It’s a fear many Webmasters have — getting pulled from AdSense for fraudulent clicks or other activity deemed “against AdSense TOCs”.
The fear is pretty valid. I’ve heard of people getting pulled from the program for “no apparent reason” (according to them).
Of course there are two sides to every story, but it reinforces that Google’s #1 interest is protecting their advertisers, not you, the publisher.
And rightfully so.
Google watches AdSense accounts like a hawk, especially if you’re a new member.
They track IP addresses and monitor for fraudulent clicks on a regular basis. A friend of mine clicked her own ads and was removed from the program within 2 days of joining.
While I have no fool-proof way to ensure your account won’t get dinged, here are some tips to keep you in good graces with Google.
1. Report Accidental Clicks
If you accidentally click on your own ads (and people have done this), the best thing to do is report it to Google immediately. In fact, Google even advises you to do this.
If you’re honest and upfront about it, Google probably won’t remove you from the program. Your account may get flagged temporarily and/or you may lose some revenue, but it’s better you report it than having them find out about it.
Just make sure this doesn’t become a habit.
2. Stop Telling Your Friends & Family to Click on Your Ads
Some people join Adsense with the intent of getting rich by having their friends and family click on their ads. While you may think this is pretty fool-proof idea, it’s not very smart or ethical.
First of all, advertisers pay for those ads through the AdWords program. So when you tell people to randomly click the ads, you are throwing their hard-earned money down the toilet. In a way, it’s stealing.
Second, what if Google notices the multiple clicks from the same IP address. Yes, maybe it’s not your IP address, but is it really worth the risk? Plus, I would imagine Google would eventually ignore those clicks anyway.
3. When Google Calls…. Answer… And Keep Your Records
Some thieves are not too bright. Once I caught someone who literally ripped off my entire site. Not only did they forget to remove my AdSense code, but they violated the AdSense T&C’s by calling attention to the ads.
Google discovered this site, and because the person was using my AdSense code, they contacted me because they thought it was my site. I explained to them what happened.
After I replied, I didn’t hear back from Google and that made me a little nervous. So I contacted them again and included the previous correspondence.
This time I received an answer and Google told me they added a note to my file that said I was not the owner of the domain that violated the T&C’s. More importantly, I saved this reply for my own records just in case.
4. Obey The Rules
Even though Google doesn’t seem to be enforcing this much, they recently added a section to their T&C’s that require any site that uses AdSense to have a Privacy Policy. See the end of Section 1 of their terms and conditions.
Many Webmasters aren’t taking this too seriously, but if it’s in their T&C’s then why not take 10 minutes to set it up?
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A lot of people feel Google owes them something or they are doing Google a big favor by being an AdSense publisher.
I have no way of knowing how AdSense affects Google’s bottom line, but I can tell you this. Thousands of advertisers are paying to advertise with Google through AdWords, and we know that’s where Google is making its money.
AdWords advertisers funnel thousands of dollars into Google everyday and indirectly earning you money from AdSense. Google’s best interest is keeping them happy, not the publishers. Remember, AdSense publishers aren’t paying Google a cent.
So the next time you try to sneak a click or encourage your visitors to click an ad or two, ask yourself if the 12 cents you’ll gain is worth losing your account for good.
I earned roughly 80 dollars through spamming a site and fetching visitors to my site but later abandoed the tactic. Is there any possibility that my account will be banned ?
Woow… I just registered my site in Google AdSense. Do you think that I’ll be approved? I just wrote 12 articles and all of those written in Indonesian. What do you think? please answer my question…
google record your IP and your adsense profile,there will be mno more communication from your profile/ip matching towards google applications.one of my friends often run websites without adsense ads due no id in adsense account.
it’s better to concentrate on your own efforts bring traffic to blog/site instead of wasting time by thinking about “how the mistake has happened ” towards google adsene.
in the same time ,your site will get more traffic/money with best practise to earn money.
Thank you
Hi Lisa,
It’s so great to know sites such as yours where there are a lot of helpful stuff just for the newbies like me. Well, I wanna thank you for sharing all of these. More power!
Dear Lisa,
I have been banned from adsense because a facebook friend deliberately clicked on the ads to get me banned.I have a make money online website at http://www.bigonlinemoney.weebly.com, would you advise me to use info link instead to get revenue.
I am hopefully expecting a reply from you .
thank you asktheseonerd.But recently I found out that it was my facebook friend who deliberately clicked on the ads to get ne banned, what should I do now?I have alreeady been rejected the first appeal,
Dear Lisa,
I have been following your tips for months and had successfully created a blog at http://www.astarphysics.blogspot.com with adsense.When I posted an update that I have a blog with adsense on facebook, ONE of my friend deliberately clicked several times on the ads and google banned me. The adsense team is not believing me,I need not have a analytic account for that blog.What should I do, my first appeal to google got rejected? Please help me, as you are familiar with the adsense team I hope you will help me and make them believe that I was innocent and that this type of mistake will never ever happen in the future.My email is veeradinesh85@gmail.com
Veeradinesh,
Sorry to hear this has happened to you. You are not the first and won’t be the last to have this happen. About 99% of the time, trying to get your Adsense account back is a losing battle. But there are that teeny 1% who manage to get their account back.
Those 1% will advise you to keep trying and contacting Adsense, VERY POLITELY, letting them know that it was an honest mistake, etc.
The other 99% who get totally shut down, will tell you that their are other contextual ad programs and to switch to them. I don’t have a list handy, but a good search on Google should help. You can also replace your former Adsense spots with affiliate programs instead. You may find that you’ll make much more money that way.
