Adwords Is Truly Hammering CPA Affiliates & Companies Bad.

by 81 replies
95
Loads of adword accounts using CPA'S have been banned recently- My Google Adwords Account Was Banned! | Inside the Secret Life of a Super Affiliate - Zac Johnson dot Com .

And from personal experience...Google stopped all my campaigns promoting biz offers and ringtone offers even on the content network. Without any reason...All of a sudden no impressions when the offers were running well for months.

I went through adwords policies recently- AdWords Help
------------------------------

Data Entry Affiliates


Don't advertise for data entry affiliate programs.

Advertising is not permitted for the promotion of data entry affiliate programs. This includes ads directing users to sites that promote the creation/data entry of more ads that direct users to the same site.
There are no exceptions to this policy, which is intended to protect both advertisers and AdWords users.



Mobile Content Services
Mobile content services ads are restricted.
We allow ads for mobile content services only upon the conditions noted here. Mobile content services include, but are not limited to, sites that promote downloading ringtones, wallpaper, or text messages for predictions, love life advice, news, personality quizzes, or other entertainment services.
For all types of mobile content services, the promoted website must clearly and accurately display the pricing of the mobile content service. In addition, all the relevant site requirements below should be located in a prominent place on your webpage and should be easy to find, read, and understand.

So promoting ringtone offers is messing with delicate grounds.

And from a recent conversion with an adword rep I have also realized they hate any offers which tell people how to make money online. So sooner or later they are going to hammer a lot of affiliates. And also **** berry and a lot of trial offers.


It's basically because most trial offers have lead to massive media complaints across the board...Because a lot of these companies keep on rebilling the customer and make it ultra hard for the end user to unsubscribe from the monthly payment plan.
#ad networks (cpm/cpl, display) #adwords #affiliates #bad #companies #cpa #hammering #rebills #scams
  • Thanks for sharing. Most likely it also applies to email/zip submit offers. Once someone provides their email to these type of freebie offers, its a road to hell for that email addresss.
    • [1] reply
    • Yes this is true...The issue here is that when you are on the content network a google adword rep goes through your landing page manually and checks the offer. When he sees you have to keep on signing up for offer after offer...He is obviously going to disapprove your ad.
      • [1] reply
  • Goes to show that those types of companies that keep charging your card really don't pay off in the end. Is that extra $39 a month worth it?
  • Google wants to make money too, but they can only do it with lucky customers. If their customers get fooled this is not good for Google too. Completely understandable.
  • Rule #1 - Don't reach Zac Johnson

    But yeah - Google is setting up there anti-affiliate game
  • Here is another interesting post I came across on this topic- “Big Brother” Google…. Are we Back in the USSR??
  • Google has been very rough lately, I'm not one of the big boys that spends thousands a day, but I do spend a few hundred per day with them and they have banned some of my best converting campaigns due to their TOS. The products I mainly advertise are physical products though.
    • [2] replies
    • Did it involve health supplements?
    • Google has banned some of your CAMPAIGNS Or Your Account? Were you promoting CPA "Free trial offers"..Please let us know..
      • [1] reply
  • Pretty soon, there won't be any Adwords advertisers because people that get their accounts banned have no way of getting it reinstated.

    Those that are playing by the rules will have a huge competitive advantage in some highly competitive niches.
    • [1] reply
    • Google made approx $12-20 Billion in Just Dec last year. They have a huge database of buyers from all over the planet. Even if they were to ban all small players they would still have giant corps funding their pockets. And this is the main reason why google doesn't really care.
  • Google doesn't care about affiliates - IMO move on to another way of advertising that doesn't screw you
    • [1] reply
    • They have actually added affiliate guidelines to their TOS (I think this is new). I maintain that if you build real sites that add value you want have a problem.

      It is true that they don't like affilaites and only want to deal with 'real' companies but because so many large companies rely on affiliates to generate their leads, Google can't just wipe us off the map.

      Nick
      • [1] reply
  • You'd be surprised how much 'super affiliates' use Adwords.

