Tips n’ Tricks on recovering and restoring your Disabled or Banned Google Adsense Account
Adsense is the leading
contextual ad serving program in the advertising market today and is a crucial
part of any webmaster’s income on the internet today. The problem is most
webmasters do not take the necessary precautions and do not always follow the
rules and guidelines Google sets therefore forfeiting their opportunity of
working with Google.
The following tips are NOT
for those who have used Blackhat methods of making money off of
Adsense and have been disabled for that reason, but rather this tips are for
those who have had their account disabled due to a mistake or unintentional
error. Having had my own Adsense account disabled, I can imagine the shock
and disbelief I faced when I read the news. Many times I was denied the
opportunity of having my Adsense account restored, and here are my secrets of
retaining that right to use Adsense again.
Method 1: Appealing your Ban
First of all, if you were
banned for click fraud, whether it is because of your own clicking, paid
clicks, or somebody else’s actions, there is a very slim chance that you will
have your account restored. But, don’t lose your faith because there is still a
possibility that it may be possible to prove your innocence. In order to appeal
your ban correctly and have a good chance of making yourself look innocent,
here are some tips:
1.
Write Professionally – This is
crucial. If you’re going to write like a high school graduate, I doubt the
Adsense team will do much. You need to position yourself as a business
authority. Here is an example of what that should look like:
Dear
Google Adsense Support Team,
I genuinely apologize for the
trouble that my account and its closure has caused not only me, but also you
the company, as well as your third party advertisers. I am really sorry that
this situation arose and would enjoy the privilege of having our case reviewed
and our account reinstated. If you look at our account history, you will notice
that we have never had any issues with fraud or any violation of Google’s TOS
before, and neither I nor any of my employees have clicked on any of our ads
because we took precautions specifically against this and installed Firefox
extensions disabling our own ads from being shown on our computers.
However,
as it turns out, on one of the websites that runs our Adsense campaign, there
is indeed a traffic spike in our visitor stats and from a particular source
which could have been the cause for this issue. Unfortunately this was out of
our hands at that point, so I completely agree with Google on disabling my
account at that moment in order to protect your advertisers, but please bear in
mind that we have never had any problems with our advertisers as we are facing
now, nor have our traffic statistics skyrocketed in the direction that we have
seen. I have since talked to various individuals to help me learn more about
safeguarding how my ads are displayed, and I have taken the following steps to
ensure that something like this will not happen again:
1. I have read and re-read the Google TOS and
taken steps to ensure my websites undoubtedly comply with all Google terms.
2.
Purchased software for my website to monitor all activity to ensure that all
fraudulent activity is stopped and prevented.
3.
Will make use of the Google Allowed-Sites feature in the Adsense program to
ensure that advertisements appear only on sites that I allow them to and that
comply with Google Adsense Program Policies.
So
please review our case and please deduct any earnings that are involved with
questionable activity. I do not wish any advertiser to have paid for fraudulent
clicks and I will do everything I can to ensure that my sites continue to
comply with this program's policies.
I
have enjoyed your program up to this incident and would really love to enjoy
the opportunity to work with Google again.
Once
again, thank you for your consideration, and I await your response to our case
and will continue to ask you to review our case. I have really enjoyed Google,
and I'm not going to let it slip away because of somebody who liked the idea of
sending fraudulent clicks through our account.
Finally,
I will do everything in my power to keep myself in compliance with Google as
well as a valued publisher!
Attached are traffic statistics
for www.domain.com, www.domain2.com, and www.domain3.com.
The IP addresses our company uses are 34.342.356.12 and 607.34.325.2.
Thank you
for your time,
John Smith
Advertising Manager
Website Name
Address
Contact
Number
2. Be Polite – The
second part to being professional is being polite. Google is one of the top
companies in the world so don’t think that sending your frustration and anger
will inspire them to reinstate your account. On the other hand, politeness,
understanding, and a show of respect for their actions against you will
probably go much further.
3. Patience – After you
submit your appeal, you end up on a page that tells you that you need to wait
up to 72 (or 48) hours until you will receive a response. Don’t resubmit your
appeal too quickly. There have been times where it took a week to hear back
from them and I know it is really frustrating, but it is well worth losing a
week of possible Adsense earnings rather than losing an entire opportunity of
working with Google again.
