Examining how Google Adsense looks at this forum.

[wingdude]

One clever thing I noticed about how the Adsense finds the right content on this site is that on the source code the Google page url is not the url we see but an archived version. My question is couldn't you just link to any random site about a high paying keyword and then for every click you'd earn lots of money?

[joeychgo]

explain that again please?

[wingdude]

Well on this DP forum, the code for the google ads is
"<script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_page_url = "http://forums.digitalpoint.com/archive/index.php/t-6509.html";

//--></script>

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing=0 align=right><TR><TD COLSPAN=2>

<script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "pub-5676236325709660";
google_ad_channel ="4467843311";
google_alternate_ad_url = "http://www.digitalpoint.com/ads/ads.php?t=seo";
google_ad_width = 468;
google_ad_height = 60;
google_ad_format = "468x60_as";
google_color_border = "FFFF88";
google_color_bg = "FFFFCC";
google_color_link = "000066";
google_color_url = "222222";
google_color_text = "222222";
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
</script>"

[wingdude]

the google_page_url is different to the one we are seeing. The reason is that if you use the excellent Google Sandbox tool on DP this page it comes up with "forum" ads which is irrelevant to the post. Therefore it creates an archive link with only the text from the thread.

[Patient]

Well on this DP forum, the code for the google ads is
"<script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_page_url = "http://forums.digitalpoint.com/archive/index.php/t-6509.html";

//--></script>


Where does this part come from? I don't see it in my adsense code!

[wingdude]

The administrator added this code which is what makes it different from most other sites.

[Patient]

By the administrator do your mean Shawn?

If so can we all do it?

[T0PS3O]

He isn't a Premium Publisher is he?

[wingdude]

Can you explain why you ask that question?

[T0PS3O]

Because I would imagine that Premium Publishers get different code with possibly additional features which could explain your findings.

[Patient]

Because premium publishers get premium service - including modified ad code!

If Shawn, or anyone else who understands this, is around - could you please explain the extra line of code in the adsense script.

[wingdude]

Well, I actually tried this on my own site (http://kiranwing.blogspot.com). I just added a the extra google_page_url = "" and it worked!!

[T0PS3O]

Yuo mean it worked as in it comes up with different ads?

I'd be careful though since tampering with the code violates all rules.

[Infiniterb]

What that line does is tells the adsense bot to visit the archived page instead of the main forum page when delivering adsense ads. The benefit to going to the archive is that it's plain text (for the most part) and doesn't have the added "fluff" the main forum page does.

What you are doing, however, does violate the adsense TOS. Like TOPS said, be careful, and take that code down ASAP.

[Patient]

Well, I actually tried this on my own site (http://kiranwing.blogspot.com). I just added a the extra google_page_url = "" and it worked!!

Looking at your site it certainly does! I cannot imagine you would have got that ad otherwise.

[wingdude]

OK OK, taking the code down immediately

[wingdude]

But now if you look at my blog, instead of targeting the actual information it looks at only the blog keywords. Also would it be violating the TOS if I linked to the atom xml feed instead?

[T0PS3O]

So how come Shawn can do it? Is he on the Premium list?

[wingdude]

Google Adsense Premium sevice requires 10 million content views, i'm sure this forum gets that much!

[Infiniterb]

Shawn has said he's not a Premium Publisher.

What I can surmise is that Shawn likely saw someone else doing it, or it was a feature in adsense way back when, but has since been omitted due to fraudulent usage. Shawn isn't directly hurting the adsense program, but it could be argued that he is in violation with the TOS of adsense because he has modified the code. Having said that, you would have to question "what's modification?" Is adding a javascript line in your code "modifying what google has given you" or is it ok? Perhaps google should change the way media bot works and have it not look for that line of code. Shawn's simply re-directing to a plain text copy of each thread in order to display more relevant advertisements. In a way, it helps not only him, but google since different ads get displayed (ads display better in the archives than on the actual posts).

[T0PS3O]

It seems easy to abuse. Link it to a high ranking 'meso' page and voila, there you have high paying ads on your cookie recipes site. People don't have a clue what the ad is about and click for a peek.....

