Sunday, January 13, 2008
Don't get Caught by Google AdSense Click Fraud
by Brian McGregor
Website owners are increasingly getting their Google AdSense accounts terminated. Considering the potential income from AdSense, losing your account can have a significant detrimental impact.
Click fraud is basically the act of clicking on an AdSense ad on your own site for the purpose of accruing AdSense commission, with no intention of buying from the advertiser who has paid for that advert to appear. It is like paying out cash for false leads. Having said that, many website owners are aware of this fraud and agree that this is a problem which needs eradicating.
The fact is, if you are guilty of click fraud, then Google are within their rights to terminate your AdSense account. You will find the terms and conditions under which you created your AdSense account allows them to take this action in the event that you transgress their policies.
If, however, you feel you have been falsely accused of click fraud, is there anything you can do to argue your case with Google? Well, you can at least try!
Most web hosts offer access logs. From here you will find evidence of the activity on your site, and it may be possible to show that you are not guilty of the stated click fraud.
Even better, you could utilize click monitoring software on your websites. This software is usually implemented by webmasters to help them understand how well their AdSense ads are performing. Indeed, implementing click monitoring software is arguably essential for any webmaster who is serious about earning income from AdSense. However, such monitors can also be used to demonstrate that you have not been click frauding. This type of software is simple to install and there are plenty of free versions available.
If you are accused of click fraud, and you know you are not guilty, any evidence that supports your case should be turned over to Google. Your position here is that you need to co-operate in any way you can, and to appear to Google as being in sympathy and agreement with their stance on click fraud.
You can also operate in a preventive mode by studying your server and your click monitoring logs, looking out for any activity that seems suspicious. By reporting in advance anything that you may find odd, you could prevent Google from taking a sanction against your account.
Be truthful and confess to Google about times when you might have clicked on your own AdSense ads, whether accidentally or intentionally for example whilst testing. Indeed, if you feel you may have done something that is against Google's terms of service, contact Google and tell them. Confessing is far better than Google eventually learning about it.
In addition, do not tell your family or friends about AdSense on your websites, as they may start clicking on them to help you make money without you knowing it. They will be doing you more harm than good. Make sure they understand that they cannot click on your ads under any circumstances.
One action you may consider is to disable AdSense ads for your own IP address and local geographic area. This will certainly help prevent click accidents, thus ensuring Google cannot mistake another user as you. You can do this through the htaccess file.
Most pay per click networks have comprehensive measures in hand to protect website owners against click frauds. They can track more than 50 data points, IP address, browsers information, users session information and pattern recognition. They also have systems available to them that detect fraud, not to mention the specialized teams monitoring activity on behalf of advertisers with a specific view to stopping click frauds.
I hope you can see, click fraud is not worth the risk. The chances are you will be discovered and your AdSense account will be terminated. This will result in that source of income being gone to you forever. Please don't do it!
Authors Resource Box:
Brian McGregor is the creator of AdSense-Images which is a unique product designed to help webmasters make more money from their existing AdSense ads. For information on taking advantage of AdSense and Blogger go to http://www.adsense-images.com
View Original Article Source at Altrana.com
Website owners are increasingly getting their Google AdSense accounts terminated. Considering the potential income from AdSense, losing your account can have a significant detrimental impact.
Click fraud is basically the act of clicking on an AdSense ad on your own site for the purpose of accruing AdSense commission, with no intention of buying from the advertiser who has paid for that advert to appear. It is like paying out cash for false leads. Having said that, many website owners are aware of this fraud and agree that this is a problem which needs eradicating.
The fact is, if you are guilty of click fraud, then Google are within their rights to terminate your AdSense account. You will find the terms and conditions under which you created your AdSense account allows them to take this action in the event that you transgress their policies.
If, however, you feel you have been falsely accused of click fraud, is there anything you can do to argue your case with Google? Well, you can at least try!
Most web hosts offer access logs. From here you will find evidence of the activity on your site, and it may be possible to show that you are not guilty of the stated click fraud.
Even better, you could utilize click monitoring software on your websites. This software is usually implemented by webmasters to help them understand how well their AdSense ads are performing. Indeed, implementing click monitoring software is arguably essential for any webmaster who is serious about earning income from AdSense. However, such monitors can also be used to demonstrate that you have not been click frauding. This type of software is simple to install and there are plenty of free versions available.
If you are accused of click fraud, and you know you are not guilty, any evidence that supports your case should be turned over to Google. Your position here is that you need to co-operate in any way you can, and to appear to Google as being in sympathy and agreement with their stance on click fraud.
You can also operate in a preventive mode by studying your server and your click monitoring logs, looking out for any activity that seems suspicious. By reporting in advance anything that you may find odd, you could prevent Google from taking a sanction against your account.
Be truthful and confess to Google about times when you might have clicked on your own AdSense ads, whether accidentally or intentionally for example whilst testing. Indeed, if you feel you may have done something that is against Google's terms of service, contact Google and tell them. Confessing is far better than Google eventually learning about it.
In addition, do not tell your family or friends about AdSense on your websites, as they may start clicking on them to help you make money without you knowing it. They will be doing you more harm than good. Make sure they understand that they cannot click on your ads under any circumstances.
One action you may consider is to disable AdSense ads for your own IP address and local geographic area. This will certainly help prevent click accidents, thus ensuring Google cannot mistake another user as you. You can do this through the htaccess file.
Most pay per click networks have comprehensive measures in hand to protect website owners against click frauds. They can track more than 50 data points, IP address, browsers information, users session information and pattern recognition. They also have systems available to them that detect fraud, not to mention the specialized teams monitoring activity on behalf of advertisers with a specific view to stopping click frauds.
I hope you can see, click fraud is not worth the risk. The chances are you will be discovered and your AdSense account will be terminated. This will result in that source of income being gone to you forever. Please don't do it!
Authors Resource Box:
Brian McGregor is the creator of AdSense-Images which is a unique product designed to help webmasters make more money from their existing AdSense ads. For information on taking advantage of AdSense and Blogger go to http://www.adsense-images.com
View Original Article Source at Altrana.com
