illegal or legal?

[rob01]

it could be illegal or legal if i use this term

"Hello there NAME Can you please view "Our Sponsors" Every 12 hours to help us out. Thank you NAME, we'd really appreciate it."

if inside the "Our Sponsors" is a google add and some/a top-website stuff

what you think so?

i have seen some website using this method but I'm not sure if its legal/okay to use

opinions?

[dismas]

I believe that Google's TOS says that you can't encourage your visitors to click links, etc.

[BSMedia]

I guess it depends on which advertising program your using or if you have private banner ads or what not.

Either way, I doubt its illegal Its more likely to be against TOS. Big difference.

[rob01]

but you are not encouraging people to click over google ads, since u only say click over our sponsors

is not saying click over google adds

why is illegal or against google TOS?

sponsors can mean anything

[dismas]

It's against the Google TOS because they pay you per click. So you're basically just asking your users to pad your wallet. They aren't legitimately interested in the products/services offered by the advertisers.

Yes, by saying "sponsors", you could be referring to anything such as local retailers that you've worked out a deal with to display their banners. But Google probably won't worry about the semantics of your argument. They have enough other accounts that they don't need to worry about cutting you out by violating their TOS with your "but I just used the word 'sponsors'" argument.

[rob01]

eh first of all, i don't use this, i just sayd before that there are many websites which use this system

and guess what.... they are still in google... ......... sooo why google don't ban them?

[dismas]

No, I don't know what you do or what ad system you use. Nor do I really care. I was just using you as an example. That's not the point. The point is that it goes against the TOS of ad companies because it doesn't generate "natural" clicks.

And yes, I'm sure there are many sites that ask for their users to click on ad links and are getting away with it. It's not a perfect world. Some people get away with things that they're not supposed to be doing and others get caught. Google is many things but it isn't omniscient.

You asked for opinions in your first post and I've given you mine. If you don't like it, that's fine. I don't care.

[BSMedia]

eh first of all, i don't use this, i just sayd before that there are many websites which use this system

and guess what.... they are still in google... ......... sooo why google don't ban them?

You can't display text or images that entice users to click on CPC program advertisements for most major programs such as Yahoo, Google, MSN, etc etc. Its just a violation of their TOS that usually ends in you losing any funds in the account and having your account closed. Since advertisers are paying, for each click, rather than impressions, this is a pretty big concern of CPC companies.

If you are using other advertising programs such as impressions, or just banner exchanges, then you're probably okay telling users to to click on ads as much as they want since they aren't paying for clicks, but rather impressions no harm is usually done here.

Either way, if you're using a 3rd party system to deliver your ads, its best to check their TOS to save yourself the time and head ache.

[TigerC10]

eh first of all, i don't use this, i just sayd before that there are many websites which use this system

and guess what.... they are still in google... ......... sooo why google don't ban them?

If you report the sites that are violating the terms of service agreement with google, then google will lock their accounts for fraud.

[BigJohnny]

I knew a guy who did this, he stole a bunch of stuff from one of my boards, and had a post on his somewhere that just said "please help support us, click our ads to help keep the server going" .... I reported this to google, as he only had adsense ads no other sponsors.

I got en email from him not 30mins later +++++ing that he had his adsense account deleted.

when you report it, google works fast.

[externalaw.com]

it is fine,

If you have some real sponsors, and you urge all users to click on your sponsors link, I am sure you sponsor would be very happy.

It also means you are not violating any TOS with other schemes, as they are not sponsors.

Ignorants (the world) who think your google ads are sponsors and click on those (your secret objective) are nice for you..... since you didnt ask them to click on those, just your sponsors.

[rob01]

but they dont say click.. they say
"Saying help us by clicking these and "viewing" these are 2 different things , you're not promoting anything."

i ask the site owner and he claims is legal
"I made sure it wasn't against the rules when I put that up. Saying help us by clicking these and "viewing" these are 2 different things , you're not promoting anything."

[setishock]

I personally feel your statement with the "every 12 hours" is going to be the last straw for the pay per click companies. A comment like that moves to artificialy inflate your click count and they don't go for that.

[externalaw.com]

he is asking about where he stands in the eyes of the law,

100% safe! because you have some real sponsors right!!!!
Sponsors benefit from visits as they generally sponsor, not advertise. Advertisers pay per click, sponsors sponsor.

externalaw.com .....

[ragtek]

but he also writes that his sponsers are google add and some other stuff...

if inside the "Our Sponsors" is a google add and some/a top-website stuff


so he's maybe on the legal side of the law, but it's against the terms of goggle, so they could kick him(like they made with many of us) and then they don't have to pay