We always hear that Google has a sophisticated system to detect the invalid clicks, and result in termination of the cheaters' account. But, how can Google do that? In this post, I summarize those ways that Google depends on to detect whether the clicks on your site are invalid or not. Google will not first ban your account immediately. Rather, they will first flag your account and Google will keep a closer eye to your account. In some occasion, they may send you a warning letter to notify your situation; but sometimes not.
1. IP Address
It is the easist and must be recognized by everyone. If those clicks on your ads are originated from the same IP Address as the one used for accessing your AdSense account, your account is flagged.
2. Click Through Rate (CTR)
Normally, Click thru Rate should not excees 10%. Otherwise, Google will flag your account. For your information, normal CTR should ranges from 0.5% - 10%.
3. Physical Location
Google has good tracing software and technology.They can trace traffics origin down to the small town. So, using different computers with different IP address does not secure anything. So, don't try to click your ads in various internet cafes. That will kill you.
4. Cookies
Most home users do not use static IP Address for Internet connection. In most cases just disconnect and reconnect will give you a new IP Address. But don't forget, Google has set cookies on your computer. They can trace these cookies and see whether they originate from the same computer.
5. Click Pattern 1
It is also suspicious when people click on their clicks and then run away immediately (hit-and-run). But normally, people will surf for a while inside your pages and then click on the ads they want.
6. Click Pattern 2
why this computer / IP address / person is so trigger-click-happy on this particular website but never click on the ads on other sites?
7. Click Pattern 3
And why is it that people accessing these sites direct (type-in URL or from bookmark) tend to be very active ad-clickers compared with those referred from search engine or other sites?
8.Other Google Services
Apart from Google Adsense, Google also provide a series of services to us. Don't just think that it is safe if you do not log in your adsense account and click on your ads. What other Google services do they provide to us? Here are some: Gmail (most poeple are using it), Google Earth, Google Calendar, Google Search, Google Toolbar, Google Talk, Google Sitemap, Google Desktop, Blogger, or even Youtube (coz Google has just recently acquired it).
10. Search Engine Ranking
Your website is not indexed on any search engine, not linked by any prominent website, but get consistently high traffic? How come people can access your website and click your ads? That will make Google to smell a rat.
11. Webpage design
How about the "Please click a link below" or "donate us by clicking the ads"? These kinds of encouragement is not in line with Google's TOS. Google can use their winning search engine, or even human eyes to check your sites from time to time.
12. Advertisers conversion rate
Ad click is one thing. But does it bring value to the advertisers? If none of the clicks on your site translate to conversion to the advertiser, you are in trouble. First the Smart-Pricing hits, then your AdSense account disabled.
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interesting read. People have to understand people are paying to have their ads shown. People should not abuse this. Cause one day that might be in the receiving end and will be loosing money to people clicking on their ads who are not interested..
You will be cheating your self and wasting your time. By building a solid site with updated information should bring people to the site through search engines and if you place you ads in the right position you'll get a good CTR around 2%-5%
Check out my site for an example, I have been getting around CTR 3%-4% recently.
Naked Eye - Health, Sex, Fitness Blog
You are getting it wrong, the reason why i added this article is that one should know that fooling google is not easy so just play a fair game rather that trying to click on his/her ads himself or using any automated script. The word cheat in my blog does not refer to something illegal but just tips and tricks so that you should be watchful and be more of realistic. Secondly, for example, if you know how to hack then you would be able to make you system more secure. Similar is the case over here. I am not giving ppl an incentive to play a foul game and get themselves banned.
Btw, thank you for your comments.
Here is a good adsense tip: Don't click on ads on your own website. That could have been the whole post.
you forgot number 9 :P
It's a good thing that Google have such good protection so they get rid of the weed. That makes people willing to pay for adverticement on adwords and hence brings in more revenue to people who show their adverticement!
Thanks for the greate artical. Im pretty new in the whole adsense game. I have been using it for about 6 months. At the start you always think that I can click one or two and see my money grow. One issue that I have is that our employess surf our own site for information, and they have clicked on the adsense ads. What then?
you can check our site at http://www.dgs.co.za. All adds are placed at the top and some days you get greate clicks and others not so good. I must be honest and admit that I have clicked my own ad, just to check how it works. I read on how google could ban our account and refrained from test clicking anymore. It was probably about 3 clicks, but I dont want to put our account at risk.
I will definitely advise all our clients as well from click their own adds. I think that there are a lot of people out there being clicking happy!
and where is #9? lol
What's up with the missing #9?
The missing 9th point is just for the comments. lolz
Thanks for pointing it out btw
Secondly plz ppl dont spam here. if you want your link to be placed on my blog then contact me via email at avdamn AT hotmail.com