    Of course most of them do, but usually it is only 10-20% of their actual business.

    On a side note I made sure the biz op I was promoting, although a CPA offer, was good. And not a 'scam'.

    It was one of my best campaigns by far, was spending upwards to 250 a day on it.

    Than I see my CPC went to 10 dollars, than a few hours later the campaigns were cancelled.

    Honestly Google is doing the right thing, even if it's costing me a boatload. They are generalizing a lot and due to that it wouldn't surprise me if **** free trials and all the others are soon going to be taken out within the next year. Yes, i'm serious.

    Zach
    • [1] reply
    • I had the same issue...I was promoting a biz opp too but after a couple of days no impressions and all the ads were stopped without no reason. They are strongly cutting down on anything which deals with how to make money online.
  • Yup...

    I have a feeling the FTC and them probably are working out an 'action plan' for taking out some of the "scams".
    • [1] reply
    • Yup they are. They only issue is that FTC is slow in getting to all these complaints from consumers and advertisers find loopholes in coming up with these new offers everyday that are borderline banned. Affs are stuck in the middle and need to decide if they should make money by promoting it or refrain and some just do not know what happens behind the scene after a sale is made.
      • [1] reply
  • That just makes you want to spend your time working on SEO instead of spending money with Adwords.
    • [2] replies
    • I can talk about promoting bullshit offers and engaging in fraud until I'm blue in the face (as I have before), but nothing works for people quite like getting banned.

      If you promote real value you will NEVER be banned. If you persist in promoting to the desperation markets by any means possible including fraud, you'll get what you deserve.

      Seeking shortcuts will only cost you in one way or another. The real opportunity on the internet is not seeking shortcuts or moving from one fad to another, but providing value - clarity, focus and execution. So many people are trying to game the system that anything REAL has virtually no competition.

      Guys/Gals there are no shortcuts to making real money. It takes a lot of a four letter word many people in the IM realm seem allergic to - work.
      • [ 4 ] Thanks
    • Well, if they can lower the QS like that, they sure can deindex sites in the search results as well.

      SO MANY of these offers were total scams, and I hate all the review sites for products the "reviewers" have not even tried.

      BUT, banning all CPA and affiliate offers is going too far IMO. If Google hate those biz that much, SEO nightmare will follow as well.

      I'm sure we'll all figure a way to continue with new models, but legit affiliate sites shouldn't be put in the same bag IMO.
  • I am not sure when it was added to their TOS or if it was always there. But Adwords does in fact state that "Bridge" pages are not allowed

    A Bridge Page being defined as something that is designed to drive the user to another site.

    Now if this is properly enforced, they just wiped clean a good portion of the entire affiliate marketing industry.

    Makes me chuckle because they also own Google Affiliate Network which depends on "Bridge Pages" to bring it profit.

    lulz...
    • [2] replies
    • This has been in the TOS for years, they are enforcing it much more recently.
    • Isn't a "bridge page" a landing page? So you can't direct link because of the rule about the same domain name being used and you can't use a landing page to get to the order page? So what can we do?
      • [1] reply
  • They don't just ban you for promoting "bad" offers. There are actual affiliates promoting good offers, however because of other things like getting quality score penalties and constant slaps will also ban you.

    Those affiliates that are just learning how to build a good landing page and promoting real value offers suffer from this and its a shame because they'll never learn how powerful adwords is.
    • [2] replies
    • Exactly! Over the next year many small to medium affiliates will simply move on.

      With PPV and Facebook getting more developed etc Google is no longer the place where "all the traffic is" you can easily go and get the same converting traffic for half the price. It just isn't as convenient as going to Google and signing up.

      Zach
    • Yes this is absolutely true so basically here is what google needs-

      1- Do not just have one landing page which directs users to the merchants page. Have multiple pages full of extra content...And yes this means high quality content.

      2- Your ad text must clearly state what you want the user to do on the page. If you want them to enter their email then you must mention something like "Sign up Now" right in the ad.

