I have recently posted about 100 flyers around my school.
Telling everyone about my website. Which has increased my revenue.
People have also clicked the ads from my school. Can this result in anything bad?
I bet they only have different IP addresses on the internal network. The outbound connection of all of these computers goes through the same or through a few IP addresses. If I were you, I would already start thinking about a reply/apology to Google because the odds are high that they are going to boot you from the AdSense program.
If you want my advice tell Google exactly what you told us. Focus on the ad campaign and that it didn't mention clicking ads. If that ad campaign generated a really outstanding amount of revenue (and I guess that's the case because otherwise the thread wouldn't exist) maybe even contact Google to explain the situation before they contact you. This might score bonus points in your favour. On the other hand you could keep your head down and hope they won't notice you.
Is there any way the advertisers or Google could tell if it was you clicking all the ads by going to the different computers; or rather truely interested users?
Nope; there isn't.
If one of Google's regular audits catches it (Most likely will), you might have some problems.
-Allan
__________________ I resolve to try to be more noob-friendly.
I think a real problem here is in this situation it should be legitimate traffic.
For Example:
If I take the initiative to build a site about which books are needed for a which class, flier the campus, and then advertise relevant online bookstore ads with adsense, that is EXACTLY the kind of traffic google's advertisers would want.
To be punished for targeted traffic due to an algorithm that bans by ip would miss a legitimate traffic opportunity.
I have a local website for a sports league I belong to, I think it would be great for adsense advertisers (equipment, information, etc), but I can't risk someone with the same ip block clicking my ads.
If that was the case, then it would make more sense for you (and for them) to be the affiliate yourself since the traffic is so targetted.
You paying the middle-man is just costing you money (In that the affiliate is getting the referral $, so they're paying you less than that or they wouldn't be doing it).
So yet again, on both levels it would not make sense for that situation to play itself out.
-Allan
__________________ I resolve to try to be more noob-friendly.
A direct affiliate relationship does make more sense (or is it cents?) my point was, one shouldn't be banned for targeted traffic, if legitimate, from the same ip range.
However, because as an advertiser I pay out for fraud the same I pay out for legit clicks, I think that webmasters should be savvy enough to stay away from such opportunities to appear as if they are not above reproach.
Better safe than sorry, in the end
-Allan
__________________ I resolve to try to be more noob-friendly.