But then G can peobably see the page it links to in that line of code is way different than the source page and raise a big red flag.

Interested to hear from people implementing this line in their code...

[Infiniterb]

It's very easy to track, especially in your earnings report. All of the sudden you see a huge jump in CPM, but page views are the same? Something wouldn't look right to google, and thusly, you'll get banned.

[wingdude]

Well guys, I quickly took it off but I realised something, I had registered about 300 page impressions that day but Google didn't pick up any, I therefore realised that there must be google ads on that site otherwise it is tracking thin air and if you linked to another site like DP they would get the money!!!

[Infiniterb]

For those that would like to do this with vbulletin, you can simply add the following line to your adsense code:

google_page_url = "pathtoforums/archive/index.php/t-$threadid.html";

Replace pathtoforums with whatever your path to the forums is.

[wingdude]

Infiniterb, as TOPS said isn't this 'modifying the code' or is it allowed, it would help many people if this was allowed e.g forums and blogs

[Josh]

Well, I dont know if it would be really modifying the code, since technically, you are not modify the code. You are just adding something before it..


Josh

[wingdude]

If that's the case I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint some viewers of the thread. For this to work so you recieve money I have found the following need to happen:
1. The url you use must have GOOGLE ADS on.
2. Those ads must have your code otherwise they get the money.
All this code seems to do is redirect the spider to look at the other URL and use their details (the content and the affiliate code [pub-****]) so unless its your site it won't work in my opinion

[wingdude]

What about this for a spin of the topic. By accident I clicked on the 'Use Frames' option of Google and I saw that the extra bit of code was added "google_page_url =" This basically links to that frame instead, so is what Shawn doing illegal or is he just linking to another 'frame' because the content shown is not the one he wants indexed.

[classifieds]

I'm new to adsense and the DP forums.

Would you guys be willing to dumb-this-down a little so I could more clearly understand what it means and its implications?

Thanks either way. I'm learning fast!

[wingdude]

OK, if anyone else can help it will be kindly appreciated. Basically Classifieds, Shawn (DP webmaster) has added a line of code to the google adsense ads you see on this forums, this line of code - google_page_url, can redirect the Adsense bot to look at that other page instead of the one you are seeing right now. We are contemplating whether this use violates the TOS of Adsense or not.

[onestop]

We are contemplating whether this use violates the TOS of Adsense or not.
I need the answer of this question also. I've an SEO mod on my phpBB forum, and google indexes static url's for my forum. But when users login they see php url's. It would be just incredible if I can implement the same code. But is it legal? I'm kind of new to adsense and I don't want to get in trouble.
But since both static and dynamic url pages belong to my forum would it be a problem? I'm just trying to serve more relevant ads to my visitors.
Any ideas? maybe Shawn can clarify this also?
Thanks in advance.
Matt

[Infiniterb]

You'd have to ask google. IMO it's not illegal. All it simply does is look to a text archive of the thread to allow better results (read: more targeted) for the visitors. vbulletin adds a lot of extra crap and causes the ads to be displayed wrong for some threads.

[wingdude]

My problem is whether you could also link to an external site (methoselioma) and the ads would be displayed like that. I tried it but it didn't register any impressions or clicks

[Infiniterb]

You can link to wherever you want. The problem with that, though, is that it can be tracked. If you're looking to scam the system, I wouldn't do it. In the end, you will get caught. The whole point of this variable is to help sites who cannot get the proper ads shown for their content (read: sites with frames). It also happens to help publishers with forums who have a problem displaying proper ads to their forum content.

[wingdude]

thanks for your advice, so does it mean you can link to any page on your site?

[Infiniterb]

You can't just use that variable to link just anywhere within your site. For instance, you create a high paying keyword page, point the variable of the adsense code to that page, and have the adsense code reside on your main page. This will show the wrong ads on your main page in relation to your content. This will raise a red flag and ultimately kill your adsense account.

[wingdude]

Raise a red flag with whom? How would Google technically find out because the spider is being directed away and does not know the content of your original page?

