Google has a very strict policy when it comes to the types of ads they don’t allow, with the sole purpose of protecting people from misleading or inappropriate ads. As long as you follow this policy, everything should be fine, but some people think they can trick the system.
In 20016, they took down over - get ready for this - 1.7 billion ads, for simply violating the advertising policies.
If you don’t have the time to do some proper research before starting publishing ads, even though it’s highly recommended, here you can find some tips which should help you avoid getting banned from Google’s ad networks. To be more specific, we’re going to talk the types of ads you should avoid publishing at all costs. Let’s begin, shall we?
Over the past few months, one hot topic was present in several discussions about online marketing: misrepresentative content. Or, how Google likes to call them, fake news. Now it does sound familiar, right?
1. Stay away from fake news websites
Besides not informing users properly, websites promoting this type of content can also lead to publishers being banned Google’s ad networks. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to stay away from displaying your ads on such websites!
According to Google’s bad ads report from 2016, its recent policy against fake news ‘hit’ 200 publishers from its ad networks, after reviewing 540 of them. As for the rest of 340, there was also some action taken against them. As a side note, it’s the first time when the big G includes a section about fake news in its report.
2. Don’t promote illegal products or activities
It’s well known that some of the most common ads that don’t comply to Google’s rules are the ones promoting illegal products or activities.
Back in 2016, more than 68 million bad ads for pharmaceuticals were banned, due to healthcare violations, while 17 million ads promoting illegal gambling websites were also removed.
3. Don’t publish misleading ads
We all know them. “This miracle pill will help you lose 10 pounds per hour” or “Everybody is at risk! Here’s how you can get rid of the biggest threat” are just a few examples. Of course, we’re exaggerating, but there’s a big problem with these, since they’ve basically invaded the Web, aiming to attract potential customers to e-commerce stores and other types of websites.
Nobody wants to be misled by the ads they see and Google puts a big price on this, requiring advertisers to provide upfront information, so people can make informed decisions. In 2016, almost 80 million ads like this were taken down.
4. Self-clicking ads are a big no-no
We’ve all been through this. You’re randomly browsing a site on your smartphone or tablet and, all of a sudden, you end up in the Play Store, downloading an app you have no idea about. In this case, it’s the work of a mobile self-clicking ad.
Never, but never rely on this, unless you want to feel the force of Google’s ban hammer. In 2016, 23,000 ads of this type were detected and eventually disabled.
5. Ads trying to trick the system
Finally, let’s not forget about those thinking they’re smarter than Google when it comes to displaying ads. Well…they’re not, as they will eventually get caught. According to the ad policy, you aren’t allowed to promote stuff like weight-loss supplements, payday loans and so on. However, a few publishers think they have a few aces in their sleeve, allowing them to bypass the rules.
In 2016, one of the most popular online marketing trends - a bad trend, that is - was tabloid cloaking . Basically, these were ads promoting news stories (mostly from tabloid sites), but when clicked, they were leading to all kinds of shady websites, promoting some of the above-mentioned products or services.
However, it didn’t last for long, since they were immediately detected and more than 1,300 accounts were suspended for doing this, while almost 7 million ads were also taken down just for trying to trick the detection systems.
And this sums it up, everyone! These are five types of ads which you should avoid at all costs. Google’s systems are incredibly advanced and even though it might seem that you’re getting away with it, it won’t be long until you will be caught and end up with a suspended account.
Our recommendation for all publishers and website owners is to stick to the policies and things will be just fine!
Leave a Reply