Hope this helps you a bit.
MJ
Hello Lisa, I express my thanks to you. I continue to follow your site, and now I managed to become part of Google adsense. But unfortunately two of my site is still under construction, so today I still use a free blog.
Hi lisa,
This is again very informative and helpful post. I just get my adsense account approve this very day and so I was happy to surf such kind of post that helps me protect my adsense account. I am not getting enough traffic now to earn more, but someday I believe I can earn more money through E-Marketing.
Thank you so much. 😀
Hello Lisa, I am a beginner and I still in a review by google adsense now. I was at one IP address that is shared by the five computers in one apartment. I will not click on my ad, but what if they click on my ads from their computer? What risks do I get from adsense? Thanks
hi again was looking at the adsense terms, it says you cant advertise with adsense if your site is about e.g. tabbacco.
i am opening this health site but what if i advertise something like tabbacco or gambling on my site would that be allowed?
you might think why am i advertising tabbacco on a health site, but its this special ciggrete which is meant to be more safer sloution to smoking for addicts. if that makes any sense…
thx your very much i appricate all you help and support xxx
me again i am sorry lol, i forgot to ask if you delete you internet history, cookies does it affect your adsense or Affiliates?
If someone deletes their cookies it could wipe out an affiliate tracking ID. So let’s say I click your affiliate link and don’t buy right away. Then I clear my cookies and go back to the company site without using your affiliate link then you would NOT get credit. I’m sure this happens but not enough to worry about or significantly impact your earnings. As far as AdSense and cookies, they should have no impact on your earnings.
hi lisa
all this is a bit scary, if SBI was designed around google adsence, and they cancel your site because of some person clicking on and of its not fair on the publisher as it could be their only sourse of income. for my own privacy statement i not sure what i should right could you help?
Well hopefully you won’t be basing your entire income around AdSense. Even SBI! suggests to diversify your income portfolio. I’m not sure what this has to do with writing your privacy statement though?
thank you very much for the advice p.s. the privacy statement was when i was reading another artical about copyrighting images (you made me think of a lot and it all come out in one place lol) i learn a lot from your you tube video and it is where i discover you. i was wondering if you could do a video on the legal side:
1. such as tax (i seen your Affiliates tax video) but do you get taxed on other sources of income such as click bank, adsence, resellers etc
2. best way to conduct a privacy police?
p.s. i think i learnt more about making money in one day watching your video than 3 years in university lol
thx you;)
I’ve read the Adsense Terms…and can honestly say that I’m still a little confused. So can I use Adsense with my affiliate links that are not pay per click?
Hi L.J. Yes you can. I have been using AdSense with my affiliate programs for years with no problem.
Thanks Lisa! One more question. I wrote up my policy…but don’t know where to place it without it showing up in feeds. Help.
Thanks for this post, as a new person to the whole adsense thing I really appreciate the info. Your blog has such a wealth of info its great for the people like me that are just beginning with blogging and adssense and all that.
Thanks again!
.-= Iskander´s last blog … What I found today! ! =-.
Thxs for your Tips!!!
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You got a point there. I clicked on my google ad accidently once and lived in a constant fear if my earnings would be declined till i saw the posting of my payment link in adsense. That click only earned me .01 but gave me nightmares. I guess google can understand an accidental click from click fraud.
This is a very informative article for newbies who normally don’t bother reading the TOS.
Thanks a lot Lisa. I didn’t know all that. Now I am prepared when I am ready to put up adsense on my site.
Hi Lisa, thank you for this post. This is one of the reasons that I feel so uneasy using Adsense sometimes, because there isn’t really a way to protect yourself against competitors, nasty boys/girls, etc. Scary!
I currently own about 7 or so websites, and only run Adsense on three of them. For the next sites that I build with be without Adsense from now on until/unless they figure out a way to just ignore invalid clicks, instead of punishing innocent publishers.
There are affiliates out there who earn 6-figure incomes via their websites without Adense, which is comforting to me!
Hey Johnny, this is the first rule of engagement when it comes to obey Google’s policies: You should not click on your own Adsense links. Every time you click an Adsense link, is making an advertiser wastes his/her ad dollars. Great advices Lisa. Thanks!
guess Google doesn’t count clicks via cookies anymore
Great information Lisa. I had no idea that you could be banned for just clicking on your Adsense links. I do this just to test them, I didn’t know this was a no-no.
Thanks…
I got an email from google today saying I did that. I don’t know what I am doing. I don’t know if it was when posting. How do you post to your own blog=stupid I know. I am a GOD fearing man and very ethical. I am basically getting my blog setup and website which doesn’t look to good. HELP PLEASE. And how do you contact google.
Donny Claxton
Thanks for posting about the Privacy Policy rule, I wasn’t aware of it before. I’ve added one to my site now!
Good point, Rumi! I should have mentioned this. Thanks and I’m sure others will appreciate that. You should definitely do this as a publisher. This option was not yet available when my situation happened.
Lisa, probably you know this, but for others readers on your blog: you can enter in your adsense account allowed sites, where adsense with your publisher ID can be displayed. This save you if somebody steal your code and put it in other sites in order to make you harm.
I would need more info Jimmy. Are you saying the issue is because they logged in from a different IP address? I’m not sure that has anything to do with it.
I have heard of people that had Adsense in many sites and went on vacation to Costa Rica, and logged in their account to do some management and google cancel it. What do you think about this?