Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Ecommerce Hosting & Discussion : AdSense - Too much click cheating going on

[CRT 2004]

Do any Google Advertisers actually enable the "content network"?

I think a lot of people leave it enabled not realizing how low quality it is, and not realizing the fact that there are too many click cheaters, slicksters and weasels who serve ads.

I've noticed huge differences in conversion rates between different ad campaigns depending upon whether the "content network" was included or not.

It seems like the content network is a click cheater's paradise.

I saw differences in conversion rates that defy human belief, the normal Adwords delivered excellent conversion beyond what I thought possible. However, the "content network" delivered almost nothing with 4 times the clicks.

I'm wondering what value the "content network" offers to anybody except Google and the web site owners who serve the ads. They mention that huge sites are a part of the content network, but those seem to be a very small part of it, I don't trust it.

[Aussie Bob]

I'm sure that for every adsense cheat that webmasters come up with, Google have a small army of worker ants that can counter that cheat. It's a continual process, now that Google opened up their advertising network to include these upteen bazillion small sites. No way would I ever chose to advertise through those. But that's just Paranoid Bob!

[Taliban]

Yes Aussie Bob is right Google have a small army of worker ants that can counter that cheat.

[orderasap]

CRT - If your Adwords account is showing ads globally, you are asking for cheaters.

When I first started with Adwords, I allowed my ads to be shown globally. I got $500 worth of clicks with 0 conversions! (keep in mind i was new to the system with unproven ads and keywords though)

I checked my logs and only 13% of the traffic was from the USA. The vast majority of the traffic was from countries where English is not the first language.

I closed down the global ads and started nationwide ads. I used what I call the "big 4". USA, UK, Canada, Australia.

Now, I get a lot less traffic from Adwords, but my conversion rates hover in the 5%-10% range. That includes the content network.

There may be a few exceptions, but in my opinion, if you get outside the "big 4" you are asking for trouble. Risks increase exponentially.

[74s3]

There used to be companies in the UK that would employ home workers to click all day. They had an affiliate program with the major players and could make upto £4 per click !!!!

Google are still not very hot at stopping this so i'm sure its still happening.

[CRT 2004]

Good advice orderasap, I took your advice and reduced to those 4 countries. I was allowing too many countries before, too many Euro nations (and I think Europe is a volatile place these days)

The only country in Europe that I trust is the UK. I don't think any other economy is even remotely stable. Unstable economies are breeding grounds for the click cheaters

(now watch all the European members slam me for saying that)

I was just kidding guys, I have nothing against Europe, I just dislike the European union and their bullying policies.

But I did reduce to those 4 countries and I feel that it was a good move.

[orderasap]

The European members here can say what they want, but they know the truth too. I actually think there's much bigger problem areas than Europe.

The problem is well beyond just click cheaters. Its cc fraud, hacking, viruses, and spamming.

Don't get me wrong. There's plenty of scumbags in the USA too. Many are wolves in sheeps clothing.

All you can do is stay informed and don't blink for a second. That is ecommerce. That's what we all signed up for. But where else can you leverage your time and resources?

I wouldn't trade it for anything. (except for maybe a winning powerball ticket )

[amos462001]

Britain and the British are still a good country.Why on Earth we joined the European Common Market I will never know, and may I add before all the EUROPEANS jump down my throat so do the majority of British people agree with my viewpoint.Most British do not want any part of Europe and that is fact.We don't even speak the same language,our currency is different and thank God it still is.Many in Southern Ireland tell me how everything rocketed in price once they joined the Euro brigade.
Britain has far more in common with the USA than Europe.I expect all the World over thinks that GB'ers want to be thought of as Europeans ,well they don't, and you can take that as READ!!
GB is used to being on her own,we managed perfectly well before with just the Commonwealth.We are OK on our own, and that is the way we like to be>FREE!!!!!and British!!

PS..I am not anti European,they are nice people, but I am anti GB being part of the European Common Market.It is not working for GB, we are too independent.

[CRT 2004]

When I go to Mcdonald's, here is what I tell the employee:

Give me my FREEDOM FRIES!

[wilsonalverez]

I did the same thing, I only allowed several countries and my ROI increased a serious amount. Too much fraudulent clicks in some of the asian countries

[gogocode]

Originally posted by CRT 2004

The only country in Europe that I trust is the UK. I don't think any other economy is even remotely stable. Unstable economies are breeding grounds for the click cheaters

That's a bit harsh, for example I don't think you could call France's economy particularly unstable, or say it's a breeding ground for cheaters, likewise most of the western european nations, some of the central European countries are OK.

As for the so-called 'big-4', well that's excluding many harmless countries such as New Zealand for example.

If I was painting with a broad brush I would probably lump south america, africa, the indian block (including pakistan etc) the former soviet block and indonesia in the 'dubious' countries.

While north america, europe excludng the soviet block, pacific region (including NZ, AU, thier dependancies, the french territories and central - eastern pacific island nations, and the Antarctic territories of course ;-)) and Japan go in the 'mostly harmless' pile.

[orderasap]

gogocode - Your assessment is pretty much correct from my experience as well. Although, about 99.5% of my legitimate sales have come from the "big 4".

The exponential increase in risks doesn't really justify going after the remaining 0.5%. That half of a percentage point carries about 50% of the fraud, cheaters, and crooks. (maybe more)

[pang]

You can get the best ROI from the best "big 4" because they are English-speaking countries# and you speak English.

For example, you will get better ROI from Japan if your ads and site are in Japanese.

[orderasap]

Good point Pang.

I was speaking in terms of USA web businesses.