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Banned from Google Adwords

by tizak
15 replies
  • SEO
    • |
OK Warriors,

Is there anything I can do, ie: how can I get the benevolent king of Google to pay attention and ask absolution:

Please bear with me, in 2010 I was a student that was interested in getting into affiliate marketing, for six days using a Google Adwords coupon I ran an experiment, a landing page that would lead to the merchant's page, agreed, not very useful, and after going back to my studies and within days of closing down the experiment, (6 days), I replaced the landing page with a 301 redirect to a placeholder page, ie: the page in question is not visible to the public.

Please read the ongoing conversation with Google and is there anything to do:

Has anyone considered a class action suit against Google Adwords, I would be interested.

Hello xxxxxxx

Two points, when I originally set up the Adwords account, Google accepted the landing page, ie: someone from Google Adwords went to the landing page and I was in compliance and was not in "egregious violation" of Google policy. Through reading newsgroups I do know that Google's policy changed regarding landing pages, after I had already retired my page and removed it from the public, (removing the page before I was banned).

Second, does Google have an Ombudsman? Someone outside the hierarchy of Adwords with authority to overturn ridiculous decisions?

xxxxx xxxxx
xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.com

--- On Tue, 10/4/11, AdWords Support <adwords-support@google.com> wrote:


From: AdWords Support <adwords-support@google.com>
Subject: Re: [#xxxxxxxxx] Contact Us
To: "xxxxx" <xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Received: Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 2:33 AM

Hello xxxxx,

Though you had promoted the site http://www.xxxxxxxxxx.com/ only for 6 days way back in April 2010, the violation done, has continued to reflect in your account history and has resulted in the suspension of your account.

xxxxx, although Google regularly warns advertisers whose accounts may be in violation of our policies, we reserve the right to suspend accounts without warning in cases where the behavior is considered an egregious violation. Also, we cannot grant any exceptions for advertisers new or old, as we have these stringent policies in place, which are to be abided by irrespective of the life of the advertiser.

We routinely review our advertisers’ landing pages as part of our commitment to making the AdWords experience safe and effective for our users and our advertisers. We suspended your AdWords account after a review of your landing page quality, because we believe that advertising policy violations create a seriously negative and/or harmful user experience.

While I do understand that the site was set up unintentionally, the violation, for this will continue to remain in the account history since all sites promoted in an account are the account holder's responsibility. Therefore, even if you have another site which is compliant, you will not be able to promote it since the account is suspended.

I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but unfortunately we cannot provide any further assistance in this matter. Google’s primary objective is to provide safe, relevant experiences for our users. The decision to suspend your account was made after careful review of your account and the low-quality landing page experiences promoted through your ads.

As you may recall, the Terms and Conditions to which you agreed to when you signed up for AdWords state that Google reserves the right to disable any ads when deemed necessary. You can review these Terms and Conditions here: https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/tsandcsfinder.

Again, we’re sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause and thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

xxxxxxxx
The Google AdWords Team


----------------
Want more info on AdWords? Check out the official AdWords Blog, "Inside AdWords," at Inside AdWords to get the latest news, information and tips.



Original Message Follows:
------------------------
From: xxxxxxxx<xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: Re: [#xxxxxxxx] Contact Us
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 13:34:44 -0700 (PDT)

