Comments on: on google and the recursive cycle of spam http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/ medium >> message Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:55:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Donncha O Caoimh http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179710 Donncha O Caoimh Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:26:53 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179710 I tried reporting some of those "Made For Adsense" sites, but I got nowhere I think. Google did do us a favour around March or April last year. They shut down some of the larger MFA accounts and suddenly my eCPM almost doubled! Unfortunately they're back again but the competitive ad filter helps to keep them at bay. I tried reporting some of those “Made For Adsense” sites, but I got nowhere I think. Google did do us a favour around March or April last year. They shut down some of the larger MFA accounts and suddenly my eCPM almost doubled! Unfortunately they’re back again but the competitive ad filter helps to keep them at bay.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179665 dnorman Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:34:06 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179665 Keri, I'm quite sure there a a million ways to monetize the internet. But, every single spam site that attacks my blog is covered with Google Adsense blocks. Every. Single. One. Yes, Google delisted BMW. But BMW didn't spam my blog, or any others - they were just messing around with their own website by adding waaaaay too many links. Keri, I’m quite sure there a a million ways to monetize the internet. But, every single spam site that attacks my blog is covered with Google Adsense blocks. Every. Single. One. Yes, Google delisted BMW. But BMW didn’t spam my blog, or any others - they were just messing around with their own website by adding waaaaay too many links.

]]> By: Sami Khan http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179664 Sami Khan Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:42:00 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179664 @Keri: I think it was a P/R move and a business decision. You have to consider the amount of revenue as a whole that domain tasting brings in would be significantly low therefore it was not a tough business decision for them. It's a step in the right direction, but it's a very, very small step. @Keri: I think it was a P/R move and a business decision. You have to consider the amount of revenue as a whole that domain tasting brings in would be significantly low therefore it was not a tough business decision for them. It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s a very, very small step.

]]> By: Keri Morgret http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179662 Keri Morgret Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:53:40 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179662 Thankfully, it has been reported that Google will take one large step to reduce the ads on parked pages. Currently, you can "test" a domain for five days without cost. Some people have made considerable money by testing domains and putting AdSense on the domain, without having to pay for the domain. Several sites have reported that Google will soon change this practice. http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/01/google-to-kill-domain-tasting/. It won't stop the practice entirely, but I think it will be a be a good start to reducing the problem. Thankfully, it has been reported that Google will take one large step to reduce the ads on parked pages. Currently, you can “test” a domain for five days without cost. Some people have made considerable money by testing domains and putting AdSense on the domain, without having to pay for the domain. Several sites have reported that Google will soon change this practice. http://blog.domaintools.com/2008/01/google-to-kill-domain-tasting/.

It won’t stop the practice entirely, but I think it will be a be a good start to reducing the problem.

]]> By: Sami Khan http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179660 Sami Khan Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:33:03 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179660 In addition to what you said above, both Yahoo and Google serve ads on parked pages... It's big business for them. They feed the industry that buys up domains and holds them for essentially spam pages until they can get someone to give them thousands or maybe a million, if they stopped doing that those websites might die. But the fact is that there are competitors out there and it's a lot of money, if they won't do it someone else will. In addition to what you said above, both Yahoo and Google serve ads on parked pages… It’s big business for them. They feed the industry that buys up domains and holds them for essentially spam pages until they can get someone to give them thousands or maybe a million, if they stopped doing that those websites might die. But the fact is that there are competitors out there and it’s a lot of money, if they won’t do it someone else will.

]]> By: Keri Morgret http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179658 Keri Morgret Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:41:14 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179658 AdSense isn't the only way to make money on a site. There are plenty of other affiliate marketing opportunities people use to make money. A few months ago, there was a blog readability test, and many people put the badge on their website stating their website's readability score. What 99% of the people did not realize is that there was code in there the regular user would not see, but gave a link to a site advertising payday loans. That site ranked number one in Google for the phrase payday loans -- until they were caught. Their site is still indexed, but does not come up for that phrase. There may or may not have been AdSense on the site, but there are thousands of other ways to advertise and make money beyond AdSense. AdSense isn’t the only way to make money on a site. There are plenty of other affiliate marketing opportunities people use to make money.