      -------------------------
      Here is what google says-


      Accurately represent your product or service.
      Your ads and keywords must directly relate to the content on the landing page for your ad. When users see your ad, they should be able to understand what kind of product, service, or other content they will find on your site. Products or services promoted in your ad must be reflected on your landing page; ads can be disapproved if a promoted product is not offered or available for sale as promised.



      Support advertised prices, discounts, and free offers.
      If your ad includes a price, special discount, or 'free' offer, it must be clearly and accurately displayed on your website within 1-2 clicks of your ad's landing page.


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




      3- Google checks what you are selling and what sort of experience it gives to the end user. So there is nothing to be surprised if google shut down traffic because you were promoting zip submits, biz ops because after entering the zip or email the user is forced to join offer after offer till he gives up and leaves angry.

      4- Don't use testimonials on your landing page or else you will be in an even bigger trouble. Now google will ask you to produce proof to back up those testimonials.

      5- Don't use the terms..."Best" in your ad. I was using it in one of my ad and I was asked whether I can prove that I am offering the best offer out there. If not...You will be either slapped or emailed to make changes.

      --------------------
      Here is what google says-

      Support competitive claims.
      Competitive claims are statements implying that your product/service is better than a competitor's. If your ad text contains competitive language regarding other companies, specific support for this claim must be displayed on the landing page for your AdWords ad.
      ----------------------

      6- All those affiliates promoting google kits were obviously banned because.

      Don't imply inaccurate affiliation or partnership.
      • Your ads may not imply an affiliation, partnership, or any special relationship with Google. Ads and sites cannot contain language that is likely to cause confusion as to the association between Google's services and your services.
      7- They are very very careful with anything which revolves around muscle building, weight loss etc. So there is no big surprise that so many people were taken down with those **** and other health supplement offers.

      Don't promote anabolic steroids.
      Advertising is not permitted for anabolic steroids, muscle-enhancing stacks and cycles, bodybuilding steroid supplements, and related content, irrespective of an advertiser's claims of legality.

      8- Here is a policy for all those weight loss & miracle cure ebooks-

      Don't promote miracle cures.

      Advertising is not permitted for the promotion of health claims or miracle cures, such as "Cure cancer overnight!"
      In addition, the advertisement of weight-loss related products is not permitted for ads targeting Spain.

      9- Don't promote ringtones...They allow it with restrictions but doing it would be playing with dangerous grounds.

      Mobile content services ads are restricted.
      We allow ads for mobile content services only upon the conditions noted here. Mobile content services include, but are not limited to, sites that promote downloading ringtones, wallpaper, or text messages for predictions, love life advice, news, personality quizzes, or other entertainment services.


      For all types of mobile content services, the promoted website must clearly and accurately display the pricing of the mobile content service. In addition, all the relevant site requirements below should be located in a prominent place on your webpage and should be easy to find, read, and understand.

      10- Here is the big one for quality score-

      Affiliate Policy

      We do not allow data entry affiliates to use AdWords advertising, but all other affiliates may participate in the AdWords program. However, we monitor and don't allow the following:

      • Redirect URLs: Ads that contain URLs that automatically redirect to the parent company.
      • Bridge Pages: Ads for web pages that act as an intermediary, whose sole purpose is to link or redirect traffic to the parent company.
      • Framing: Ads for web pages that replicate the look and feel of a parent site. Your site should not mirror (be similar or nearly identical in appearance to) your parent company's or any other advertiser's site.
      So now...You can't have the same template as the merchant page as then it will seem like a frame page.

      So in a nutshell...Don't promote- Ringtone offers, **** or other similar offers, Make money online offers, zip or email submits.
      • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • Yes just happened to me. I was doing cpa for months on google content and doing well. Poof, all of a sudden no impressions for ten campaigns. I called them and they emailed me saying the landing pages were low quality, with a link to an article which says basically that arbitrage pages, sites built to show ads, will always have a low score, blah blah blah. So big g has ended my nice little business. Plan B where are u?
  • Maybe with all of the CPA and PPC courses coming out over the last year there are so many newbie's that Google is just being bombarded with complaints.
    This is their way of filtering out the hobbyists from the serious marketer.
  • But serious marketers are getting harmed more, Jeff.

