When it comes to AdSense, it's sometimes easier to follow some rules than others. I have been using AdSense for about a year now and I still don't understand what the true definition of MFA or Made for AdSense means. Does it mean? 1. AdSense arbitrage? 2. Site with only AdSense ads? 3. Site with the maximum amount of AdSense ads? 4. Site with only AdSense ads above the fold? From my understanding, AdSense arbitrage and sites with only AdSense are MFA sites. My Understanding MFA is purchasing traffic through AdWords at a low cost, and then targeting keywords on your site that generate a great pay per click rate. Thus, when users click ads you end up getting more money back then what you paid for the traffic. Is that what MFA is? Just curious because I am beginning to create a lot of blogs and I really don't want to get banned because of this whole "MFA deal."
Actually, my understanding that "MFA"doesn't have so much to do with the number of ads or whether arbitrage is used, but the quality of the site. Would the site have a reason to exist if there was no Adsense advertising? If not, then it's probably "MFA". I do think it's true that sites that are plastered with Adsense ads and have little or hard to find content are more likely to be considered MFA sites, so I'd say your numbers 2 through 4 could all apply. I don't believe that Google has any problem with arbitrage (purchasing Adwords ads at a cost lower than what you expect to earn from the clicks on your Adsense ads), as long as you have quality content on your site. And you have to follow the Adwords landing page quality guidelines too, of course. (I'm not sure if you are allowed to have Adsense ads on your landing page any more, but that's a separate issue). The relevant bits from the Adsense program policies:
MFA = Made For Adsense or in other words a site thats made for the sole purpose of generating income from adsense and normally has little to no content.... i may be wrong though but highly unlikely
I agree. It's usually three or four ad units on a page with no more than two sentences on the topic! I don't get the arbritage relationship?
MFA are sites with no content and just google links. They are an old way of marketing that does not work.
MFA sites are sites that are "over optimized" for AdSense. For example, if you start putting a bunch of images next to your Adsense ads or maybe making like 3 huge ad blocks and very little content. In general "tricking" the user into clicking is not viewed well by Google
I actually partially agree with you: MFA sites often use arbitrage and maipulate the SERPS. But that's because low quality sites need those tricks to get visitors. Quality sites don't need to manipulate the SERPS to rank in Google. Quality sites get natural backlinks. Quality sites have a reason to exist other than serving Adsense ads, so they don't need to play the arbitrage game. However, the reverse isn't necessarily true. Just because a site does those things doesn't mean that it isn't up to Google's quality standards.
The I've always classified an MFA is if the site carries absolutely no purpose to a user other than serving ads.
If you took away the ads would there be any reason to visit the site? Does the content of the site provide value to visitors, or is it only designed for people to find the links in the ads more interesting (or accidentally clickable)? Sure, it's subjective, eye of the beholder and all that. However, I think you can identify a lot of MFA sites by their use of scraped content, poorly "spun" articles consisting mainly of keywords, link farms in the sidebars and obtrusive use of ads. They also seem to often have a lot of non-related topics thrown together (usually all related to high-payout Adsense keywords). If there is no reason why a human would find the site interesting or useful it's probably MFA.
Its like this, question ur self. why did u made ur site/sites?? to earn from those sites. You never thought that your site can make people have easy life or save a million lives. so your purpose is to get money from adsense. so ur site is made for adsense = MFA. But in truly matter MFA means a site with junk content and packed with ads.
Nonny, I do believe you have a pretty good handle on what Google considers MFA. But I found it a little hard to take your quality talk. Most of your "quality" sites, like great blogs etc. Wouldn't exist if the authors were'nt hoping for adsense income. If a site has a decent product of their own, then they should be better off without adsense. Even this forum to a large degree is MFA if you want to be strict about it. When people debate Shawn's income from this site, it's always the adsense they talk about. Never the traffic he may drive to his main site as originally intended. Also, it has revenue sharing, which motivates posters to create MFA posts. This clause simply gives Google a blanket excuse to close any account it may choose to. If they really wanted to enforce it, they would have worded it like...."No Google ad may be placed on any website without a non-advertising based source of revenue." Folks, defining a MFA website is a waste of time. Most websites are MFA. What you need to consider is: "What kind of MFA website will be the best use of your efforts?" One that is within the 'intention' of Google's TOS. One that will survive a manual review by the big G. Hopefully, one that provides value to others and long term income for you.
In other words, if you have good content, then you're in the clear? That would definitely make the most sense. Thank you!
In other words, create good content, put Adsense, generate traffic and make money. That's Adsense is all about.
It is a little more complicated than that ttomp13. It depends on what you are doing. Even with great, original and frequently updated content, you could have problems. Your images must remain in compliance. The quality of your traffic matters. For instance if you "bought traffic" and don't know how it is generated, it is probably generated in a way that violates TOS and google can tell. If it is really poor quality traffic, your advertisers can give feedback which may result in smart-pricing. This is where they decide to pay you a fraction of what the click should have paid you (and charge the advertisers less) because your traffic quality is poor. I'm too tired to think anything else up at the moment, but I'm sure others can.