I GOT SUCKER PUNCHED BY ADWORDS....with NO warning..!!

28 replies
  • SEO
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So I decided to run a test niche group of ads. I was poking around Tattoo Removal on Clickbank.
I pick Ridtattoo and run 5 ads.
3 Hours later.....SLAM! SUSPENDED PERMANENTLY.

Now, I'm no Adwords newbie. I've been doing Adwords for quite some time.

WTF???? What did I do?
THis morning, the email says that Ridtattoo violates policy for false claims.
THey told me to hit the road, basically saying if I promoted THAT site, then obviously I'm a Scamming Loser who will continue to try and mislead people, so they don't want anything more to do with me.

Imagine how pissed I am.
I feel more angry with Clickbank for allowing "shady vendors" to advertise, because I feel duped that I thought it was an OK product.

So, what could I have done, and what should I do in the future, to prevent possible problems like this? I'm going to clear cache/change IP, and since for this account I was using a coupon under a different name my REAL name and CC aren't flagged.

#&!!! sakes!
#adwordswith #punched #sucker #warning
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Sorry to hear about your unfortunate Google event.

    I see the sites in your sig. are all free hosting.

    When you ran the Adwords Ad did you have your own (self hosted) landing page, If not what was the page you tried sending traffic?
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    • Profile picture of the author natalienichols
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      Sorry to hear about your unfortunate Google event.

      I see the sites in your sig. are all free hosting.

      When you ran the Adwords Ad did you have your own (self hosted) landing page, If not what was the page you tried sending traffic?
      Oh..I wasn't using Squidoo for a landing page. I just bought a cheap .info domain at GoDaddy, and forwarded it to RetridTattoo.
      So, it was THEIR landing page that got me the flag. How do I prevent this happening again? I'm a bit paranoid about picking a new product and using my CC on a campaign.lol!
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      • Profile picture of the author eBusinessChamp
        Actually, google has been cracking down direct links to affiliate pages!

        The approach would have been PPC --> Optimized landing page (squeeze page) (From there though, not sure if linking straight to offer or to a thank you page is better )

        But for sure the direct link to affiliate must have caused the suspension :S

        Originally Posted by natalienichols View Post

        Oh..I wasn't using Squidoo for a landing page. I just bought a cheap .info domain at GoDaddy, and forwarded it to RetridTattoo.
        So, it was THEIR landing page that got me the flag. How do I prevent this happening again? I'm a bit paranoid about picking a new product and using my CC on a campaign.lol!
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    welcome to the club Believe me, its for the better. Adwords and Clickbank is silly, way better ways to promote clickbank products.
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    Never rely on someone else's landing page when using AdWords. It's so easy to build a quality landing page/site that garners a high quality score while pre-selling the product that it makes no sense to direct link.
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    • Profile picture of the author arcticmuff
      Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

      Never rely on someone else's landing page when using AdWords. It's so easy to build a quality landing page/site that garners a high quality score while pre-selling the product that it makes no sense to direct link.
      i LOVE your idea. Creating a quality landing page is good way to get high score and save per click value
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    • Profile picture of the author ibagayan
      Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

      Never rely on someone else's landing page when using AdWords. It's so easy to build a quality landing page/site that garners a high quality score while pre-selling the product that it makes no sense to direct link.
      Hello,

      this is a great point. Did you infact link directly to the clickbank product's landing page?
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  • Originally Posted by natalienichols View Post

    So I decided to run a test niche group of ads. I was poking around Tattoo Removal on Clickbank.
    I pick Ridtattoo and run 5 ads.
    3 Hours later.....SLAM! SUSPENDED PERMANENTLY.

    Now, I'm no Adwords newbie. I've been doing Adwords for quite some time.

    WTF???? What did I do?
    THis morning, the email says that Ridtattoo violates policy for false claims.
    THey told me to hit the road, basically saying if I promoted THAT site, then obviously I'm a Scamming Loser who will continue to try and mislead people, so they don't want anything more to do with me.

    Imagine how pissed I am.
    I feel more angry with Clickbank for allowing "shady vendors" to advertise, because I feel duped that I thought it was an OK product.

    So, what could I have done, and what should I do in the future, to prevent possible problems like this? I'm going to clear cache/change IP, and since for this account I was using a coupon under a different name my REAL name and CC aren't flagged.

    #&!!! sakes!
    Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Their attitude sucks if you ask me.
    Anyway, now I'm focusing on SEO and it is much better anyway, so it was a blessing in disguise.
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  • Profile picture of the author rana.zahid
    HELLO MEMBER
    I HAVE STARTED PPC WID ADWORDS SOME DAYS BEFORE BUT I AM UNABLE O GET RESULT.CAN ANYBODY HELP ME TO INCREASE MY LEAD IN CPA OFFER
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  • Profile picture of the author natalienichols
    I wish I could help but I'm not doing CPA right now....and I'm REALLY not happy with Adwords at the moment. HOpefully, someone else can.
    Good Luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author offlinemarketer
    Banned
    It's bad isn't it?

