AdSense FAQ very useful?
Questions with answers from AdSenseAdvisor.
What is a channel?
It’s an extra code you can have added in the ads that does some great stuff.
To track each of your ad units, link units, and AdSense for search boxes. Then you can figure out on your own which color schemes, placements and ad formats are most effective for your particular site.
I clicked a bunch of ads on the first day, and I didn’t know. What do I do?
If you accidentally click on your own ads, it’s best to let the AdSense team know. Email adsense-support@google.com and explain the situation.
Google Adsense ads (and AdLinks) are using italic text. How do I make them look normal?
Firefox Adblock extension can cause that, and AdSenseAdvisor said…
Try clearing your browser cache and deleting your browser cookies. Sometimes strange things happen when cookies are corrupted.
I got some English text on my site, but it’s mostly *Insert other language.* Why do I mostly get PSAs?
It looks like PSAs are appearing because *Insert other language* is currently not supported by the AdSense program. While I see that there is some English content, it is probably not enough for our crawlers to be able to determine the meaning of your page and serve relevant ads.
If you are not satisfied with the ads that are appearing, I recommend removing the code until we are able to support *Insert other language*. I see you are already using AdSense for search, and recommend continuing to use this option in the meantime.
AdSense serves ads that are relevant to the text-based content of a given site, which provides a positive experience for advertisers, users and publishers. If AdSense is placed on a site written in an unsupported language, the ads probably won’t be relevant. Therefore, we kindly ask that you do not modify your code to try to alter the natural targeting.
Are AdSense Trackers OK to use?
If you’re not modifying the code, or trapping the clicks or changing the way ads are processed, it should be all right to implement a click-counter script like the ones suggested.
Do be careful not to change the ad code without realizing it, though.
How can I view my ads with out clicking them?
If you are using Windows and the Internet Explorer browser, you can download the Google AdSense preview tool. More information is available at:
http://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/topic.py?topic=160
If you are not using Windows or do not have access to the Internet Explorer browser, you can view the destination URL of ads appearing on your site by following the instructions on:
http://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/answer.py?answer=9876
If you use these tips, you can set your mind at ease when you want to view the ads appearing on your site.
Should I be worried about all the accounts disabled for invalid clicks reports?
I’ve noticed there seems to be concern surrounding accounts disabled for invalid clicks.
We have not made any significant changes to our monitoring system recently, and would like to reassure publishers that we value our relationships with you. However, sometimes it is necessary to disable some publisher accounts to maintain the quality of the network and ensure the long-term viability of the program.
We have strict policies and guidelines for invalid clicks. However, each escalated case is re-reviewed by a team dedicated to detecting invalid activity using several specialized tools and a wide variety of techniques.
Generally, this action is reserved for deliberate and egregious violations of the ToS and should not affect most of you. In most other cases, we try to work with publishers to comply with our guidelines and improve the results of their AdSense implementation.
In all cases, if you notice something suspicious in your account statistics, or if you feel there has been a misunderstanding, please email us.
Will I get terminated for not generating enough clicks or impressions?
While this language is indeed included in the T&C, please note that we have never done this sort of termination.
Can Adsense be in pop-ups?
According to AdSense program policies (http://www.google.com/adsense/policies):
No Google ad or Google search box may be displayed on any domain parking websites, pop-ups, pop-unders, or in any email.
From AdSenseAdvisor…
The reason for this policy is that Google believes strongly in providing a positive experience for the user. We have found that pop-ups, pop-unders, etc. take away from the user experience.
Can I have AdSense placed in a newsletter (online) that is accessed by a link in an email to a sites newsletter subscribers?
As long as the newsletter is a live HTML page, you should be able to use AdSense. The ToS apply to newsletters sent out by email (i.e., when the text of the newsletter is pasted into an email). If the email you send out only contains a link to the newsletter page, you should be fine.
Some times I get a message that says ‘Page could not be found’ with a 404 error, where the link units should be. What do I do?
Make sure you alternative ad URL is working, and from AdSenseAdvisor…..
I recommend contacting adsense-support@google.com. They should be able to tell you what’s happening.
Everyday, my ‘aggregate’ clicks are about 15% more than the sum of all my channel clicks. Why do I have missing clicks?
If you are using URL channels, some of these clicks could have been generated from cached versions of your page appearing in search engine results. Also, someone might be framing your content so the clicks are attributable to a different URL. Using ‘www’ in your URL channel can also have an effect on tracking.
