Myth: Google Is Trigger-Happy At Banning Adsense Plublishers

There is a common complaint among webmasters Google is trigger-happy at banning Adsense publishers who violate their Terms Of Service (TOS), and often without warning.

The TOS violations usually involve:
- publishers clicking on their own ads.
- encouraging visitors to click on the ads.
- tricking visitors into clicking on the ads, e.g. by aligning images to the ad units.
- implementing ads on pages with copyrighted or adult content.

My personal experience has been otherwise and infact, the Google Adsense team had been polite and responsive to my queries. Here's a warning email that I received from Google:

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Hello,

While reviewing your account, we noticed that you are currently displaying Google ads in a manner that is not compliant with our policies. For instance, we found violations of AdSense policies on pages such as xxxxyoutube.com.

Publishers are not permitted to make prominent use of “Google Brand Features” on sites showing Google ads. Google Brand Features include Google logos, product screenshots, or other distinctive features Additionally, publishers may not place Google ads on sites incorporating Google trademarks in the site URL or on sites that frame Google pages, including search results pages.

As a result, we have disabled ad serving to the site.

Your AdSense account remains active. However, we strongly suggest that you take the time to review our program policies (https://www.google.com/adsense/policies) to ensure that all of your remaining pages are in compliance.

Please note that we may disable your account if further violations are found in the future.

Sincerely,
The Google AdSense Team
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And this was the response I received within 24 hours of asking how I had violated their terms:

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Hello Larry,

Thanks for following up with us and for making the requested changes to your account in order to comply with our policies.

As mentioned in our previous email, publishers may not place Google ads on sites incorporating Google trademarks in the site URL. As you’ve suggested, the issue was with your use of “YouTube” in your site URL.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Sandor
The Google AdSense Team
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Hence, my advice to potential and existing Adsense publishers is to not believe everything you read in webmaster forums. Good luck in making money from the Adsense publisher program and do not harbor a fear that you can be banned at Google's whim and fancy.

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Singapore SEO Consultant - Singapore Search Engine Optimization & Online Marketing Services.