    They make you feel like a criminal when in fact you're entirely innocent. And all the time Google's making the news headlines for breaking the law.

    I told them to go and f__k themselves.
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  • Profile picture of the author offlinemarketer
    Banned
    Oh by the way I got myself a new address, a new email address, a new name, a new prepaid credit card, unistalled cookies, flash cookies, the lot and I used a proxy and before I could even post an ad I was banned again.

    How they knew it was me I don't know unless they've installed some spyware on my PC.
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    Google didn't install spyware....
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  • Profile picture of the author offlinemarketer
    Banned
    How do you know? They're always up to sneaky stuff.

    Anyway Google won't last long, I predict that within 2 years that Google will no longer exist so make the most of it while you can.
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Lol, you don't really believe that do you?

      We all know they suck at customer service, still they will be around longer than 2 years (at least 3 years, lol).


      Originally Posted by offlinemarketer View Post

      How do you know? They're always up to sneaky stuff.

      Anyway Google won't last long, I predict that within 2 years that Google will no longer exist so make the most of it while you can.
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      • Profile picture of the author garben2011
        I experienced the same thing with Clickbank Product promotion a year or so back.

        I have used Adwords for a long time and I thought it might be a smart way to research products that convert well by sending a few hundred clicks of targeted traffic to the sales pages of many different CB products. Kind of makes sense, right? Figured any that actually made a sale I could then focus on improving the campaigns as well as creating pages for them and doing some article marketing and so on.

        Anyway, two products I promoted got me in trouble with Adwords.

        The first was some kind of remedy. I don't even remember which one it was now. But in the email from Google it stated I was advertising a misleading product promoting a medical cure or some such verbiage.

        Then the second email I received was about a movie, game, etc sharing site. Now, this one was stupid on my part. Because when I saw the service I thought wow that is cool. How did they get around the copyright issue? They must have some massive licensing fees I guess. Well.... no... they apparently were just operating an illegal file sharing network and promoting it on Clickbank. The email from Google was along the lines of you are promoting the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. I actually contacted CB regarding that one and asked them if they even review the products and services being offered through their website. No response.

        Anyway, I contacted Google (don't ask me how I did it because I have no idea how to do it now - ha ha! I think I either simply replied to the email I received or else they provided a link in the email or there was a link available to contact a rep some place in my account or adwords help perhaps) and found a fairly reasonable and friendly rep who stated I was on strike three. And I cannot remember the exact wording used now but I came away from our email exchange with a strong impression they viewed Clickbank on a whole as very untrustworthy. Not CB directly but I mean by affiliation of the products and services it was serving as a payment provider and affiliate management service for.
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  • Profile picture of the author Derek S
    I cant believe what i'm reading here in this thread LOL... Sounds like one big Digital Point conversation

    First off natalienichols:

    It sounds like you where not sucker punched at all but actually blatantly broke Googles direct terms of service. Redirects have been a BIG no no for years now. It only works as a very short term method to quickly see if a sales page converts. Your own quality landing page is the only thing that will not get slapped.

    offlinemarketer: Now i'm guessing here because you never actually said... I'm guessing you went through all that trouble hiding your identity to create a new account but when it came to adding a campaign you used the exact same domain that got suspended the first time.

    Google is smart but not in the spyware business buddy.

    And I am not going to even address your comment saying that a company with nearly 90% market share will not be around in 2 years LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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    • Profile picture of the author offlinemarketer
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Derek S View Post

      I cant believe what i'm reading here in this thread LOL... Sounds like one big Digital Point conversation

      First off natalienichols:

      It sounds like you where not sucker punched at all but actually blatantly broke Googles direct terms of service. Redirects have been a BIG no no for years now. It only works as a very short term method to quickly see if a sales page converts. Your own quality landing page is the only thing that will not get slapped.

      offlinemarketer: Now i'm guessing here because you never actually said... I'm guessing you went through all that trouble hiding your identity to create a new account but when it came to adding a campaign you used the exact same domain that got suspended the first time.

      Google is smart but not in the spyware business buddy.

      And I am not going to even address your comment saying that a company with nearly 90% market share will not be around in 2 years LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      No I used a brand new domain, brand new niche, new keywords, new everything.
      They found out somehow.

      They also haven't refunded 52 cents inmy banned account that I requested months ago.
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      • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
        Originally Posted by offlinemarketer View Post

        No I used a brand new domain, brand new niche, new keywords, new everything.
        They found out somehow.

