Is this not against TOS

Discussion in 'Guidelines / Compliance' started by coldclimber, Jan 20, 2006.

  1. #1
    Just browssing the web today and i came across this links page that askes the viewer to click the adsense links making out that they are special offer links :rolleyes: i thought that this was against the TOS of adsense

    Not wanting to give them a free link so (www).jerrylabella.com/links_2.htm
     
    coldclimber, Jan 20, 2006 IP
  2. submitter999

    submitter999 Well-Known Member

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    #2
    you are right ! i think he is doing against TOS. he must remove "<" mark in graphic to argue he is according to TOS but no chance now.., once any google staff sees that, he will be out!
     
    submitter999, Jan 20, 2006 IP
  3. jackburton2006

    jackburton2006 Peon

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    #3
    No, he won't. They'll just tell him to remove it. He will. End of story.
     
    jackburton2006, Jan 20, 2006 IP
  4. bschneider5

    bschneider5 Active Member

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    #4
    I don't think he is in violation, because the ads are separated from the text by a border
     
    bschneider5, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  5. donwebcorleone

    donwebcorleone Peon

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    #5
    can i really do that? i mean can i start doing it until i receive a notification? or will i get banned?
     
    donwebcorleone, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  6. Andy-V

    Andy-V Active Member

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    #6
    Best not too as I think you are not allowed to do it. Its an arrow, its pointing at the ad so thats surely againced the TOS.
     
    Andy-V, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  7. Crusader

    Crusader Peon

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    #7
    That's definitely a major violation of the Google ToS seeing that it's:
    a) Labeling ads as anything other than "Sponsored links" or "Advertisements"
    b) Drawing undue attention to advertising
    c) Asking people to click on the ads

    From a similar type of violation I think this person won't just get a warning, but will be banned once Google finds out about it.

    I blogged about another example of people doing about the same thing: 5 Steps to an Adsense ban. That guy was also identified on this forum and he got banned. His only other crime was keyword stuffing using hidden text.
     
    Crusader, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  8. iowadawg

    iowadawg Prominent Member

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    #8
    Just click on the ads by goooogle, and report him!
    Simple and quick.

    But yes, google does not like any type of pushing visitors to click on the ads.
    It is click fraud, pure and simple.

    The Iowa Dawg
     
    iowadawg, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  9. Crusader

    Crusader Peon

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    #9
    It will actually be quite interesting to see what steps Google will take with this guy. My guess is that he'll get a ban, it's just a matter of time. He migt just be my next case study in "What NOT to do" ;)
     
    Crusader, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  10. iowadawg

    iowadawg Prominent Member

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    #10
    But not always, google sends a nice email to a violator and tells them to cease and desist.

    What people do not realize, is that google has a free army of people hunting for TOS violations.

    Oh well, any revenue producing source of any type is soon fair game for cheaters, fraudsters and the naive.

    The Iowa Dawg
     
    iowadawg, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  11. toomuch72

    toomuch72 Peon

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    #11
    The first thing that I would do is contact the webmaster of the site and inform him of the violation. You will find most webmasters thankful for the heads up, because they just didn't know. This also takes some burden off of Google having to check out every reported site. If changes are still not made in a few days then report him.

    If he responds with remarks that snubs his nose at the violations send a copy of the e-mails, as well, in your report to Google. This would make it much easier for Google to know that he blatantly ignored the rules,

    We have all made mistakes with running adsense ads. Some of us that violate the rules but if it is FINE LINE then we need to let each other know.

    Reporting violations is every adsense publishers responibility so do not take this as a DO NOT REPORT voiolations post. The site you showed just FEELS like he/she did it on accident(ignorance) - RTFM people.
     
    toomuch72, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  12. Crusader

    Crusader Peon

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    #12
    I'm all for reporting ToS violations, but only if I come across a site that is willfully in violation of the ToS with no other purpose than generating clicks and making a quick buck. It's easy to make mistakes when starting out and I will give webmasters a headsup when I think it's an honest mistake.

    The thing is that I highly doubt that this site falls in the category of "I don't know". Many of the violations they are doing is listed in Google's Policy, not even in the full blown ToS. You can't get it set out better for you than a simple bulleted list. If you can't take the time to read that then you really shouldn't be allowed into the Adsense network.
     
    Crusader, Jan 21, 2006 IP
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  13. iowadawg

    iowadawg Prominent Member

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    #13
    I agree with Crusader.

    Lit up a cigar, now ready to read more on this forum to INCREASE my knowledge.

    The Iowa Dawg
     
    iowadawg, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  14. pcunix

    pcunix Peon

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    #14
    We are an increasingly illiterate society, you know :)

    It's amazing, I know, but many people just do not read.

    I recommended Adsense to a friend, and when I visited his site later he was doing something just like this. I shot him an immediate email and he was totally surprised, but admitted to not having read the TOS.
     
    pcunix, Jan 21, 2006 IP
  15. toomuch72

    toomuch72 Peon

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    #15
    I think the problem is IT'S THE INTERNET. I've signed up for so many things, especially as a webmaster, and never read the TOS, guidelines, or Rules. Remember the last time I did a manual directory submit I submitted to 360 directories and read 2 of the TOS. Webmasters are so used to experimenting with everything so I can see how something like this can be overlooked.

    This is really no excuse--and I think about what I've gone through to conform to the rules and wish others would too. I want Success for webmasters out there that makes Adsense bigger and better but I don't want webmasters to have "an advantage" over my websites by breaking the rules.
     
    toomuch72, Jan 21, 2006 IP
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  16. Crusader

    Crusader Peon

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    #16
    Just thought I would check on the site and see what happened. Either someone e-mail the webmaster and warned him about the ToS violation, or Google reacted on a violation report and informed the webmaster to remove the image.

    The page now show the Adsense ads without the flashing "Click" image beside it.

    In any case I would say thats a good thing!
     
    Crusader, Jan 25, 2006 IP
  17. toomuch72

    toomuch72 Peon

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    #17
    Yes it is a good thing. I hope one day that all webmasters can earn money the RIGHT way through Adsense.

    I must say, once again, that focussing all your energies on getting a webmaster Banned is not always the right course of action. If it was a direct e-mail to the webmaster that got this issue resolved not only did it help that webmaster LEARN but it took some of the burden off Google.

    Remember we are not the Google police. We are more of a neighborhood watch. As with the "real" neighborhood watch you keep an Eye out for your neighbors and this usually cuts down on crime by you being there. Let people know you are there and they will usually leave peacefully. If that fails then you call the police.
     
    toomuch72, Jan 25, 2006 IP