If you are using custom channels, it is likely that one of your ad units might not be attributable to a channel.
Is it OK to create an Adsense Search Engine, ie direct users to a particular keyword?
I recommend reading the ‘Implementation and Operation of Ads and Search Results’ section of the AdSense ToS (http://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms).
We ask that you do not pre-populate search results. Search queries should be generated naturally by your users. In fact, a new AdSense for search feature allows you to see the top 25 queries generated by your AdSense for search box, which is a feature many publishers requested to help with site optimization.
Also, as per the AdSense program policies (http://www.google.com/adsense/policies)….
We do not permit Google ads or search boxes accessing Google search services to be published on web pages that also contain what could be considered competing ads or services…If you have elected to receive Google search services, this would include other search services on the same site and non-Google query-targeted ads. We do allow affiliate or limited-text links.
Can we have images above or next to our ads?
Yes, but include a border line between the ads and use generic ads.
From AdSenseAdvisor…
Placing images above AdSense ads is not necessarily prohibited by program policies. However, depending on the method of implementation this could be considered `encouraging users to click on ads’.
Encouraging users to click on the Google ads appearing on your site is prohibited by AdSense program policies. The reason for this is to prevent artificial inflation of advertiser costs. This benefits both advertisers and publishers by preserving the integrity of the network, and maintaining its long-term viability.
If you have concerns about whether you have implemented your ads in a way that complies with AdSense program policies, feel free to email us with your URL. A specialist will be happy to conduct a review, and you will not be penalized.
My Adsense ads stopped showing up on some of his pages, and then stopped showing up altogether. Why?
This problem is isolated to your colleague’s computer and you are able to see ads on your computer. I have several suggestions which might clear up this problem.
First, have clear your browser cache and delete the browser cookies on both IE and Firefox. This sometimes solves the problem. Next, make sure that JavaScript is enabled on the browsers.
If the problem persists, I suggest taking the following measures:
- Scan your computer for viruses, making sure that any anti-virus programs on his computer contain the most recent updates.
- Download and run an anti-spyware program to remove any adware and/or spyware from his computer.
What are CPC ads versus CPM ads?
Cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-thousand-impression (CPM). When AdWords advertisers bid on a CPM basis, their ads will compete against CPC ads to display on your pages. Our technology automatically displays whichever ad will generate the maximum revenue for that page, so these ads should only improve your site’s revenue potential. if a CPM ad appears on your site, you will be paid each time it appears on your page, not every 1000 times. The term ‘cost-per-thousand-impressions’ refers to they way AdWords advertisers bid on these ads.
For example, an AdWords advertiser might bid $X for 1000 ad impressions. If this ad appears on your site through the AdSense program, you will receive 1/1000 of $X each time the ad appears. This type of ad will only show on your site if it represents more revenue potential than a CPC ad.
Can we view CPM ads on our own site?
You are permitted to view CPM ads appearing on your pages without the risk of creating invalid ad impressions.
Will AdSense effect my Google listings?
AdSense does not affect either positively or negatively your site traffic or its ranking in the Google search results.
Other questions and answers.
What do I do if I’m about to get bombed with visitors?
E-mail Google ASAP. Atleast a few business days in advance if you can, and save the E-mail and there reply. Suddenly geting bombed with visitors has been known to make Google send out that invalid clicks termination E-Mail. If you then get terminated, you can reply to them with a copy of your E-mail and there reply. Be polite! Explain to them what caused the massive increase in visitors, and include links to anything that can back you up. For example, a major web page that adds a link to your site.
What is the life of a Payment?
Can I sign-up if I’m under 18?
Yes. You must have a parent or guardian submit an application using their name as the payee name and all payments will be made to the adult.
Do I need to contact Google every time I make a new web site?
No.
How do I use section targeting to emphasize or downplay when matching ads to my site’s content?
Use section targeting. On your site, place this code where you want to emphasize.
Content you want to emphasize.
If you want some content to be ignored, use
Why don’t I see any change in ads after using section targeting?
It can take two weeks before the robots notice the change.
Can Amazon ads be on the same page as Google ads?
Yes.
Can affiliate text links be on the same page as AdSense?
Yes. Though if you join programs that look like AdSense, such as Yahoo ad program, where the ads show content related to the page, you can’t have them on the same page as Google.
Are there animated ads in Google?
Yes.
Can I add ads with in posts of vBulletin or phpBB?
Yes. Look at the ads on DigitalPoint for an example. You can also add them to the right or left of the posts.