    Hobbyists simply move on to the "next great thing." Serious marketers have to adapt and change and in the process lose thousands of dollars due to Google slapping them.

    Not saying that serious marketers will quit, but they will lose a big portion of money that will take them some time to re-gain.

    And once they have re-gained it more people will release products and the cycle will most likely start again!
    Zach
  • Ya I hear you Zach loud and clear. I have currently stopped using PPC until the dust settles and Google figures out exactly what they want. I focus more on Yahoo and MSN to refine my skills and become a better PPC marketer. I am fairly new and still learning but the one thing that I have come to understand about Google is they really don't give a rats ass about the small guy.
    The one thing that I think is bound to happen is that smart marketers will create better systems to deal with to deal with Google ever change rule over the internet.
    Just like recessions some see them as the downfall of business while others see them as an opportunity to grow and become better.
    I think the saying "Only the strong shall survive" applies in both cases.
  • I wonder how many people that got their account banned will try and just sign up with another account? It's obviously not going to be easy as you can't use the same name, email, address, CC info, IP, domains, etc.
  • You have to provide a good quality content site for those types of ads to be approved. The one page landing review sites will be gone by the waste side soon...

    It's going to be about building high quality mini sites at least 5-10 pages of good content.
  • Or, for those less tech-savvy, WP blogs with a dedicated LP but with a separated blog for SEO/QS purpose.



    Zach
  • Well .. just don't use CPA with google .. I find YSM is much more friendly .. although their interface is much more ugly and heavy to use. They like taking your money unlike google.

    And there's also media buys, banner advertising in different networks and so on. Google may be the biggest but it's not worth the headache.
    • [1] reply
    • Hey
      Its not only Google, its the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) who is really cracking down on affiliate continuity offers. eg ****, Google Money Tree and Government grants. etc etc.
      Go to the FTC website and look at all the CPA offers that companies were promoting.
      These are going to court.
      It even affected me on a foreclosure product I was promoting, when myself and every affiliate promoting the offer had there accounts frozen with one of the biggest CPA networks in the USA, pending a court order from the FTC.
      And this really hurt me as I was cleaning up on this offer.
      I did not do anything wrong myself.
      So whatever you do, do not even think about doing a website with a fake testomonial or a blog with a ficticious character.
      The FTC will come after you.
      The moral of this story, don't dupe and think global.
      • [1] reply
  • Basically Google reacts after they get enough complaints from customers and adsense websites. Best rule of thumb is promote offers that you, yourself would be happy to sign up for.
    • [1] reply
    • I agree. But that rules out 90% of cpa offers then.
      • [1] reply
  • the days of 1 page wonder landing pages as well over.. its time to start building high quality high content websites with the focus on user experience and build the ads in the back of them.. imo that's going to be the new way of affiliate marketing
    • [1] reply
    • absolutely...

      Google wants you to build a site with original regularly updated content, the more the better, if you use original videos, the better, easy navigation and all standard pages (disclaimer, privacy...).

      one way to play by Google rules is to build a niche site with a free blogging software, create original content for your 5-10 best kw phrases, reference the site with all SE, create backlinks on relevant authority sites, then create some review pages with original content on the product(s) you want to promote.

      But most of all, find a way to get people to opt-in to a mailing list for that niche and then feed them relevant content mixed with targeted aff. offers. Don't overdo the "selling side", you have to give them added value information mostly to build trust. This list is going to be your biggest asset, because Google can decide to ban your site, you will still be able to communicate with your list of targeted clients/prospects through your autoresponder.

      Yes, in the end, much more work, but maybe also a better user experience and a better foundation for your online business.

