Google Going On A Slapping Spree On CPA Campaigns
- 3 Comment
I mentioned in one of my post that FTC is cracking hard on flogs and this time round, Google and Yahoo have taken strict measures as well. This is probably not the latest news but worth mentioning it again in case any newbies might fall into this trap again. A lot of Adwords accounts are closed for good for this reason. That means it’s never EVER going to get re-instated again. This is some serious banning.
Items that you should try to stay away for the moment to keep your Adwords account safe, is those recurring billing products, like those Acai free trials and other health related products. The “Google Kits” is a BIG “no-no”. Looks like Google is taking serious measures to protect their reputation and punishing those profiting from its trademark. Anything that has got Google’s trademark in the products are no longer acceptable. Promotion of products using Google’s brand trust tends to mislead the consumers and Google is not going to be involved in the scam game for sure.
So, before you decided to promote an item, check the terms and conditions properly and make sure it complies with Google Adwords guidelines before getting the Google Slap or worse, an Adwords account closed for good. You’re in their playground so play by their rules. No way to go around that!
Here is a brief video explaining Google Slap for newbies
3 Comments on this post
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Jim Lillig
said:
Dee, you are right that the FTC is cracking down on Google Kit type of campaigns. Particularly those that mislead or genuinely do not add value to their AdWords empire. But heretofore, they have profited handsomely by adding hundreds of thousands of accounts due to these types of courses. They allowed an organic business model to erupt over their AdWords campaigns at the hands of online entrepreneurs teaching others how to supposedly do it. Maybe Bing could learn a lesson (I have a post at jimlillig.com on the subject) from Google.
I also agree with you that promoting those types of campaigns is a risk most publishers do not need. At our network, Offeratti.com, we look for “authentic guru’s” such as Shawn Casey and Justin Blake. They teach you the AdWords game, and a whole lot more than just being a one trick traffic driving pony. Our campaigns are compliant and all of our advertisers use FTC attorneys when reviewing their offers and website language/links. This is a cornerstone of our network and why we will be standing when the FTC’s dust clears.
Thank you for taking a stand on the Google Kits, as many many publishers are still promoting those offers. Those offers all follow the same formula, a low intro price into a 14 day Risk Free Trial, then into a forced continuity usually for $79 or so, and then they get the phone calls from “coaches” as well as interminable email. The end user never knew what hit them, and these companies bank on the fact that 1/3 of all buyers will not scrutinize their credit card statement for a few months and that’s where they make their margin.
Few if any of those Google Kits actually give good solid advice. They mostly are very good at making Google more money, and the last time I checked Google was OK with that. Remember, Google up to now didn’t really go after anyone that registered their name in a URL. Now all of a sudden, the FTC is taking notice and they are concerned. Seems to remind me of how they dealt with the whole PPC fraud issue – set aside $900MM so the lawyers can get paid, but offer little or no protection/remuneration from fraud within the ad platform.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:27 pm -
Dan Liptak
said:
This is why I highly recommend building your own landing page with a optin form. Then you can build a list and market to them over and over. I have been reading on the forums about a lot of people getting banned for using “Google” in the ad. This is never a good idea. Google has always advocated the “user experience” so they will always be going after direct linking.
August 15th, 2009 at 6:10 am -
Dee
said:
Yes Dan, you are correct and I agree on the point that we should design our own landing pages and have an opt-on form. Thanks for the comment!
August 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
