Google censorship

Discussion in 'Google AdWords' started by bryn1, Oct 18, 2007.

  1. #1
    How many thousands of times have you seen google ads that looked something like the following:

    <insert product here> scam?
    Don't even think about buying
    <product> until you read this!
    www.myshockingreviews.com/<product>

    I was running a set of ads like this, with a landing page that simply compared the product to similar products, with affiliate links. All the information was 100% factual, and there was no commentary beyond a statement to "decide for yourself."

    My account was banned for doing this. They claimed I had violated their "hate speech" or "advocating against" policy. This is despite my sending Google literally 100 examples of literally identically-worded ads I had found regarding other products. They said they would "investigate the other examples," but that I would still be banned. Naturally, all those other ads are still running, months later.

    Has anyone else run into this?
     
    bryn1, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  2. Micromag

    Micromag Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Yes, but your ads was not about 'products', wasn't it?

     
    Micromag, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  3. Johu

    Johu Peon

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    #3
    Yeah, merchants like the ones I work for report scumbags like you and all of the other ebook readers that tie our respected brand and product names in with the word scam. You know, there are much better ways to drive conversions and clicks than that.

    These ads can be also pulled for trademark violation.
     
    Johu, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  4. GeorgR.

    GeorgR. Peon

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    #4
    whow...i have good success with
    {keyword}
    is this product a scam?
    Read before you buy!
    www.example.com

    I think the problem in your case is the "negative" NON-call to action like "don't think about buying"...or maybe using the word scam in the headline together with the product. Just my $0.02
     
    GeorgR., Oct 18, 2007 IP
  5. cherry_yuya

    cherry_yuya Active Member

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    #5
    Well I wonder why the Ads which say "Adsense Sucks" is up and running.
    It doesn't promote any hate though, most of us have probably hate adsense.
     
    cherry_yuya, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  6. tvmatt

    tvmatt Peon

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    #6
    Google shuts down those ads all the time. They don't belong on the search landscape, they can make naive users associate the product with being a scam, and you shouldn't need to use sketchy tactics to generate leads.
     
    tvmatt, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  7. bryn1

    bryn1 Peon

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    #7
    If that's true then it doesn't bother me so much. I just felt like I was being singled out.

    The thing is, the company I was speaking of was in fact using some shady underhanded tactics which I exposed on the landing page. Everything there was 100% factual and taken from the company's own web site - I just drew attention to the fine print. I honestly didn't think I was doing anything wrong, and still don't. I just showed plainly how other products in the same market were a better deal.
     
    bryn1, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  8. PPC-Coach

    PPC-Coach Active Member

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    #8
    This is an old and low blow technique where you usually smear one product and then recommend three other related ones. It worked for awhile, but it's sleazy marketing. They'll catch the others who are doing this eventually, they're not singling you out personally... :)
     
    PPC-Coach, Oct 19, 2007 IP