A few months ago, there was a blog readability test, and many people put the badge on their website stating their website’s readability score. What 99% of the people did not realize is that there was code in there the regular user would not see, but gave a link to a site advertising payday loans. That site ranked number one in Google for the phrase payday loans — until they were caught. Their site is still indexed, but does not come up for that phrase. There may or may not have been AdSense on the site, but there are thousands of other ways to advertise and make money beyond AdSense.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179641 dnorman Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:07:16 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179641 @patricia: ironically, your comment was flagged as spam by Akismet... @keri: but why do they want such high google ranking? it's largely to drive people to the ads on their spamfarm sites. If I click through to verify a spam site, 99.9% of the time, it's plastered with Google Adsense blocks all over the place. They're not gaming the google juice for fame. it's for fortune. I've tried that spam report form, and nothing seems to happen. I wonder if the spam farms are too fast-moving to be nailed down? @patricia: ironically, your comment was flagged as spam by Akismet…

@keri: but why do they want such high google ranking? it’s largely to drive people to the ads on their spamfarm sites. If I click through to verify a spam site, 99.9% of the time, it’s plastered with Google Adsense blocks all over the place. They’re not gaming the google juice for fame. it’s for fortune. I’ve tried that spam report form, and nothing seems to happen. I wonder if the spam farms are too fast-moving to be nailed down?

]]> By: Keri Morgret http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179640 Keri Morgret Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:41:55 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179640 D'Arcy, I usually agree with most everything you say, but I do need to take exception to some of the points in this post. Spam doesn't exist solely because of AdSense. Spam also exists because people want inlinks to their site, in part for a hopefully increased ranking in the search engines. Regarding AdSense, those ads are put up by advertisers that want to get their ads (AdWords) placed on relevant sites, and to get quality visitors. If the advertisers get frustrated and don't allow their AdWords to be shown on content networks, then Google can't make money from clicks. In the campaigns I manage, I only let the ads be shown on search results pages, not on pages with AdSense. Google does have a way to report spam in their index in general, at http://www.google.com/contact/spamreport.html. I agree that spam is a problem, but Google and the other search engines are taking efforts to combat the spam. D’Arcy,

I usually agree with most everything you say, but I do need to take exception to some of the points in this post.

Spam doesn’t exist solely because of AdSense. Spam also exists because people want inlinks to their site, in part for a hopefully increased ranking in the search engines.

Regarding AdSense, those ads are put up by advertisers that want to get their ads (AdWords) placed on relevant sites, and to get quality visitors. If the advertisers get frustrated and don’t allow their AdWords to be shown on content networks, then Google can’t make money from clicks. In the campaigns I manage, I only let the ads be shown on search results pages, not on pages with AdSense.

Google does have a way to report spam in their index in general, at http://www.google.com/contact/spamreport.html.

I agree that spam is a problem, but Google and the other search engines are taking efforts to combat the spam.

]]> By: Patricia Skinner http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179639 Patricia Skinner Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:29:24 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179639 I'd be all for it. When can we start? Spam is the bane of my life: I'm sick of people spamming my sites and I'm sick of disgusting emails making their way past the spam filters. I'd be ready to do just about anything to get rid of these low-lifes. I’d be all for it. When can we start? Spam is the bane of my life: I’m sick of people spamming my sites and I’m sick of disgusting emails making their way past the spam filters. I’d be ready to do just about anything to get rid of these low-lifes.

]]> By: Alan Levine http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179622 Alan Levine Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:21:42 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2008/02/19/on-google-and-the-recursive-cycle-of-spam/#comment-179622 Love the graphic! Love having some company in the Google bashing... Love the graphic! Love having some company in the Google bashing…

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