Google Updates AdSense Policies
Consider yourself warned.
That is, if you’re doing anything that could potentially be against Google’s new AdSense policies. AdSense is known to be the staple of most probloggers and casual bloggers looking into monetizing their sites, and I have personally encountered bloggers whose accounts have been suspended due to violations. Even minor violations can be a cause for suspension (and therefore the prospect of ever getting those hundreds or even thousands of dollars accumulated in your account).
Jensense gives a heads up on the recent changes to the Google AdSense terms of service, and some of these are pretty drastic.
In a nutshell, here’s what’s new.
- Referrals – AdSense now allows for more referrals. Previously, publishers were only allowed four referral products, with one ad unit each. Now publishers can have up to two referral links/buttons for each product. It is speculated more referral products are underway. Google has also disallowed requiring users to submit email addresses in conjunction with AdSense referrals.
- AdSense units with Images – Google has previously announced that it is now taking a firmer stance against placing images beside AdSense ads where the images might be confusing (or too relevant to the ads). It’s now part of the AdSense policies.
- AdSense for Search – Apparently, publishers can now include ad link units on search results pages.
- Domain parking – Reference has been removed, although under parked domains still fall under “no-content” pages, and hence AdSense is disallowed.
- Student essays or papers – AdSense now disallows sites that sell or distribute student essays. This is likely also part of the copyrighted material clause (below).
- Copyrighted material – Google has reworded this clause to refer to a broader sense. In a nutshell, you cannot have ads on a page that is potentially infringing on others’ copyrights.
- Competitive ads and services – This is quite drastic. Publishers can no longer use ads from competing ad services if these resemble AdSense (in color, appearance, font, etc.)
The change considered to be most drastic is the clause about competitive ads and services. Previously, publishers could get away with laying out third-party ads or even direct sponsorships with the same appearance as AdSense ads. Now even the phrase “Ads by (insert name here)” might be misconstrued as copying the “Ads by Google” tagline.
Arguably, a lot still do put up AdSense ads and get away with some violations. Perhaps it’s both difficult for some publishers to keep track of the changing policies (and have to make adjustments accordingly, especially on a large scale), and for the AdSense team to keep track of erring publishers.