4. Be Persistent – You
may not receive a response from Google the minute you submit your appeal. In my
case, I’ve waited for about a week before I received my initial response. That
response was not the one I was looking for, so I appealed again. In case Google
does not respond within 1-2 weeks, send them additional letters of appeal
explaining your issue (professionally and politely). Send another appeal every
week showing you are serious about your contract with Adsense and your
willingness to get back to doing business with them.
IMPORTANT! DO NOT SPAM them with the same exact letter of appeal
– you’ll only worsen your situation.
Should you be denied several
times, wait a few months and try again. After all, what do you have to lose?
BUT WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO
WAIT THAT LONG?
Then, keep on reading for
other solutions.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO
REMEMBER!
• As much as possible, use
facts! Provide Adsense with traffic logs, server logs, etc. Keep your
emotions to yourself – letting your anger out on the folks who may ultimately
restore your income is not the best idea.
• Offer multiple ways to
contact you. However, use the same contact information, and DO NOT give all
of your contact numbers (you’ll understand why later).
• Complete all parts of the
Adsense Appeal Form! If you do not know certain parts, write either Not
Available or Not Applicable. It is very important to have as much
information as possible, as this will be a likely reason that Adsense will not
reply.
• DO NOT SPAM! We all
hate spam and so does Google (they’ve in fact made their search engines very
good at detecting spam, and detecting your spammy appeals is not quite as
challenging as filtering out spam from the entire internet).
• Actually Read the Google
Adsense Program Policies Located here: https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=48182
• Ensure your site complies
with those policies! Make sure your website looks honest and trustworthy.
There’s nothing worse than having a site that violates their standards and
trying to appeal your ban at the same time.
• Once again, be honest,
professional, and respectful. AND BE TO THE POINT!!
Method 2: Create a New Adsense Account
There’s a good change you’re
probably reading this eBook because you’ve already tried appealing Google’s
decision and received a denial message. You may still use Adsense by creating
another Adsense account. It is very important though, to know these things:
1. How Google Tracks You
2. How to Keep Your New Account
from Being Disabled
How Google Tracks You
Google uses the following
methods to prevent individuals from using multiple accounts.
-Your IP Address
-Your Email
-Your Personal Information
-Your Address
-Your Phone Number
How to Keep Your New Account
from Being Disabled
The answer is simple. Don’t use
the same IP address, email, home address, or phone number. Now this sounds easy
on screen, but is not always easy to accomplish. Here is a method to use which
should help you safely register and retain a valid Adsense account.
1. Buy a Windows VPS and connect to it through Remote Desktop. I recommend http://bbvps.com as I have used them before. Contact them, and you may be able to get rates for as low as $25/mo or even lower if you ask for minimalistic specs. If $25/mo is too much to afford and you’re a Linux guru, you may be able to find something for $10/mo and try to connect to that through VNC (Been there, done that, but it was too much of a hassle –but it works!).
Preferably, look for a VPS who’s IP’s are located in your home country, otherwise Google will find it odd that your address and computer location are on opposite ends of the world.
2. American Residents – As you know, you are required to submit your SSN to Google in order to receive a paycheck. However, if your SSN is already linked to your other account, you may do the following:
a.
Use your
spouse’s Name/SSN
b.
Register a business or a DBA and obtain an
EIN – In most states this is fairly easy and cheap to do. The good news
about this method is it is not against Google’s Program Policies. According to
Google, you are allowed to have a personal Adsense account, and your business is
allowed to have its own account.
They’re very strict about these
two being separate entities, however it is possible to have both at once.
Once you have your
DBA/Business Name and an EIN you can safely register as a business! Keep in mind though, you must not use the same
address (See point #3 below).
3. Find another address to
register under. Sadly, you cannot register P.O. Boxes therefore you’ll need
to find somebody who is willing to give you that letter from Google to validate
your account. Preferably, ask your parents, grandparents, siblings, etc and use
their address.
4. Phone Numbers! You’ll need a different phone number to sign up with Adsense. Most people nowadays have a home phone and a cell phone, therefore this is usually not a problem. If you cannot find a phone number you have not already informed Google about, then there are plenty of 1-888 numbers you may lease for several bucks in case Google decides to use Phone Verification.
