I see a lot of websites out there using the same intergrate and i wonder if this against google's TOS?
I think relabeling as "related websites" is in fact against TOS because the user is modify the code which is forbade. Taken from Google AdSense Program Policies:
He did not modified the script man. The script seems ok. He just put that in a table, with a colored header. About Google TOS : So "related links" is not OK.
I don't think they modified the Adsense code. The problem is that you are not allowed to label the advertisements as anything other than "Sponsors" or "Advertisers". So that's a breach of ToS
Wow! I had 'related links' as the header for my adsense for a long time. Removed it for some reason I can't remember! Thank goodness. I do not recommend that at all. My good luck saved me from extinction
I doubt they would ban you for that, but they will definitely send you a warning mail for you to change that... but you never know
You're correct of course, I had to go look at one of my own to see how the "header" appears. But yes, drawing attention to the ads in this manner is still a breach.
Yeah they won't ban you for stuff like that, but they will warn you. I know of a site that had red text saying click on these ads to support us over them... and eventually the text went away... People get this impression that that the Google Gestapo goes around ready to drop a site at a moments notice for any infraction. That is simply not how things work.
A friend of mine just got warned yesterday, speaking of warnings So Google is not on a banning rampage, it seems.
while not a fan of this perticular approach there are far better ways to get the job done as long as you do not modify the script, there is not much to worry about. If G finds it questionable in a borderline case like this they will email you and give you an opportunity to fix the problem.
You are allowed and it is extremely effective for some to label there vertical ads with "Sponsored Links". I have seen this on MANY sites that do VERY well.
Are you saying it is ok to use Related Links directly above Google ads? Not saying I do it, but just curious if that is what you are saying.
What is it you think is wrong about this? They ARE related links, adsense only provides related ads to the pages content, and you are NOT modifing the adsense script. I don't see how this is misleading by any stretch at all, but in the even that G does disagree (which I doubt), they would email you in cases of borderline proceedures and allow you the opportunity to correct it. But in this case I see nothing wrong with this technique, I just think there are more effective ways to achieve the same results.
I think Google's reaction depends on the overal site profile (revenues, content quality, CTR etc.). I had a case on another forum several months back that a site was banned for this reason; maybe Google is more polite nowadays.
They have been sending out emails lately, even for non-adsense problems, to what extent, or for how long I don't know. i think they do want to project a better rep. At least this was posted on Matt Cutts Blog recently. I agree that it probably is more of a case by case thing, and perhaps who'e revieing the case.