Whilst it can be tempting to encourage users to click links to increase revenue, I have found that by simply by adding content to your site you can increase the number of clicks you get.
I agree with Homer on this. In the end by helping enforce Google's ToS and bringing fraudsters to light we are actually protecting and helping ourselves as publishers. The effect of fraud will most definitely lead to less revenue generated by legitimate publishers and might even discourage advertisers from advertising at all. Google is big enough to look after themselves, but a little help goes a long way!
Well said crusader...my feelings precisely. By reporting these incidents we are helping ourselves as AdSense publishers. Tops30...thanks for the advice ...I am happy that you decided not to leave DP...your presence would be missed
I never said there was a problem with reporting someone, but when we go out of our way as members of Digital Point and do a search on Google for violators then post live links here and bring in pissed off webmasters to Digital Point to insult, you are doing no favor to Digital Point forums, Google or the community in general Homer. Last time we got into this you were going to offer your forum for this sort of conduct, have you done so yet
Here I have to agree once again. The way we react to the fraudsters are very important. There's no need to act like vigilantes with burning torches and pitch. A simple e-mail to the webmaster in question warning them and identifying what they are doing wrong would suffice. If they don't react on that, then all that's left is to let Google know. Simple as that.
Plead insanity AC...perfect LOL Let's not go there (forum thing), AC...PLEASE. I really am not sure about the pissed off webmasters that come here cuz they got busted. Open your eyes man...the pissed off webmaster you speak of makes for the best/ longest/ most in depth threads I have ever seen at DP. Maybe it's not fair that we roast these 'fraudstirs'. I really think it is fair when it is blantantThere have n=been a few threads started here that were targetting inocence (Honest webmaster error) I am the first one to say 'hang on'...this is an honest mistake. 'Please click twice on the Google ads that appear at the top of the page...it helps keep us going' I have NO TIME for this and will report it immediately
Ignorence or plain stupdity only goes so far. I don't have any love for fraudsters either, and blatant disregard should definitely be reported immediately, no question about it.
OK, just don't post live links here because that makes this forum look bad, it is as simple as that guys. Google has told Shawn that they don't want us doing this and contacting their publishers on their behalf, how many more times do we need to be told the same thing
It is not to find ADSENSE cheaters Homer, maybe they come to watch the Google Police Department in action here
Possibly correct, but I think a better term is private eye. The result is what matters. Do I have any business reporting this? Well I have an AdWords account as well...this makes it my business to report it. Maybe after a few 'fraudsters' read threads like this. BTW they're all over the net: http://www.onlinemarketingtoday.com/news/archives/website-development/website-development-p-3834.htm http://www.talkfreelance.com/showthread.php?p=23203#post23203 http://www.talkfreelance.com/showthread.php?t=1784&page=1 So it's no secret. The bottom line is if you are a webmaster/ business owner that promotes this you need, at the very leastt, to be made aware of it.
Those threads are so boring that I want to cry because I clicked on one of them Since it is such a great topic Homer have you started your Google Police Department at your forum so we can send all the Google Police your way yet We need a place to send folks interested in this sort of thing Please give me a link to that specific forum so I can drop it in every thread that is started here so we can send these Google Police recruits your way and you can have a blast with it. That way you can post live links on your forum of all the offenders on the internet and fight with them all day long, maybe a few of them will be great hackers and will seek your sites out and you will find out what life is really about.
Kudos to Bobby Easland for his full and frank explanation of an error that could happen to anyone. As an advertiser on Adwords, click fraud is a constant concern and needs vigilance. I have no tolerance for deliberate fraud of the Adsense system since it costs me money. The tone of some of these Adsense-Police posts does make me uneasy though. I caught the whole of the spoofing and piss-taking which I found quite funny at first but it got too near the line in the end for my comfort zone. It just doesn't seem right for someone to dump a live link on a busy forum like this and for there to be a free-for-all, 'you are a thieving wanker' type character assassination thereafter. Just me 2 cents.
Well it got out of hand, it is up to the old time members to make sure this does not continue because that is not what this forum is about. This forum is gaining steam as one of the best and this is reaching down in the gutter and is not really needed and many of us would rather these folks just take their complaints straight to Google so we do not have to fight member to member here. It is not good to see our old time members attacking these webmasters or each other over click fraud, there happens to be thousands of cases, are we going to turn into the ADSENSE TOS police? Google already told this forum that they do not want us communicating for them in regard to these violators.
Well, I think as a publisher/advertiser when you come across a site that blatantly is in violation of the ToS it's your duty to report it to Google. It's ultimately up to them to take care of the violators. That's where our obligation ends. Posting live links, and taking on these violators as if we are vigilantes is not a good idea, and it degrades the forums, and opens you and your sites up for attack (in which ways whatever) by the disgruntled fraudsters. One e-mail to Google is all it takes. If they act or don't act on it, is up to them. At least you'll know you did your part.
That is what I was telling Homer, these guys could be hackers and could make trouble for you and the forum across the forum circuit.
Exactly! And that's assuming you feel obligated in the first place (which I'm sure any Adwords publisher does).
AC, I'm throwing in the towel...your right it's better to let the cards fall. I am no longer concerned with this, and apologize to any fraudster that took offence, please continue to rob me, and hack my site if you feel I am deserving of this. My emotions get the better of me sometimes...please accept my sincere apologies.
So this means you are going to give us a link to your Google Police Forum Homer so we can drop the live links there