Yes and No, its a sticky subject that is treated on a case by case basis at Google.

Let me give you a example, several months ago our Adsense rep told us to place ads as close to text as possible since that is were our users are reading.

3 weeks later we got a warning email from another division in Google saying the ads were to close to certain parts of our text and that ad serving would be stopped if not fixed.

Do you see my point here?

I advertised to build traffic for over a year with some success. I think it's a great way to start. One suggestion is removing AdSense from where you're directing traffic to. If you're only directing it to your home page that leaves you the rest of your site to place AdSense on.

removing AdSense from where you're directing traffic to. If you're only directing it to your home page that leaves you the rest of your site to place AdSense on.

Good idea. I don't want to make money from adsense from the traffic I buy, I just want to build recognition. I think this way I could atleast sleep easier at night.

@Drall. I have heard of similar stories where the adsense team conflict eachother, nice of them to give you a warning though.

One suggestion is removing AdSense from where you're directing traffic to.

Agreed- that makes you look too much like an arbitrage site and chances are your advetising bids will be higher because of it (due to lower landing page quality score).

Ok I have been thinking about this and would like your opinions. Would you recommend:

a)Removing the adverts from the homepage and sending the paid traffic there.

b)Create an "about page" that has no adverts and send the paid traffic there.

c)Taking off all adverts whilst I am paying for traffic to my website (though how am I supposed to pay for banner adverts on other websites if it's a nono from adsense)

A) Should work, but it depends on how you're advertising.
B) If I click on an ad and end up at an About Us, I'm gone.
C) You can have ads from other partners on your site. You can even have ads from other partners on the same pages where you have AdSense ads. You just can't have *contextual* ads on page where you have AdSense.

A) Should give you no problems.
B) Not what I'd do
C) LifeinAsia is right. Even if you remove AdSense from where you direct traffic you don't have to lose all revenue.

My primary site has to do with summer events, and includes AdSense on every page (there are only three actual pages, since it's database-driven). I've been sending AdWords traffic there for the past three years with no problem. Most of my AdWords keywords (which are cities in my state) have a "great" QS and I'm paying three to four cents per click. Google doesn't seem to have a problem with it.

The site *was* up for four or five years before AdSense was put on it - I don't know that they track that sort of thing, but I suppose it's possible.

Agree with Netmeg.

It is possible to drive traffic to a good quality site from adWords and others without problems. Have been doing it for 2 years..

Avoid MFA type of behavior and you should be o.k.

Thanks for all the responces, I think i'll just remove adsense from any page I drive traffic to.

What's the internet game come to - If it wasn't for those MFA webmasters I wouldn't even be asking this questions or feeling guilty about paying for traffic to my website.

I will be advertising directly to my homepage and I won't be using any "splash" page to encourage people to click on my advertisements.

Never ever send user from paid ad to home page. Home page is for regular user. For perfect conversion always send user to specially designed landing page w/o ads. As you want to convert user into regular readers - show them quality content along with rss and email subscription. Track every incoming lead using Google analytics. Usually you need to try out 3-5 landing pages before you get the perfect one.

Personally, I prefer to use Yahoo search engine ads and Stumble upon ads. My personal experience shows they convert better for this kind of stuff. Adwords always goes on higher side.

Good luck!

When you create a landing page make light and fast loading. Keep the graphics down in weight and don't exceed a 900 wide pixel footprint. That is the largest size that will make a 1024x768 display setting. Try to design your site with at least one adblock above the fold in that view. About 50% of users are working in that view, 40% higher and 10% less (but they are used to scrolling around).

[edited by: Khensu at 11:01 pm (utc) on Mar. 15, 2008]