> Please consider my concerns regarding my Google Adwords account that I believe were not fully accounted for in the previous response, the landing page in question has not been available to the public since on or around the week of April 19, 2010, hidden through a 301 redirect to a place holder page at that time. I brought the landing page in question down without external intervention as I will explain as follows, please point out where I am not being reasonable.
>
> xxxxxxxx xxxxx
>
>
>
> My concerns...
>
> * One of the reasons given for suspension of my Google Adwords account was that I had been repeatably informed I was in non-compliance with Google Adwords. I have no record of Google Adwords ever contacting me regarding non-compliance. Could I be supplied with reference number(s) and the email account address the notifications were sent to, detailing the email(s) that indicated I was not in compliance with Google Adwords from Google.
>
> * Repeated violations, after 6 days? I was an active member of the Google Adwords for less than a week, proven by the fact that I was using an introductory $100 Adwords coupon.
>
> * Does this constitute repeated violations, (introductory $100 Adwords coupon activity), especially if there were no warnings from Google that I was not in compliance, I would like to see some fairness and due process shown.
>
> * I believe my content is now relevant, I clearly demarcate what is advertising, indicate that as an affiliate I can earn commissions, affiliate marketing is a valid business model the biggest corporations use.
>
> * I was running Google Adwords campaigns between April 14, 2010 and April 19, 2010, (6 days), at that point I suspended my Google Adwords account myself to concentrate on school, replaced the page in question with a 301 redirect to a placeholder page so the public could not access it, what more should be expected of me in this regard please. Please follow up, my adwords historical data follows.
>
> May 1, 2010 - May 31, 2010
> (Invoice ...201005)
> No transactions for this date range
> Apr 1, 2010 - Apr 30, 2010
> (Invoice ...201004)
> $23.12 $0.00 ($81.88)
> Apr 19
> Campaign activity: 2 clicks
> 1.36 (81.88)
> Apr 18
> Campaign activity: 3 clicks
> 3.60 (83.24)
> Apr 16
> Campaign activity: 7 clicks
> 2.24 (86.84)
> Apr 15
> Campaign activity: 11 clicks
> 2.90 (89.08)
> Apr 14
> Campaign activity: 7 clicks
> 3.02 (91.98)
> Apr 14
> Activation fee
>
> 10.00 (95.00)
> Apr 1
> Starting balance
> (105.00)
> Mar 30, 2010 - Mar 31, 2010
> (Invoice ...201003)
> $0.00 $105.00 ($105.00)
> Mar 31
> Coupon:
> 105.00 (105.00)
> Mar 30
> Starting balance
>
> xxxxxxxx xxxxx
>
>
#adwords #banned #class action #google
  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    What were you promoting?
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  • Profile picture of the author tizak
    Green product's The merchant was a member of the Better Business Bureau and had an A+ rating!
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    • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
      Originally Posted by tizak View Post

      Green product's The merchant was a member of the Better Business Bureau and had an A+ rating!
      I'd need more detail than that to provide more specific feedback but I can say Google doesn't care about BBB ratings and such. It cares about claims and my guess is that the merchant was making unsubstantiated claims.

      This type of thing is spelled out in AdWords TOS.
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  • Profile picture of the author guitarpaul
    If you give them a phone call and promise to play nice, most of the time they will work with you. Or you might just need to setup a new account. Let me know if you need help.
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  • Profile picture of the author tizak
    Promoting ebooks, they had one of the lowest charge backs in their niche, must mean something. You' know guys, <<expletive here>> Google, I've already moved past their ignorance, at this point can you suggest any good pay per click networks, any joy with Bing or, gasp, yahoo, 'scuse my ignorance in this area.
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    • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
      Originally Posted by tizak View Post

      Promoting ebooks, they had one of the lowest charge backs in their niche, must mean something.

      Not to Google. Not to be harsh but this sounds like a classic case of failing to read TOS and then blaming Google for banning.
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      • Profile picture of the author tizak
        Originally Posted by wolfmmiii View Post

        Not to Google. Not to be harsh but this sounds like a classic case of failing to read TOS and then blaming Google for banning.

        Ummmm, It seems you failed to read the first entry in this thread.

        1. I was in compliance, how else am I accepted to adwords.

        2. I had an active Adwords Campaign for 6 days, (2010).

        3. I took down the "offending" page within a matter of days after I pulled the plug on the campaign, (2010), I was not in "egregious violation" of Google's Bolshi rules at that time.

        4. I put a 301 redirect to a place holder page, ie: the page was not available to the public, indeed, the placeholder indicated the site was under construction.

        5. Once I put that puppy to bed I concentrated with my schooling, and only in 2011, with an interest in continuing with affiliate marketing did I find out, after logging back into my Adwords account that I had been fingered during one of Google's ongoing purges, how else do you keep the revolution going?