Can I have Google ads in E-Mail?
Nope. “No Google ad or Google search box may be displayed on any domain parking websites, pop-ups, pop-unders, or in any email.”
Is AdSense allowed on pure commercial sites?
Yes.
Is there any way to see what ads my visitors are clicking?
Nope. But you can see what keywords people search for when you use Googles search.
How many Channels can I have?
200
Why can’t I log in now?
If you didn’t get a invalid clicks E-Mail, try clearing your cookies/temp files etc, reboot and try again. If you still can’t log-in after about a day, E-mail Google. If you don’t get a reply, start panicing!
Can I check my AdSense stats on a Cell Phone?
Yes, IF it can handle HTML. If you can’t view Google.com on it, then no, you can’t check your stats on it. One user has a HP Ipaq phone and it can view AdSense stats. Another user uses the Samsung Pocket PC Phone.
So I was clicking my own ads, and now my account has been disabled. What do I do to get back in?
*yawn*
And next time you join a program, read the rules.
Can I place Yahoo and Google ads on the same site?
Yes, BUT, they can not be on the same page. And you can have it random, one time Yahoo, and another time Google. Just don’t have them both show up on the same page.
Who pays more, Google or Yahoo?
There’s not a lot of info out on this yet. I got three quotes from three users that are now testing Yahoo… ‘Yahoo pays 100% more’. Another one is ‘finding YPN actually better than Adsense’, and ‘the CPC is better then AdSense’
Of course we don’t know how the payout will be after Yahoo get’s out of beta. As far as we know, they could cut payout in half a few months after going public when all the hype dies down.
If you got Yahoo Ads on your site, post your results on the boards and compare them to Google Ads.
Is it OK to tell visitors to click non-Adsense ads on a site with AdSense Ads?
Don’t!!!! From Critters
A friend had Adsense ads on his site and some non-Adsense ads that he made to advertise other areas of his site and his other sites, he asked his members to click them, they got confused and clicked all ads, he was banned.Managed to get back on after many emails to G, but I would not bother if I were you. Any sudden increase in CTR is going to get your site looked at by the Adsense team, and “click my ads” anywhere on your site could get you booted. Don’t take the risk!
How can I be making money from no clicks?
You had CPM ads.
How do I report a cheater?
Click the ‘Ads by Goooooogle’ link. Then select the ‘Report a violation.’ option and tell them about the cheater.
How do I get my ads up there with AdSense Ads?
Advertise in AdWords. And choose the setting that lets your ads show up on publisher sites. (I think it’s set to yes by default unless you change it.)
What are the rules about having images next to ads?
Google says….
Because ads are dynamic, publishers should be very careful not to place images that could deceive users directly above the ads. Highly general “stock” images are less likely to be deceptive than very specific images that suggest a specific offering at the advertiser’s site.Maintain a visible border around ad units if you choose to experiment with placing images directly above the ad units. While I realize that this may reduce the effectiveness of the technique, it’s important to strike a balance between the potential to overcome ad blindness and the possibility of confusing users.
Contrasting color border around the Adsense Ad block or a simple HR code between them will work. Don’t make the images look like there part of the ads. E-mail Google if you’re not sure.
Do they tell you when they send a check out?
Yes! Check the Payment History.
Is it OK to insert Adsense after the first post in forums?
Yes.
I’ve been denied twice from joining. WHY?
Content! Content! Content! And read the TOS. For example, if the site is about firearms, xxx, gambling, or warez, even if it’s just for example firearms reviews, that might set off the deny button. In short, (List made by alang)….
- Site under construction.
- Not enough pages.
- Not enough traffic.
- Site that doesn’t comply with policy.
Don’t give up. Many people have had to sign up a few times before getting accepted. And try to get a good PR!
What if I get denied when I sign-up and Google says I got banned before, yet I’ve never used AdSense?
If you get this E-Mail……
Your AdSense account was found to be related to an account previously disabled for invalid click activity. A publisher who has an account that has been disabled for invalid clicks is not allowed further participation in the AdSense programme.and you’ve never used AdSense before, try to figure out WHY they might be thinking you were once banned. IP Address? Owning a domain that was once owned by a user that cheated AdSense?? Once you figure out the cause, send them a nicely worded explanation, and cross your fingers.
Are Adsense stats a good source to check your traffic?
Note really. Many visitors, including FireFox users can block AdSense ads. One user get’s twice the pageviews in awstat and webalizer than show up in the AdSense reports.
