Is Google AdSense Really Fair?
A while back, I commented about being dismissed from Google AdSense for reasons that were never explained to me, just before I was to receive my first payment from the program. Since then, I’ve tried to get myself reinstated twice, and have been denied each time without explanation — even when I asked for it.
I bring this up because I recently began inserting a digital fingerprint on all posts in my RSS feed. It’s a totally unique value that I verified was not in existence anywhere on the web before I chose it (RSS feeders — that’s what the funky combination of letters and numbers is at the end of each post - in case you were wondering). This unique value is very easy to find using search engines. Finding it on a site other than mine means that the other site has “scraped” my RSS feed from FeedBurner, making the post (or part of it) their own with the hopes of profiting by using it as search engine “keywords” in conjunction with advertising such as Google AdSense or Yahoo Publisher Network ads on the page. The goal is to generate an ad click-thru to a site the visitor really wants which contains the keyword they were searching for. The splogger gets paid for the click without doing any work at all. Slimy, but simple — and extremely effective.
Today, I found four different sites that have scraped my content to use as their own with AdSense ads on the page. This, according to the Google AdSense Terms of Service, is a huge violation. I promptly reported the abuse with hopes the sploggers who lifted my content get their income generating plug pulled pronto. But that’s not what this post is really about.
I’ve long said that I feel the Google AdSense Team does not do a good enough job of determining legitimate sites from the sploggers and scrapers. I’m confused by the fact that my site is 100% on the up and up, I rank well in the search engines, and I provide the Mac community a good service — yet I’ve repeatedly been denied reinstatement (or an explanation of why I was even kicked out). I’m doubly confused as to why the four sites I came across today were ever allowed to join the AdSense program in the first place. It’s painfully obvious that they’re not (and never have been) legitimate in any way — yet they’re still making money using AdSense in an underhanded way. The crooks are being rewarded, while the honest man is being punished. I’m not whining, but does anyone see the point I’m trying to make here?
I don’t think this is right — so I’m going to use the forum of my own legitimate website to publicly challenge any member of the Google AdSense Team who’ll field the question: Please explain to me why I cannot be reinstated to the program, while the splogging/scraping ilk like the four sites I reported to you today are continually allowed to participate and profit?
I look forward to any response you may have, Google AdSense Team…
18 Responses to “Is Google AdSense Really Fair?”
MacManX.com | Blogroll Dive: 3/12/07 - 03.11.07
[...] Jim questioned the fairness of the Google AdSense team. [...]
Manny SUlub - 03.19.07
I do the majority of advertising throught google adwords, i’ve spents thousands and thousands of dollars through google adwords for years. I have also been a google adsense publisher, but last week Google Adsense deletes my account. THink about it, the majority of my advertising is done through adwords and i get deleted. Makes me question Adwords unique clicks. Now Adsense owes me money but they are going to give it back to the victims, you know what i’m the victim. I’ve been robbed by Google, i’ve sent my case and no response in a week. I’m very upset! For every $10.00 i was spending for adwords i was making $3-5 dollars. Doesn’t make sense, i wasn’t even making a profit. I’ll join you in your quest to expose these crooks, i have no respect for them no more.
Around the web | alexking.org - 03.31.07
[...] jimmitchell.org - Is Google AdSense Really Fair? [...]
Maria - 04.01.07
Your Google problem has me concerned on many levels. As a freelance writer — which is what I do for a living — I have serious problems with sploggers scraping my content. (I take copyright law very seriously.) And it’s even worse when they’re making money by doing it. Your report of 4 sites using your content to make Google Adsense revenue when you can’t even get an Adsense account is troubling. The fact that you lost your account and don’t even know why is even worse.
I depend on my meager Adsense revenue to cover my hosting costs (which is does). I would not want to lose my account. Yet your experience suggests that I could lose my account at any time, possibly at the whim of Google management.