        6. As mentioned, whether Google is impressed or not, the merchant is a member of the BBB with an A+ rating, they have one of the lowest rebills in their niche, what other metric do you need.
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        • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
          Originally Posted by tizak View Post

          1. I was in compliance, how else am I accepted to adwords
          You are sadly mistaken. Just because you are accepted does not mean you are in compliance.
          2. I had an active Adwords Campaign for 6 days, (2010).
          Again, an active campaign does not mean it is compliant.
          3. I took down the "offending" page within a matter of days after I pulled the plug on the campaign, (2010), I was not in "egregious contravention" of Google's Bolshi rules at that time.
          It doesn't matter if you took the page down. You can't put the toothpaste back into the tube. Once you've violated the TOS (no matter how silly they seem to you), you've violated TOS.
          4. I put a 301 redirect to a place holder page, ie: the page was not available to the public, indeed, the placeholder indicated the site was under construction.
          Pages under construction are a no-no.
          5. Once I put that puppy to bed I concentrated with my schooling, and only in 2011, with an interest in continuing with affiliate marketing did I find out, after logging back into my Adwords account that I had been fingered during one of Google ongoing purges, how else do you keep the revolution going?
          As they told you - your history was a problem (you cannot erase it).
          6. As mentioned, whether Google is impressed or not, the merchant is a member of the BBB with an A+ rating, they have one of the lowest rebills in their niche, what other metric do you need.
          I don't need any metric; nor does Google. They have their own metrics and that's all they go by.

          Let's be honest here. Did you read the TOS before running campaigns? I'm guessing you didn't and now it's Google's fault.
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          • Profile picture of the author tizak
            Buddy, take a cold shower, does seem a little self promotion here
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    Self promotion? I have nothing to promote. I'm just responding to your comments. I'm just sitting here watching the Phillies and browsing the forums. You are the one that seems upset.
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    That's a very helpful thread (based on lots of feedback I've received) that I posted some time ago. There's nothing being promoted here or in that thread. You might do well to read it.
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  • Profile picture of the author quicksilver123
    Let's face it, Google IS the evil empire. They are arrogant and elitist and can destroy your business for good reason, bad reasons or no reasons at all.

    We got banned today after "repeated warnings"... but there never was a warning, never a problem, and we've done business with them for almost 10 years.

    They need to go the way of the old AT&T - busted up in an anti-trust action.
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    • Profile picture of the author mrwmd
      In my internet marketing infancy I unwisley and ignorantly bought a questionable "make money" business website on Flippa and opened a Google adwords account. It was suspended in about 20 minutes. I misunderstood the complex wording of the warning and corrected what I thought they meant restarted the campaign and within about 10 minutes was banned for life for any business ever. They said that I could be reinstated if I "corrected" it. I decided it was a foolish lesson learned and offered to just kill it. I did and still do not have the skills or knowledge to make whatever corrections, (Which they did not define) and have no possible chance to ever promote the legitimate and above board businesses I now operate on adwords.

      Its kind of like breaking a signage restriction on the front of the store you own and instead of paying a fine, learning a lesson, and correcting your error, the city pulls your business license, and refuses to ever let you do business in the city limits again with any business ever, even with a clean partner. They simply kill you. Boom. You are gone and have no strength to fight.

      Now I understand the internet landscape and don't really have any problem with Google cleaning up the neighborhood. Their intentions are good, but they have become too important and too much in control of mainstream American business activity to be allowed to have this enormous capacity to stomp out peoples income without recourse for the future. They are now dangerous to free commerce.

      It is the permanent ban without recourse that flies in the face of the right to freedom of commerce. Over this one issue, they must be brought to task, humbled, and learn a little about American justice and fairness.

      They are too big, too powerful, and too out-of-control. Like Godzilla stomping the innocent and guilty alike, into a bloody sticky pulp, as he recklessly zig zags and careens about with an ataxic gait, randomly through populated streets.

      They have done a lot of good, and will do more. But in the meantime they are permanently and severely harming some ignorant, some bad, and many good business people, who can never recover. THAT cannot stand.

      The only thing more amazing than that little fact, is that there seems to be nobody prepared to defend us. The government is not regulating them. The rabid attack lawyers seem to be impotent and unconcerned, or afraid themselves of Google's legal clout, and the constitutional lawyers seem to be unaware or uninterested.

      That's how powerful Google has become. That is truly scary. I'm a little afraid to post this, quite frankly.

      Who will rise to protect freedom of commerce for small internet America?

      Any offers? I don't hear anyone.
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    • Profile picture of the author nandla
      Originally Posted by quicksilver123 View Post

      Let's face it, Google IS the evil empire. They are arrogant and elitist and can destroy your business for good reason, bad reasons or no reasons at all.

      We got banned today after "repeated warnings"... but there never was a warning, never a problem, and we've done business with them for almost 10 years.

      They need to go the way of the old AT&T - busted up in an anti-trust action.
      I'm totally agree with you. Google should revise their method of banning, which is destroying many businesses like hell
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