A few months back, I got a warning from google. It told me that my site is generating false impressions or clicks, and that I should not use any type of paid to surf programs. I wrote back and told them I am not using any such programs, and asked them to double check the violations. I also asked if it is there, if they could please tell me what program it is so that I can put a stop to the traffic because it is not coming from any activity of my own. They replied back to say that they have checked my site again and that there is definitely a violation. But when it came to telling me what the site was, they gave me some lame line about not giving out any information that would compromise the methods they use for investigation. I replied again and said I'm not trying to uncover your methods, and that I just want to know where the traffic is coming from so that I can correct the problem. I said how do you expect me to fix the problem if you will not even tell me what it is. I got another reply from them that basically told me to look at my server logs if I want to know what my traffic comes from (how comical), but they hinted that it is against the rules to ask others to click on ads. That hit me. I remembered an old blog post where I had commented that it is an ad-supported site but that no one can take time out of their day to click on the ads, or something to that effect. I took the time to pull up that old post and to delete it entirely. Not just that portion, but the entire post. I had assumed that was the end of the problem, but at the same time, I'm not entirely sure. I've been thinking about emailing google to ask if they could review my account and tell me if everything is in order or not. But after reading some of the horror stories here, I'm almost afraid to. It seems like everyone is getting banned for doing nothing wrong, so what should I do, just forget about the subject and hope for the best? I ask because I currently have payments on hold, so I figure that if there is a problem they wont mention it until I request payment. I dont want to go for months generating revenue just to have a problem down the road, which is why I have been thinking about emailing them. Should I or shouldn't I? Any suggestions? Sorry this is so long.
No, I didn't. Mostly because it was a wild guess on my part as to what it might have been. I really wish they could have been more specific with the warning.
take the pill and just do it..theres no point in waiting. let us know what happens i hope it works out for you
Well, before emailing them, check your site again. and AGAIN. and A G A I N. make sure u dont mention anywhere that people should ad ur ads, even not in a subtle way. read their TOS and adsense blog and see if they dont have any updated rules that u might have missed (like for example the images policy that popped out recently on their blog and resulted and tons of bans). ask friends who u trust to review ur site, its always better to have a spare pair of eyes taking a look. email them, say in the most polite way that u have reviewed your websites and did ur utmost best to comply with all the rules and u will be grateful if they can take a look as well, to ensure that u do not violate anything, etc etc. i had a similar situation, when i got a warning but even after 2 emails i couldnt figure what exactly was wrong, until i posted my site for a review here at DP and some members pointed out right away at the TOS violations. u r lucky that they did not ban u and actually went into negotiation with u, so i hope it will work out for u. good luck!
I would think that Google is less likely to ban publishers who keep in touch with them about potential problems. I don't think you'll have any problems. AdSense: Instilling fear and paranoia in webmasters since 2003.
email them in a polite way, ask adsense team to review your account and show them that you have nothing to hide. guess that's the best you can do: clean up the mess, be polite and pray j/k good luck and keep us updated.
Agreed. BTW on the images, I changed the image bar a little so that clicking on a particular image will bring you to that section of the site, making it into a graphical menu...
GGN, just let it go if they haven't already banned you by now. Why stir up a hornet's nest to see if they are asleep in there?
No, it is not banned. I just have payments put on hold because I'm working overseas and have no way to receive or cash a check from them. I'm just concerned about when I remove the payment hold. My guess is that my account will be reviewed again at that point. If this is the case, I would like to make sure that there are no problems. That won't be for a few more months though, and I just dont like the thought of generating revenue over the next three months only to run into problems. LOL. That's exactly it too. Except it's more that the ex-adsense members are causing me concern. I'm always seeing posts that "I removed adsense and added X and got banned" or "Asked them a question about X and got banned". If I knew for sure that the problem mentioned in the original post is what they were seeing, then I'd know for sure that it was taken care of. But since they were so vague, I'm always wondering if there was something different that was causing the problem, and if that's the case, maybe it's still there. I'm beginning a detailed review of all sites I have adsense code on before I contact them.
you're lucky that they decided to warn you, because usually invalid impressions and click result in immediate ban and the publisher is usually caught off-guard. you have done what you can. other than trying to trace what you may have done wrong, just email them. tell them you have tried your VERY BEST to comply with their policies and 'please will you take a look'.
Just leave it alone dude. Haven't you seen enough examples of "I emailed them and BAM! Banned!" If they haven't banned you yet you're cool.
Don't worry to email'em! Google is not so monstrous if you're honest. Make sure that you're never breach the TOS and double check your site, is it against the rules?
If it was the blog post then you should have seen a difference in the page impressions or clicks after you pulled the post. Did you check to see if this had happened? Google will check your account when they pay you so it's going to happen sooner or later. Good luck.