        They also haven't refunded 52 cents inmy banned account that I requested months ago.
        Ouch...now that hurts...

        (referring to the 52 cents)
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    • Profile picture of the author natalienichols
      Originally Posted by Derek S View Post

      I cant believe what i'm reading here in this thread LOL... Sounds like one big Digital Point conversation

      First off natalienichols:

      It sounds like you where not sucker punched at all but actually blatantly broke Googles direct terms of service. Redirects have been a BIG no no for years now. It only works as a very short term method to quickly see if a sales page converts. Your own quality landing page is the only thing that will not get slapped.

      offlinemarketer: Now i'm guessing here because you never actually said... I'm guessing you went through all that trouble hiding your identity to create a new account but when it came to adding a campaign you used the exact same domain that got suspended the first time.

      Google is smart but not in the spyware business buddy.

      And I am not going to even address your comment saying that a company with nearly 90% market share will not be around in 2 years LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      I agree. I was just running a couple of test ads. I have done it before with direct linking, so the slam was a surprise.
      My mistake, I was not going to create a landing page until I had some data.
      STUPID ME!
      Thanks everyone for all the comments.
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  • Profile picture of the author trishworks4u
    Cripes - Thought i'd pick up some tips in here as i'm getting back into adwords after about a year and a half break doing just seo.

    this thread was entertaining at best
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  • Profile picture of the author vegasfitness
    Yeah, that really bites when you are blindsided like that. That happened to me 6 years ago with PayPal because they flagged my account and tried to confiscate funds from me as penalty. Their policy is to keep any money you have in your account locked up for 4 months before releasing it to you. Then you can never use that same bank account for another account --ever!
    Lucky for me that I was online and checking the account when it went down so I withdrew my funds (several hundred dollars) before customer service went to lock me out. They were miffed that I got my money out before they could snatch it for four months! I'm still annoyed 6 years later because I can't use my primary business account ever again due to that one mishap.
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    I am using CCleaner which is supposedly to clear ALL cookies, incl. flash cookies, and what not...

    And i am still seeing sites which immediately "know" who i am even if i cleaned out any trace as far as i know.

    I am sure Google will always know who you are, EXCEPT you would use a brand new computer on brand new domains which you bought using another name, another bank account etc..etc.. And you would never ever visit your old sites again on the new computer, never ever check your old emails etc..etc..

    This is indeed the only "theoretical" way to make a new Adwords account, perhaps.
    Of course you would also need new affiliate IDs, new adsense ID, new domain provider, new hosting...

    Overall..it would be a lot of work and not worth it, not for Adwords which totally sucks for affiliates anyway.
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by GeorgR. View Post

      I am using CCleaner which is supposedly to clear ALL cookies, incl. flash cookies, and what not...

      And i am still seeing sites which immediately "know" who i am even if i cleaned out any trace as far as i know.

      I am sure Google will always know who you are, EXCEPT you would use a brand new computer on brand new domains which you bought using another name, another bank account etc..etc.. And you would never ever visit your old sites again on the new computer, never ever check your old emails etc..etc..

      This is indeed the only "theoretical" way to make a new Adwords account, perhaps.
      Of course you would also need new affiliate IDs, new adsense ID, new domain provider, new hosting...

      Overall..it would be a lot of work and not worth it, not for Adwords which totally sucks for affiliates anyway.
      Do this:

      1) Unplug your modem & reset

      2) Ccleaner 2 times, make sure it clears everything, sometimes it takes 2 or 3 tries.

      3) Clear unused Registry (Ccleaner)

      4) Shut down PC

      5) Reconnect modem

      6) Use Google Chrome Incognito (Don't login to anything)



      The only way Google can track you is (Google toolbar, browser history, & IP) If your not logged into a Google account.
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  • Profile picture of the author natalienichols
    FREE WSO of the DAY : ADWORDS FOR DUMMIES!
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  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    Originally Posted by natalienichols View Post

    I feel more angry with Clickbank for allowing "shady vendors" to advertise, because I feel duped that I thought it was an OK product.!
    A common problem when promoting adwords / clickbank, always use your own site, that way if your suspended you can at least fix or attemp to fix the problem as you own the site.
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    • Profile picture of the author natalienichols
      I agree. Great advice. Thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author John Hocking
        I don't like the fact the most of the time bots ban you and you are not given any warning or chance to correct the issue.

        Google has become too big and to arrogant for its one good. When you start slaming the door in your customers face, you make room for the competition.

        It surprises me that in the day of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Etc) that you would risk ticking a lot of people off and have them rise up against you.

        I hope facebook does not follow this lead with it's ad network.
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