I recently paused all of my Adwords campaigns (for another business I run) because it was costing too much and I wasn’t getting good enough results. Knowing that sploggers are out there ripping off other people’s content to make money is another good reason to do stop advertising on Google. My Adwords account is paying sploggers for their slimy (your word) efforts. If enough of us make a stand on this, perhaps Google will listen.
Or perhaps they won’t.
Maria Langer, the Official Web Site* » Google, Adsense, and Splogging - 04.01.07
[...] Is Google AdSense Really Fair? on JimMitchell.org: Today, I found four different sites that have scraped my content to use as [...]
The Sloof Lirpa Center - 04.01.07
Jim.. ContextWeb has a new ad exchange you may interested in. We feel your pain regarding AdSense.. check out our April Fools spoof:
http://www.slooflirpacenter.com
The spoof is.. a spoof.. but signing up for our new ad exchange is real.
Jim - 04.03.07
@Maria - A search of Yahoo today revealed over 300 different sites that contain scraped content from mine roughly a month after installing the digital fingerprint plug-in. However, I’m happy to report that all 4 of the sites I mention reporting have had their ads removed or suspended, so some progress was made there. It’s not easy to keep up the the scum that scrape for profit, but it sure is satisfying when you’re able to hit them in the pocketbook.
As for trying to get my AdSense account back; It’s not that I really want it. It’s more to prove a point. I have a huge problem with the fact that legitimate webmasters are regularly dismissed for no viable reason, and that Google won’t even bother to provide substantial proof for that dismissal. I’m sure they rely on recorded data to make their decision. I feel the AdSense team has the moral obligation to share that data with the accused when they are dismissed. Doing so would not only help legitimate sites appeal a bogus dismissal, but it might even provide AdSense some credibility.
I kind of liken dismissal to being arrested for shoplifting because you walked out of a store wearing the same kind of jacket that’s hanging on a rack by the front door. You know you didn’t steal it, but the store says you must have because your jacket looks an awful lot like theirs, and that’s all the proof they need.
Nope. I don’t want my AdSense account back. In fact, I’m sure if I were somehow “miraculously” reinstated, I wouldn’t even use it. I’ve had far better success with Text-Link-Ads than any other form of sponsored link advertising. That one little link in my sidebar, and one referred account, has brought me more revenue in less time than AdSense or Yahoo Publisher Network combined ever did. Plus, I get paid the first of every month without fail, even if it’s only a few bucks. I don’t have to wait forever for a certain amount to be reached.
In my opinion, Google AdSense as a whole is terribly flawed. Honest publishers like me, and advertisers such as yourself, have been forced to pay the price for lazy scum who exploit those flaws. Suspending your AdWords campaign was probably a great idea.
Ilgaz - 04.09.07
The issue with Google ads start from the zero quality control for advertisements. Anyone, anything can easily advertise.
I have seen some amazing Google ads on various sites and even pirate software forums getting money from Google ads. Imagine this, they offer full “iso” downloads and besides the mail address they ask (for spamming of course), they only offer google ads. So, it basically funds that massive bandwidth required.
I didn’t like the way they advertise abusing our tiny Usenet group, I decided to contact Google about the site(!) “featuring” their ads. Got nothing for 3 days except a template. I just mailed BSA to get rid of the site and they were pretty interested about the google ads model.
If they didn’t care about such a major pirate forum operation and they removed your legit site, I can’t find anything to say. In fact,here is one thing: Remember a online giant who thought “We can do anything we want,we own the internet” featuring huge tower ads, popups in 1990s? What happened to them?
Weird thing is: Yasu must be used at Google too and there must be some people out there knowing you and your site. Do they know “they” banned your site? I don’t think so.
Jim - 04.09.07
Hmm. That’s an interesting thought — my application might be in use somewhere on the Google campus. I hadn’t thought about that. I know there’s a person or two at Apple who uses it (I’ve seen the download hits in my logs). Perhaps I need to change the terms of use for for multi-million dollar corporations…
In my opinion, AdSense is quickly becoming irrelevant, and may one day only be thought of as a tool spammers use. As you point out, the quality of ads have declined tremendously, and more publishers abuse the program than those who don’t.
