Selling domains based on Google Adsense revenue

[tetrapak]

I would like to address an issue that I have faced today on Namepros, and have seen couple of people doing it. Some guys are trying to sell their traffic domains by setting up a "website" which purely contains a few lines of text and plenty of Adsense ads. Clearly this is against the Google Adsense TOS, and is basically the exploit of the system to use it as domain parking, which it isn't. Anyone aware of how strict Google about this knows that it leads to a quick permanent ban. I find it not only unethical to sell domains based on revenue multiple from these no content websites, but also a big lie. The domain would not ever convert and have the same CTR if it was developed in a way that corresponds with the TOS. My biggest concern is that many newcomers could potentially jump on a deal and then get their Adsense account banned shortly.
I have received infraction points for commenting in sales thread, yet the thread selling a domain based on Adsense revenue on a no content site is still active with my warning removed.
I believe that these sort of "websites" should not be allowed for sale here.

 

[tetrapak]

Nobody cares here?

 

[turnhardtoeasy]

Hey ...
thanks for the information

 

[abdussamad]

So basically its a case of past performance not being a guarantee of future returns.

As far as google is concerned, Google does not require you to have a lot of content on your site. Even a paragraph of text will suffice.

Its not an abuse of the system. You can't abuse google adsense in this way because over the medium to long term your earnings are tied to conversions for advertisers. If your site does not convert then google smart prices you - pays you very little to nothing per click. So I suggest you stop worrying about google. Google can take care of itself.

 

[tetrapak]

I'm sorry to say but you are absolutely wrong. Google suspends accounts on a daily base if they see abuse of their system. Having no content sites is exactly this.

"Google does not require you to have a lot of content on your site. Even a paragraph of text will suffice." - I suggest you to read the TOS again...

The situation is this:

1. A traffic domain owner sets up a no content website
2. The revenue rises compared to parking (no middlemen..), and smart pricing will NOT be in effect in a few weeks time
3. Owner sells the domain based on this revenue
4. Buyer either gets his account banned, or sees a radical drop in revenue

So once again, why are these types of "sites" allowed for sale here?

 

[abdussamad]

I'm sorry to say but you are absolutely wrong. Google suspends accounts on a daily base if they see abuse of their system. Having no content sites is exactly this.

"Google does not require you to have a lot of content on your site. Even a paragraph of text will suffice." - I suggest you to read the TOS again...

I have done that. I can't find any portion where google specifies a minimum amount of content. How about you highlight where in the TOS google mentions this?

 

[tetrapak]

Google ads, search boxes or search results may not be:
Integrated into a software application of any kind, including toolbars.
Displayed in pop-ups or pop-unders.
Placed in emails or in email programs.
Obscured by elements on a page.
Placed on any non-content-based page.

There you go.

 

[NameCharger]

I have done that. I can't find any portion where google specifies a minimum amount of content. How about you highlight where in the TOS google mentions this?

Google doesn't explicitly define a minimum amount of content, it's arbitrary.

I've seen sites that have had 3-4 paragraphs (~600 words) of original content that have been banned.

 

[JFS]

then you could say that if i put adsense on a image hosting site that outputs the image, i'm breaking adsense tos right?
i and hundread more use it everyday and even after 3 years i have yet to received any warning.

 

[tetrapak]

Just because you have an easily installable image host site script, it still is a content website. What we are talking about are no content websites, that doesn't offer anything, there is no content just ads and a few fake lines of text pretending to be a website. Visitors cannot click on anything else just the ads.

 

[abdussamad]

Google ads, search boxes or search results may not be:
Integrated into a software application of any kind, including toolbars.
Displayed in pop-ups or pop-unders.
Placed in emails or in email programs.
Obscured by elements on a page.
Placed on any non-content-based page.

There you go.

So as you can see google is not specific. There just must be some content. How much content? Google does not specify. What type of content? Google does not specify. As you said in your first post these sites that you talk about have some text on them and so they are not non-content based.

The reality is that google does not care too much about this. What matters to it more than anything is that their advertisers and publishers are happy. If your website delivers a reasonable amount of conversions for their advertisers google is happy. If it doesn't google will smart price you. I think banning publishers is the last resort.