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Pay-Per-Click Fraud on Google and Yahoo???
I recently read in Crain`s Detroit Business that click fraud is on the rise. Both Google AdWords and Yahoo Search Marketing have small business clients that are experiencing this type of fraud. The article states, that, "Click fraud happens when a third party, directly or indirectly, repeatedly clicks on a sponsored link with no intension of using that advertiser`s goods or services. It`s done for a variety of reasons, from competitors looking to maliciously siphon ad dollars to third parties that make money by exploiting aspects of the pay-per-click advertising concept." Although this type of marketing has proven successful for many small businesses, this type of fraud can ruin a small business if not monitored closely. For instance, the article mentioned a small business in Michigan that expected to pay Yahoo a maximum of $10 a week for their click campaign, and was blindsided with an $8,500 charge in a seven day period. Looking back at the campaign, they noticed a stretch which billed them at the rate of $100 every three minutes! Very scary!
As a small business, are you a supporter of pay-per-click advertising like Google AdWords and Yahoo Search Marketing? If so, have you ever encountered this type of fraud? How closely do you monitor these types of campaigns?
As a small business, are you a supporter of pay-per-click advertising like Google AdWords and Yahoo Search Marketing? If so, have you ever encountered this type of fraud? How closely do you monitor these types of campaigns?
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My Google Adsense revenue pays me several hundered dollars a month which pays for one of my websites and site maintenance. But for the average bear, clickthrough ad revenue is usually very very minute. I have over 4 million page views per month and still only generate a couple of hundred dollars.
very closely. He has had great success with Google, as well, in regard to
new clients. However, I believe that some people don`t realize, also, that
those are "ads" that someone has to pay for. For instance, my husband had
a client who knew the name of my husband`s business, as well as his web
address, but thought it was easier to do the original search that he used to
find my husband`s business in the first place. So, instead of going direct to
my husband`s site if he forgets directions to the office, etc., he uses that
same search and clicks on my husband`s ad! My husband figured this out
through his analytics, and told that client that he was getting charged. His
client didn`t realize it. Just another way that those types of ads can be
abused.
swears by it. He has a very niche business, so the "click thru cost" isn`t that
outrageous for him. And, he gets a great deal of business with this form of
advertising. Here is something interesting, though. His business is very
focused just in the Detroit area. That is where he is looking to get his
clients from and how he has his account set up. However, from time to
time, he gets a click from "Sweden", or somewhere across the globe. He has
been told that there is no gauge on Google or Yahoo`s end to monitor
WHERE the people come from. So, while on vacation, he tested it, and he
typed in "(his profession) Detroit" and from Florida, he was charged. They
said they have no control over that at this time.
focused just in the Detroit area. That is where he is looking to get his
clients from and how he has his account set up.Hey Barb - both google and yahoo offer geo-targeting for search ads, so that your ads show only for users in that area. Does your husband have his account "set up" in the sense that his keywords include Detroit, or does he actually have the geo-targeting options set at the campaign level for his account?Chuck2007-1-25 8:30:50
I think that both Chuck and I will be beating down your door for the free lunch, so you better not hide on either of us!
The StartupNation forums are a great tool to start this type of discussion, and I`m more than happy to bring such a discussion to the forefront.