I’m willing to bet that Google is aware of all the AdSense shortcomings, and would like very much to do something about it. But, since the program is a decent chunk of revenue for them, they might be afraid to rock the money boat.
I predict that when AdSense finally becomes more of a liability than asset for them in terms of credibility, that’s when they’ll start working on fixing the program. But by that point, it may be too late to recover.
Kevin - 06.27.07
My ad was disapproved and the following is a partial response I received from Google:
Thank you for your email regarding your ad “horse racing software.” Google AdWords does not permit the advertisement of online gambling websites.
Related content is also prohibited from ad text and keywords. This includes, but is not limited to, the promotion of:
- online casinos and gambling activities
- sports books
- lotteries
- bingo
- poker
- sites that provide tips, odds and handicapping
- software facilitating online casinos and gambling
- affiliates with the primary purpose of driving traffic to online
gambling sites
- ebooks that promote gambling-related content
- sites where the primary purpose is ‘play for fun’ gambling
- online gambling tutoring
- sites where the primary purpose is gambling or casino games of skill
Now, go type ‘horse racing software’ (one of my search terms) in the Google search box and many are advertising and getting away with it.
Also, Why would Google care if people want to go to the track and bet the horses?
James Wayt - 07.14.07
Jim, you are obviously another adsense casualty. They are big enough and bad enough to do pretty much whatever they please. I’m not sure why you were dumped but you can bet their bottom line wasn’t affected by it (however yours was). The little guy does not have a chance anymore and it sucks….. I feel your pain.
James
Andrea - 07.24.07
I was also running an adsense account for my personal blog ad web site and some days before I was getting paid for the first time, my account was suspended and I’ve never had the money.
They just said that I was clicking my own ads - though I’ve never done this - and my ads were getting too many suspicious clicks for the apparent business of the websites.
Moreover, I’m actually denied opening any other adsense account for any other website other than mine. I’m pretty upset with this.
jen - 10.22.07
Last week my google adsense account was disapproved when Ive been with the same account for over a year.No email was sent to be regarding this and I have emailed them a couple of times with no reply from them.I am another victim of google adsense.
JM - 11.03.07
Google needs a real nice class action. They are a bunch of f***ing THIEVES!!! I despise filthy rich scumbags who steal fromthe little people like us. I hope g-scum: brin and page get pancreatic cancer, and I damn well mean it!
Take the shithead whores to your local small claims court and call the local press and tell them of the action( Suit) Then you will get you $$
Tejas Arora - 01.05.08
I had earned about 50 % in 3 weeks. And today when I went to check up my earnings, I was shocked to know that Google has disabled my account. They say that you had been clicking on your ads. I had never done so. Now is it my mistake that my blog is so popular and people all over India and foreign countries like Mauritius, US are visiting my blog and clicking on my ads and downloading the referral products. They say that these are invalid clicks and you have been doing so by visiting certain places. I am with you my friends. And the worst thing is that we cannot open another acc.
Doug S. - 02.05.08
Not quite like most of you, I have a slightly different take on this. I duplicated a site (that I am a partner on) and placed it on a new domain. I carefully ready the T&C as well as Program Policies to be absolutely sure my site met all requirements. Then I applied for an adsense acct. which was denied (according to the adsense team) for not meeting program policies by this statement : Thank you for your interest in Google AdSense. After reviewing your application, our specialists have found that it does not meet our
program criteria. Therefore, we are unable to accept you into our program.
I am in process of having my partner apply for an adsense acct for “our” domain (kitty-cat-furniture.com). It that account is granted, I am hiring an attorney for both personal and class action reasons.
Any thoughts?
DY - 04.15.08
We have a class action law firm. If you want to discuss this, feel free to call. Thanks. DJ Young. 440.244.4809.
Does AdSense Make Sense Anymore? « randomoli - 07.13.08
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