      That's the good side of it

      and if you're lazy, do it like me, outsource work to the Philippines ...
      • [2] replies
  • Theres plenty of blackhatting going on.. they are just slowly catching up to it.
  • To say only promote what you would sign up for is nonsense. Make it more general to say that you should only promote something you feel "comfortable" promoting and that makes more sense. This is business, not personal likes and dislikes.
    • [1] reply
    • They said something you would be "happy to sign up for" - which I took to mean something you would not only feel comfortable promoting but would sign up for if it were of interest - so it's not about personal likes and dislikes of the product or service. There are many products I have no interest in (because they are not relevant to me - cosmetics etc) but would not base a decision to promote them on that basis but rather on how happy I would be to sign up for the offer if I were interested in that product. ie: does it represent a good deal for the consumer and is it a decent product from a reasonable company. Yes, it's a business but I am going to picky about the offers/products I promote because I don't want to be associated with anything which is scammy or deceptive or a lousy deal.
  • Yahoo and msn are planning a similar policy as well. I won't be too surprised if facebook and other social media companies follow along.

    Here is an update...Now they're cracking down on review sites too- http://www.perrymarshall.com/product...w-google-slap/
  • Guys,

    There are tonnes of sites out there that use google's name to trick customer's into biting only to be scammed hard with no service and monthly charges. These guys ruined it for everyone, there are thousands of complaints comming through thus causing google to take a definitive stand. Any website with "free trial offers" or shady looking design gets the boot.

    I was a victim of those "make money off google" schemes, so I know how it feels to be scammed and understand why google is doing this. At the same time, they shouldn't be carte blanching the whole thing and removing good sites selling legitimate products/services.

    Cheers,
    Ali
  • This is hilarious, because there are soo many products $1000+ which business model is based on the CPA market. I can hear the refunds coming in.
  • It's unfortunate there's not much resolution for this problem. I think the measures Google took were fair, but a bit drastic. Quite a few affiliates will have to start fresh- hopefully they weren't putting all their eggs in one basket and have some other offers or MMO methods to work with.
  • Google is currently banning across-the-board a lot of fake blogs, fake review sites, and pretty much anyone that doesn't add VALUE with their affiliate landing page, and links directly to CPA networks.
    I have to agree with CrisBa, although i think we should have seen it coming.if you have little or no content that is beneficial to the prospective customer, or not relevant to your add you are going to get your Q/S clobbered.maybe it will see the return of proper websites although i have no doubt someone will find a way around it
  • "Updated regularly" is a stupid parameter. What if you have a page in your site that describes a historic event or discusses a medical procedure that hasn't changed in 25 years?

    Google needs to get off of their high horse. "Do No Harm" indeed.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • Quality content sites with affiliate offers will continue to grow and do fine......me thinks!
    • [1] reply
    • Someone pointed out that adwords has a problem with affiliate links. Some sites even with pages over pages with extra free content got slapped just because they had affiliate links.
  • YEAH..
    so iv'e heard.
    screw google - we're making ppv now !
    • [1] reply
    • Even with many sites offering ppv...You will see a sharp cut down as well. The only way out of this is to promote products which are 100% ethical and have no complaints.
      • [1] reply
  • I think that with any rebill product out there regardless of the niche you are going to find complaints because there are many people who get sucked into the free trial and have no idea about the rebills.
  • i heard rebills still work on smaller ppc engines *hint hint*
  • 70% of CPA offers are unethical and simply scams. People who promote this crap should be ashamed of themselves.
    • [1] reply
    • This is true...But I disagree with the affiliates part. Companies mislead the affiliates too therefore you can't say its completely their fault either.
      • [1] reply
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    Adwords Is Truly Hammering CPA Affiliates & Companies Bad.

    Loads of adword accounts using CPA'S have been banned recently- My Google Adwords Account Was Banned! | Inside the Secret Life of a Super Affiliate - Zac Johnson dot Com . And from personal experience...Google stopped all my campaigns promoting biz offers and ringtone offers even on the content network. Without any reason...All of a sudden no impressions when the offers were running well for months.