How do I add AdSense to my feeds?
Sign up for the beta. If you get approved, Log in, click the AdSense for content tab and under Ad Type, select AdSense for feeds unit.
Can I change the colors?
AdSense allows you to have up to 4 color variations for each variable for which you can specify color. For example.google_color_border = [”628098″,”628098″,”000000″,”000000″];
google_color_link = [”000000″,”BBB90C”,”BBB90C”,”628098″];
google_color_url = [”000000″,”628098″,”000000″,”000000″];
google_color_text = [”628098″,”628098″,”000000″,”000000″];
Great for overcoming ad blindness.
OMG my CTR is way up, Google must be doing something! Am I going to get banned?
It won’t last for long if you keep going bonkers over your earnings. Studies show that the more time you spend looking at your earnings, the less money you make. Get a life. Go work on your site!
OMG my CTR and eCPM is way down, Google must be cutting payouts for everyone, who else is seeing the same thing?
You need help. Get rid of the pot and call 1-800-Get-A-Life.
How much can I earn?
Look at this thread.
How long does it take to start earning money?
As soon as you place ads on your site, get visitors, and enough visitors to get clicks. Then as soon as you make $100.00 you’ll get paid a month after the current month ends that you passed $100.00 and enter your PIN.
When do I get paid?
Google will send your check or EFT payment within approximately 30 days of the end of the month after you make US$100, unless a payment hold exists or unless otherwise agreed to in writing (including electronic mail).
For example, if you earn $40 in January and $70 in February, we’ll send payment to you by the end of March.
If your account balance is less than US$100 at the end of the month, we’ll roll your earnings over to the following month, until the payment threshold is reached. Balances include the combined earnings of AdSense for content and AdSense for search pages.
If you get the invalid clicks E-mail, you will not get another payment from Google unless you get reinstated.
Why can’t I sign-up for EFT?
You don’t live in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.
Other people are getting the Payment In Progress message but I’m not. What’s up with that???
Not every one get’s the message at the same time. Google is known for giving the message to those getting paid by check first, then a few days letter the EFT payments start getting progressed. If you don’t get the message by the end of the month, E-Mail Google, if you made over $100 last month.
I didn’t get my check. Can I be reissued a check?
Yes. Make a request 25 days after the check was issued. If you receive checks by Secured Express Delivery, you can request a reissue of any month’s payment after the 5th of the next month.
To request a new check, E-mail Google at adsense-support@Google.com and include the number, date, and amount of the check that you’d like reissued.
I didn’t get my PIN.
E-Mail Google two weeks after they send it. Google sends it when you make $50.
How do I change my payee information?
You can’t. You can only cancel the account and get a new one.
What do I do if my EFT payment fails?
Look at the notice on your Payment History page. Reentering your bank info can fix some issues, or you may have to contact Google.
Do I have to pay taxes on the money I earn?
If you are in the USA, yes. Get TurboTax. You may need to pay quarterly or get fines. As for other countries, odds are you do. Check with a CPA in your country.
Are my stats reflected in real time?
Reports on impressions and clicks are usually updated every fifteen to thirty minutes and occasionally there will be a delay of 24 hours or more in the reports you see on the website, according to Google. Though it usually looks like it’s more like a few hours delay, on average.
Does high CTR mean elimination from Adsense?
Probably not. It shows your site is very optimized. It’s when you have a massive spike that you want to worry about it. One thing to worry about is getting click-bombed. If you average 100 clicks a day, and suddenly get a 500 click day, contact Google immediately.
What is a good CTR?
It depends on the kind of site you got. Some sites have trouble getting a 1% CTR. Others have no trouble getting over 10% CTR. Check the links at the end of the FAQ for tips on optimizing your site.
Why does the page eCPM goes down as day progresses?
The ads which pay higher can end because they reach their daily limit. - microtony
CTR over 100% - what’s up with that?
Visitors can click the ads more than once, like when they don’t find what they want after the first click.
I clicked my own Ads by mistake!
Don’t panic. No ones perfect. Many of us have done that. If you are really worried, you can E-mail them.
How do I keep from getting terminated? - valeriya
Do use the Adsense approved formats only.
Do keep your click-through data and income private.
Don’t display Adsense on registration or thank you pages.
Don’t use Adsense code and a competitor’s content-targeted advertisement on the same page.
Don’t encourage anyone else to click on ads.
Don’t click on the site’s own ads ever.
Read the Adsense policies and terms.