5. Your Name – You DO
NOT have to change your name. This will not put your new account at risk as
long as you do not use the same address, email, IP, or phone number.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER!
• Your domains ARE NOT linked
to your account. However, in order to be completely safe and to be approved
faster, I would advise you to create a Blogspot blog and publish about a dozen
posts on it, and sign up for Adsense. This way, you will be approved faster AND
you may then use your publisher ID on your other sites.
• NEVER, NEVER use the
same computer to log in to your new account as you did to your old account. You
might think everything is ok even if you do it once, but come payout time,
Google will make sure your account is disabled and your earnings are ‘refunded’
to the appropriate advertisers.
• Don’t break Google Adsense
Policies again...whether intentionally or non-intentionally!
Method 3: Take Google to
Court
Suing Google – It’s possible! Read the article by Aaron Greenspan at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-greenspan/why-i-sued-google-and-won_b_172403.html
You’ll notice he eventually lost as Google appealed his case, however
reading his case will help you understand how the process works and perhaps
will help you in making your case against Google.
Method 4: Using the BBB
The
Better Business Bureau – While certainly not the nicest method to approach Google, you may file a
complaint via the BBB at: https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/GetStarted.aspx
and hear what Google
has to respond. The Better Business Bureau is an organization geared to helping
individuals not be scrutinized by businesses. The nice thing about using the
BBB is that Google is REQUIRED to respond to their complaint. Use this
method as a last resort.
When filing
the complaint, the link above will ask for Google’s address. This is:
Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre
Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043
Next is a
sample BBB letter for you to follow. Again, be objective in your writing and
keep emotions out.
October 19, 2009, My Google
Adsense Account Was Disabled For "Being A Threat" To Advertisers.
Adsense
Account Number = pub-6120464041269871
Adsense E-Mail = johnhwikesberg@gmail.com
Website = www.stellar-investments.com
After writing to the Google Adsense team, they failed to
respond to any of my inquires regarding my account. Not to mention, they failed
to explain why I was a threat, or warn me that I was a threat.
My account had over $1,100 earned in the last 15 days
alone from honest clicks. Its even stated in the e-mail that I was NOT disabled
for invalid clicking which leaves me to wonder...Why am I being banned from the
program?
During 1/14/08 and 1/15/08 I had two giant web traffic
spikes due to outside publicity generated on the Yahoo! Finance boards (I ran a
stock website). I have a feeling these traffic spikes contributed to the
bannig, but I may never know!
I am also complaining about the lack of customer service
I have received! I am outraged that a devoted Google supporter, such as myself,
is being completely alienated, and ignored...and worst of all, I do not even
understand why!
Not only was
Google Adsense my only source of income, but I have also inspired over five
other people to create Adsense accounts. Now I must face them and let them know
that I have no clue as to why my account is disabled.
As a web publisher
who is running an honest business, I am willing to change any aspect of my
website to make Google pleased; however, I demand that I be treated fairly and
I am let back into their program. Besides, if I am a threat to their
“advertisers” while averaging $3,000 per month, how much of a threat are the
individuals who make over $100,000 per month?
Sincerely,
John H. Wikesberg
Method 5: Calling Google
Calling Google – This is also a method I have not tried, nor do I know
whether it works or not, however, calling them may lead you to some results.
I do recall, however, that
sometime long ago, this method was used by some individuals, and was not very
successful. However, spending some time and giving Google a call would not
hurt. If you cannot get to the “Adsense Department” try going through and ask
for the Adword’s Department and when you speak to a representative, explain to
them your situation and perhaps they may point you in the right direction.
This article
was written to help you restore your Google Adsense account one way or another.
The methods explained here are to help you restore your income from Adsense
MEANING…If you are not making at least $20 per month from Adsense, I recommend
not going through the hassle of getting your account back because Adsense is
not the only publisher program on the internet, nor is your life over if you
have been banned. Focus on building your internet properties and then turn
toward Adsense, using the methods I have described.
As always,
when approaching Google, be professional in your conversations and best of luck
to using Adsense again!
On a final
note, once you do restore your account, keep the following motto in mind: “Cash
in often, cash in well” – meaning request payouts as soon as possible and
use Adsense only if they’re worth it.
Good Luck :-)
