Google is very conscious of its reputation. It's not just #1 in search, it's also #1 in pay-per-click advertising because it melds search and advertising so well. With its Google AdWords and AdSense programs, Google manages to keep not just advertisers happy, but it allows commissions for the sites that publish the ads, as well. Because AdWords is Google's main bread & butter earner, it's very careful about the way that the ads are shown.



Both sides of the Google coin will be important to you, if you're serious about Internet marketing. You'll need AdWords to advertise and AdSense to make money. But if you break the rules as a publisher, it may not affect your ability to advertise, but it will affect your ability to earn, maybe for life.

Here are some things to remember, if you want to keep your Internet marketing business floating on an even keel:

Google says you cannot: "...directly or indirectly generate queries, Referral Events, or impressions of or clicks on any Ad, Link, Search Result, or Referral Button through any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means..."

What it means: Don't do anything that encourages people to click the ads. Putting a page with Google AdSense into any type of automatic system will get your account pulled. That means, don't use traffic exchanges to advertise and don't use any type of robot that automatically clicks on the ads for you. Google records IP addresses, so you'll be easily spotted and rubbed out in an instant.

Google says you cannot: "...edit, modify, filter or change the order of the information contained in any Ad, Link, Ad Unit, Search Result, or Referral Button, or remove, obscure or minimize any Ad, Link, Ad Unit, Search Result, or Referral Button in any way..."

What it means: Don't try to manipulate the results appearing in the AdSense box. If you try to create a script that automatically puts your ad on top or tries to blot out ads that might be your competition, you're going to get burned. Just go to the AdSense site and use the Competitive Ad Filter. Google already allows you to block ads you don't want.

Google says you cannot: "...frame, minimize, remove or otherwise inhibit the full and complete display of any Web page accessed by an end user after clicking on any part of an Ad ("Advertiser Page"), any Search Results Page, or any Referral Page..."

What it means: Leave the advertiser's page alone! Let it be the normal size, shape, and color that someone would see naturally. Don't mess with other people's pages.

Google says you cannot: "...redirect an end user away from any Advertiser Page, Search Results Page, or Referral Page; provide a version of the Advertiser Page, Search Results Page, or Referral Page that is different from the page an end user would access by going directly to the Advertiser Page, Search Results Page, or Referral Page..."

What it means: Don't get involved in the process. When someone clicks an AdSense link, they should go directly to the page for that ad. You can't insert another sales page or anything else into the process.

Google says you cannot: "...act in any way that violates any Program Policies posted on the Google Web Site..."

What it means: That just about says it all, doesn't it? Here's the thing... If you haven't read the terms of service, go over to AdSense and do it and be sure to stick to them. If you don't, you're risking the loss of your ability to earn some pretty sweet passive income (meaning you don't have to do much to earn it).

Internet marketing is wild about AdSense because it takes little effort, and if you're in the right niche, it could bring BIG results. Use it on your blog. Put it in the sidebar, at the top of every post, and use the search bar and referral buttons, too. Use AdSense to its fullest potential and keep within the guidelines set by Google. You'll find that you're happy you did.