The easiest method an account can be banned is by a Webmaster clicking on the site’s own ads.
Spikes in click-through percentages are hefty red flags. Those are the changes worth becoming proactive over by emailing Google Adsense. A site that rises from a consistent 1% click-through rate to a 10% click-through rate on one day could become suspect. The actual percentage that creates the flag isn’t made public for obvious reasons.
How many ads can I place on one page?
You can place one link unit and 3 regular ad units.
Can my account be reinstated after being disabled for invalid activity?
If you feel additional information would be valuable in explaining your situation, you can notify Google at adsense-adclicks@Google.com, or respond to the disapproval notice that was emailed to you.
Respond to the questions asked by the support team, and they will be happy to reconsider your account with the additional information provided. There is no guarantee that you will be reinstated into AdSense. If they feel the advertisers and publishers will be adversely impacted by invalid activity we may from time to time cease a publisher’s participation in the program.
Can I display ads on search results pages?
Yes.
Can I sign up for more than one account?
Not unless you sign up for additional accounts under separate business entities. It’s a good idea to E-Mail Google before you do.
How do I beta test AdSense for feeds?
Complete an application here.
How do I change my email address / login?
- Create a new email. If possible, use the email address currently associated with your AdSense account
- Write ‘Login change request’ as the subject of your message
- Include the following in the body of your message:
- The email address currently associated with your account
- The email address you’d like to use as your new account email address
- The date of the first day your account registered AdSense impressions
- The number of page impressions registered on your first day of impressions
4. Send the email to adsense-support@Google.com
If you currently do not have access to the email address associated with your account, Google may require more information to complete this request. (When I changed my E-mail address and didn’t have access to the old E-Mail address, they did not require any extra info from me.)
Why am I getting PSAs?
Google has not yet crawled all the pages of your website.
Your page may contain sensitive content for which relevant paying ads will not be displayed.
Your website is using session IDs in the URL.
The AdSense code was placed within an IFRAME.
Your web pages are behind a login.
There are too many URLs added to your account filter list.
Your web page may not contain enough content.
Your site content is primarily in an unsupported language.
Your site has restricted access using a robots.txt exclusion. If you would like to grant Google’s crawler access your pages, you can do so without granting permission to any other bots. Simply add the following two lines to the top of your robots.txt file:
User-agent: Mediapartners-Google*
Disallow:
Your website is using frames. In order for Google to serve better targeted ads to the content on your website, select the Framed page checkbox from the Ad layout code page when generating your ad code.
Why are ads not appearing on my site?
You will need to enable JavaScript in your browser in order to view Google ads on a website. Personal firewall software or ad blocking software can cause Google ads to not display.
If your site was previously disapproved, and is later reconsidered and approved for the AdSense program, there may be a delay of up to 48 hours before all of Googles servers are informed of the change and ads begin appearing on your site.
I tried joining a week ago but I haven’t got any reply. What do I do?
E-mail Google.
Why are my high paying ads getting so low EPC?
Made for Adsense sites don’t work! Give the advertisers poor quality clicks and they stop allowing there ads to show up. Plus there can be a lot of advertisers trying to make money off high paying keywords. For example, for mesothelioma, for every high paying advertiser (Think lawyers.) there are probably 25 low paying advertisers, and with the thousands of sites promoting the term, the lawyers get such low results that they probably stopped allowing there ads to show up on web sites.
Can somebody sabotage my account?
This is just a guess. But if Google doesn’t compare domain registration contact with your account address, then yes, some one easily can. Then there’s privacy registration which can make it hard to compare your address with the domain registration and contact the real site owner, and would probably get you dumped since the whois address wouldn’t match.
What are highest paying keywords?
Look at this page.
I have placed Adsense in my site for X months, but I have only made $X.00. How can I make more money?
Get a lot more visitors and optimize your site using the links at the end of the FAQ.
It looks like every one is getting banned. Why should I even join?
Because you might be one of the 95+% that don’t get banned and stay a member for years to come and keep getting payments. That’s like saying ‘Why should I even make money since I’ll have to pay taxes??!!’
Should I make AdSense only sites?
No. Make real sites. Not sites that you make just to get the visitor to come, and then leave on the AdSense ads. Google isn’t known for banning people from going this..YET. But one of these days they might start banning for this.
Is it possible to filter keywords or general topics from your ads?
Nope. You can only block domains. Or keep the topic keywords out of your site.
Is a high PR required to get high paying ads?
PR doesn’t have anything to do with what ads you get.
