdSense account go bye-bye earlier this year (account wasn't banned but all sites deindexed). I helped him to recreate everything and we had it done in 2 weeks. He's already back up to about $40 a day. Nowhere near where he was yet.. but for the short amount of time.. doing very good.

Best of luck to you. Sorry to hear about the misfortune. Make it so it's only temporary.

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by dp40oz

This is the exact mentality that allows Google to get away with this garbage. If all webmasters walked away from adsense right now Googles stock would tank and they'd lose almost the majority of their business. Its not our privilege its a partnership. If anyone actually challenged their TOS legally they probably would get paid for those final valid clicks that Google has "robbed" them of but who's gonna challenge the all mighty Google in court for $1500?

People should not sign up for a FREE program, not read the rules, violate them,
and them scream "Robbed!"

Google does not have vague rules. People think they are vague, and
work in the shadows. Not a good idea.

Google cannot spell out each and every what-if. They have catch all rules.
The biggest? If you agree to put adsense on your site, then you agree
to each and every google webmaster guideline. Did you know that?
Most people don't realize they can't violate another google product
in conjunction with adsense.

That means, in short, using gmail, youtube, blogspot, etc. for any
adsense revenue, and you violate the terms of those individual programs,
you could be toast.

For example, you open a blogpsot blog and post nothing but youtube
videos. You have now violated youtube by making your site nothing
more than a youtube video site. But when people get canceled, they
scream, "Wait! I did no black hat, no invalid clicks, no nothing...."
WRONG!

If you choose to use a free program like google, you dang well better
make sure you know each and everything you are not supposed to do.
Ignorance is no excuse.

Just yesterday some chap is arguing that you can use copyrighted
images just by giving the source. The bloke would not listen. he
was convinced that it is legal to use any images...well, go on
with your bad self. Google states no copyright infringement on
adsense sites....*sigh*

Never, ever, ever have I ever said I am an expert. Far from it.
That's what keeps me reading the adsense blog.

I also remember a couple of weeks ago I found that google did
not want adsense on pages where people can post unmoderated
comments, read: spam. To me, I would follow that to the letter.
Don't put adsense on any comments page. Spam comes in all
forms. Does not have to be links. BUT....it was astonishing how many
people had a flippant attitude, brushed it off, and said, "well...I'll
delete any spam comments." Completely missed the point!
Did not say if you delete spammed comments in the future....it was
all about allowing! To me, I would not approve any comments! How do
I know which ones google thinks is spam?!?!

Over and over it is astonishing how many people will not read, or
continue to push google's buttons by trying to get around the rules!

But hey, the adsense bans keep the forum lively, don't they?

Keep on truckin!

Paul

[yukon]

Originally Posted by guitarjosh

Like the post above me states.. AdSense isn't the ideal business model since we're reliant on the mood of any Google reviewer on any given day to determine our fate. But.. having said that, my heart goes out to you on this one. I'm making about $2000 a month now and if it just disappeared, I'd be pretty bummed.

Having said that.. I would also just view it as a setback.. not a loss. Take action right away and get this going again so the loss is just for a few months. I'd be hitting up coworkers/Mom/Grandma.. getting someone else's ssn and telling them how they're going to get 10% every month for free.. and I'd have every blog that just had adsense successfully running on it.. recreated within the next week. Import and export those mysql databases, create new domain names on a different server and try to correct what you think what may have happened.

My neighbor had a $4000 a month AdSense account go bye-bye earlier this year (account wasn't banned but all sites deindexed). I helped him to recreate everything and we had it done in 2 weeks. He's already back up to about $40 a day. Nowhere near where he was yet.. but for the short amount of time.. doing very good.

Best of luck to you. Sorry to hear about the misfortune. Make it so it's only temporary.

Trust me, family & friends do NOT mix well with money!

Your going to give your family member 10% free?

Your also going to be giving them 100% of the tax liability, that the IRS will hold them (not you) accountable for regardless of the deal you come up with between you & your family member.

Your asking for trouble, with another persons SSN.

[dp40oz]

Originally Posted by paulgl

People should not sign up for a FREE program, not read the rules, violate them,
and them scream "Robbed!"

Google does not have vague rules. People think they are vague, and
work in the shadows. Not a good idea.

Google cannot spell out each and every what-if. They have catch all rules.
The biggest? If you agree to put adsense on your site, then you agree
to each and every google webmaster guideline. Did you know that?
Most people don't realize they can't violate another google product
in conjunction with adsense.

That means, in short, using gmail, youtube, blogspot, etc. for any
adsense revenue, and you violate the terms of those individual programs,
you could be toast.

For example, you open a blogpsot blog and post nothing but youtube
videos. You have now violated youtube by making your site nothing
more than a youtube video site. But when people get canceled, they
scream, "Wait! I did no black hat, no invalid clicks, no nothing...."
WRONG!

If you choose to use a free program like google, you dang well better
make sure you know each and everything you are not supposed to do.
Ignorance is no excuse.

Just yesterday some chap is arguing that you can use copyrighted
images just by giving the source. The bloke would not listen. he
was convinced that it is legal to use any images...well, go on
with your bad self. Google states no copyright infringement on
adsense sites....*sigh*

Never, ever, ever have I ever said I am an expert. Far from it.
That's what keeps me reading the adsense blog.