[Infiniterb]

Because google can track when the mediabot hits a page that has it's code running on it, then is redirected. You and I don't know exactly what google can/cannot track, but it's safe to assume that this is something that can be tracked.

[wingdude]

I suppose, so how come when Shawn uses it it won't raise a red flag? Unless what you are saying is that the bot somehows works out the content is roughly the same as the one its being redirected to. This actual code as I mentioned before is used for frames and in that case it would be no use for the mediabot to track the page it is placed on.

[Solicitors Mortgages]

My problem is whether you could also link to an external site (methoselioma) and the ads would be displayed like that. I tried it but it didn't register any impressions or clicks

Wingdude...the problem is....
you mentioned 'meth oseli oma' which means, unless you run a consultancy, that you have built a page purely to run google ads.... i am pretty sure that makes you a violator of googles TOS, And that means that they should kick you off completely.
Have a good day

[wingdude]

Well I tried linknig to a games site because my blog was about Games so technically its not violating TOS. It wasn't actually looking at the content, only ads for blogs came up.

[digitalpoint]

You aren't linking to it, you are serving ads for that page. Google can see on their end that site xxx is serving ads for site yyy. Excellent way to get your AdSense account terminated.

[wingdude]

But what is site xxx is part of site yyy like how you've done it?
P.S the master of universe has finally arrived

[Surf_Dude]

And departed.
Can we read between the lines?
His post was uncharacteristically brief.
Maybe he really doesn't want to talk about this.
There are a few things that I won't discuss, and I won't even say why.

[wingdude]

Your post was even more ambiguous than his! Anyone have a fool-proof answer

[Infiniterb]

Look, I've explained it countless times. Use the variable as you wish, since that's all it really is, a variable that is supposed to help legit publishers serve ads who have problems displaying ads relevant to their content. If you can't understand that linking to an outside site is grounds for termination, I think you need to start reading the book of common sense before thinking about a job as an internet publisher.

[wingdude]

Thanks, I understand completely now, my fault entirely...

[Caramora]

Look, I've explained it countless times. Use the variable as you wish, since that's all it really is, a variable that is supposed to help legit publishers serve ads who have problems displaying ads relevant to their content. If you can't understand that linking to an outside site is grounds for termination, I think you need to start reading the book of common sense before thinking about a job as an internet publisher.

Amen.

And to clarify all of this...

DP is not in violation for modifying code because it seems that they are simply using the code that AS provides for framed pages. HOWEVER, I am not sure but I do not think that these thread pages are framed. Therefore, IF AS has in their TOS that using the frames code for non-frames pages is not allowed. then DP is in violation of AS TOS. If the TOS mentions nothing about it, then Dp is still not inviolation and those of us with dynamic pages could benefit from using the frames code instead of the regualr code.

I think AS needs to add somehting about htis to their TOS. I think they should allow those without frames but with dynamic pages to use such a code, either the same one for the frames or they should make a special code dynamic, non-frames pages.

But yes, linking to a completely different site (even if that site is your own and has similar content) should be strictly forbidden. This should be fairly easier to control. the bot would have record the redirect domain with the domain of the site. If it is different, a red flag is raised in the system. Can't be that hard.

[Will.Spencer]

This is so incredibly tempting, because nudging AdSense into displaying relevant ads on more of my pages would significantly increase my total AdSense revenue.

[dfsweb]

This is so incredibly tempting, because nudging AdSense into displaying relevant ads on more of my pages would significantly increase my total AdSense revenue.

I wouldn't really do it though if I were you. I emailed the Google guys about whether this was legit or not, as I wanted to do this for my new "Link Now" directory that I am looking at building in the near future. Anyway, this is the reply that I got from them (I've included the relevant section only):


please note that the use of the framed page code you mentioned
would be in violation of our program policies, as manually modifying
the
ad code for any reason is prohibited. However, if the URLs of the
user-facing dynamic pages of your site do not change, you should have
no
difficulty in getting targeted ads to appear on these pages without
modifying the ad code


I had asked them if I could have a dynamic page on my new site displayed to the end-user and a copy of that page as an HTM file for the frames code ..... well, something to that effect anyway.