I also remember a couple of weeks ago I found that google did
not want adsense on pages where people can post unmoderated
comments, read: spam. To me, I would follow that to the letter.
Don't put adsense on any comments page. Spam comes in all
forms. Does not have to be links. BUT....it was astonishing how many
people had a flippant attitude, brushed it off, and said, "well...I'll
delete any spam comments." Completely missed the point!
Did not say if you delete spammed comments in the future....it was
all about allowing! To me, I would not approve any comments! How do
I know which ones google thinks is spam?!?!

Over and over it is astonishing how many people will not read, or
continue to push google's buttons by trying to get around the rules!

But hey, the adsense bans keep the forum lively, don't they?

Keep on truckin!

Paul

All true and valid points. The one thing though is just because the TOS says Google doesn't have to pay you the money earned doesn't make it completely legal. If they give all money back to advertisers thats fine but if they take your money for valid clicks and don't pay you that would be very very hard for them to defend in court.

Just because its on paper doesn't make it legal. You and I can sign a contract saying im allowed to break into your house and steal all your stuff and lock your dog in the basement but that doesn't make those things legal. Just because Google says they don't have to pay you doesn't make it true.

[guitarjosh]

Originally Posted by yukon

Trust me, family & friends do NOT mix well with money!

Your going to give your family member 10% free?

Your also going to be giving them 100% of the tax liability, that the IRS will hold them (not you) accountable for regardless of the deal you come up with between you & your family member.

Your asking for trouble, with another persons SSN.

yeah.. good advice to pause and reflect on. although, my family relations are tight enough that we'd work it out if I had to go that route.

DUDE... just noticed your sig. One of the greatest freaking albums ever!!! Frank Hannon is still one of my all time favs. Great stuff!

[GeorgR.]

Originally Posted by RuthBabe

What about if the adsense is wrapped and is located below the post title (left or right) is it also prohibited?

If the content is wrapped it usually turns out with about HALF of the title/headline above the ads and the other half above content. This is ok.

But according to them its not ok to simply put a big ads box on top of content, with the entire headline above the ad. I didnt know that either since MANY people do this. But its not allowed.


There are more "issues" where people might not even realize that it could cause problems. For example, on a typical blog/site if you put a ad right into the content.

To be really 100% "safe" you would actually need a separator line so there is no doubt that the ad is not part of the content...ESPECIALLY if you use the same coloring as the rest of the site.

Those are all minor things and i think each particular *per se* might not cause an issue, the problem really depending on the mood of whoever might review your site..and if a bunch of those factors could be found on your site.

Remember that Google's intention might be 100% opposite of yours:

* Google wants targeted and converting clicks.
* YOU want the "highest CTR" you can get

Those two don't go together well. Rest assured that a site with exceptional high CTR could mean many clicks which were not intended. Those wont convert. (Needless to say the same thing applies for "self clicking" or whatever other way of fraud clicks).

Now...its a given they have stats for web sites and can easily see how a site's clicks convert, what a site is ultimately WORTH for them to have ads on there.

And its also a given that they might have triggers in place which sooner or later might raise a red flag...heck all that stuff could even happen automatically with an auto-ban of your site/account once you reach critical numbers for conversions etc.

[Carl Brown]

Originally Posted by GeorgR.

If the content is wrapped it usually turns out with about HALF of the title/headline above the ads and the other half above content. This is ok.

But according to them its not ok to simply put a big ads box on top of content, with the entire headline above the ad. I didnt know that either since MANY people do this. But its not allowed.

I used to use the 160x600 on the left in it's own column. Since I read how xfactor does it, I now use 2 250x250, one over the other wrapped on the left. I also follow his advice and place the hr tag to separate the title from the content and then ads.

Paulgl is technically right, but it's the heavy handed approach google uses that has most of us worried.

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by dp40oz

Just because its on paper doesn't make it legal. You and I can sign a contract saying im allowed to break into your house and steal all your stuff and lock your dog in the basement but that doesn't make those things legal. Just because Google says they don't have to pay you doesn't make it true.

Because it's their money. It's their program. It's their risk. It's their business.

You agreed to the contract. They did not twist your arm or hold a gun to
your head.

I'm sure google has enough money to pay lawyers to draw up iron-clad
legal terms.

Just because you don't like the terms after the fact, does not
negate the terms. Or you simply did not read the contract.

Paul

[markowe]

Well, in short, I like the Adsense money too much to do anything stupid that'll get me banned. At the moment, working with Google is a win-win for me and for them (and for their advertisers, hopefully - I am one myself!). We can talk about the ins and outs but the bottom line is I want those cheques to keep coming, so I'll just play by the book, thanks. If anyone can tell me a CPC program that pays NEARLY as well then I'll start sticking my neck out and asking that they respect my human rights, or whatever! Or maybe not...

[Ross Petal]

The same thing happened to me by that awful dictator know as Goggle. They encourage you to join their program, you make some money then close your account, keeping millions of dollars from hard working people.

They close the accounts at a certain time to maximise their loot. It's just daylight robbery and we are defenseless against them, even if we do have the power of the force. God help us!

[Tizzko]

Originally Posted by markowe

Well, in short, I like the Adsense money too much to do anything stupid that'll get me banned. At the moment, working with Google is a win-win for me and for them (and for their advertisers, hopefully - I am one myself!). We can talk about the ins and outs but the bottom line is I want those cheques to keep coming, so I'll just play by the book, thanks. If anyone can tell me a CPC program that pays NEARLY as well then I'll start sticking my neck out and asking that they respect my human rights, or whatever! Or maybe not...

I, just like you was also playing within the rules and was very cautious with my sites. You could wake up banned tomorrow for no reason at all.