Do you know why I am banned from Google AdWords? Because I made mistakes, but hey, no need to worry. Plenty of people have been banned from AdWords as well!
And there are tons of ways your account can get flagged for review by Google. Some are even completely legit and simply show that Google has strict rules for advertisers.
To help you avoid these common pitfalls and save you countless hours of research and wasted money on a suspended Adwords account, I’ve created a list of tips that will keep your account safe:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Understand reasons for Google AdWords blacklisting. |
| 2. Learn about potential policy violations. |
| 3. Identify practices that trigger account suspension. |
| 4. Implement strategies to rectify the situation. |
| 5. Follow Google’s guidelines for account reinstatement. |
Tip 1. Never Make Clicks Or Conversions
Don’t make clicks or conversions. The most basic rule of blacklisted AdWords is that you can’t make any clicks or conversions at all. If you do, it will be flagged and your account will be banned.
At least one client has been banned because they used bots to make clicks on their ads, so don’t even think about doing this!
Don’t use bots to make conversions. You may also use automated software (bots) to conduct tasks like monitoring site activity; recording visitor behavior; checking for broken links; etc.,
But if you’re using a bot for marketing purposes, Google will flag your account as suspicious and banish it from the AdWords empire forevermore!
When it comes to boosting your revenue, having a solid marketing strategy in place is essential. Discover actionable insights and tips in our guide on Marketing Strategy to Make You More Money that can help you take your business to the next level.
Tip 2. Do Not Duplicate Keywords Or Ad Texts (Keyword Stuffing)
Keyword stuffing is a practice that is against the Google AdWords policy. It’s when you use the same keyword or phrase multiple times in an ad group or ad, like this:
- “Buy my product now! Buy my product now! I’ll give you a free T-shirt if you buy it today!”
- “I am selling a guitar for $200, which is on sale for $150. If you don’t buy it now, I will raise the price to $250 tomorrow. Act now before it’s too late!”
If someone types into Google “buy my product” and then sees these two ads above, they may be confused about what each one means.
The first ad sounds like someone shouting at them from across the street to buy something yesterday because tomorrow will be too late but then they see another advertiser who uses almost identical words (“buy my product”).
But doesn’t seem concerned at all about the urgency or scarcity of whatever he’s selling.
Both ads have been written by people who don’t understand how search engines work and therefore end up writing robotic-sounding text that doesn’t get much attention from human users either (because humans are not robots).
The best strategy here? Just write like a human would talk to another person in real life using natural language.
Instead of trying to optimize every word and phrase so much that people can’t understand what you’re saying without having everything spelled out explicitly for them with no room left over for interpretation whatsoever.”
Tip 3. Bad English Kills! (Grammatical Errors)
The next tip is to ensure that your ad copy and landing pages are written in grammatically correct English. Do this by having another person proofread your ads for any errors, or use a tool like Grammarly.
You should also make sure that the content on your landing page matches the title of your ad. For example, an ad titled “Free Guide” should link to a page with “Free Guide” as its title as well.
If it doesn’t, Google will penalize you for deceptive practices such as phishing scams (trying to trick people into visiting malware-infected sites) and keyword stuffing (putting unnecessary or irrelevant keywords into an article).
Curious about transitioning from freelance writing to social media management? Learn from personal experiences and insights shared in our article, How I Switched from Full-Time Freelance Writing to Social Media Management, and explore the possibilities of a new career path.
Tip 4. No Sneaky Redirects To A Site That’s Not Yours!
I was banned from AdWords because I had a bad experience with a company named [Redacted] which did SEO and PPC marketing for me.
One day, all my traffic stopped going through Google Ads and instead went straight to the [Redacted] website. It’s possible that I was hacked or someone got access to my account and made this change, but it didn’t matter because my account was banned anyway.
Tip 5. Use Of Irrelevant Keywords
Google will not like it if you use irrelevant keywords. This means using keywords for your ad that don’t match the content on your landing page or using irrelevant keywords to drive traffic.
By doing so, Google can tell that the goal of your campaign isn’t actually to sell products or services but rather just to generate traffic – and they won’t rank those ads very high on their results pages.
Tip 6. Do Not Write Like A Robot – Use Natural Language!
If you write plainly and simply, your customers will understand what you are saying. You need to use short sentences and paragraphs when you’re writing ad copy. Longer texts are hard to read and usually don’t get the job done as well as shorter ones do.
In addition, try to keep your language conversational instead of overly formal or casual.
Tip 7. Do Not Include Misleading Information In Your Ads And Landing Page (Cloaking)
Make sure you don’t put misleading information in your ads or landing pages. To be safe, make sure that any information you provide accurately reflects the content of your site.
You should also avoid cloaking, which is when a site displays different content to users than is shown on its server. This includes adding code that redirects users from one page to another without them knowing about it.
Considering hiring an in-house social media coordinator for your business? Find out the benefits and factors to consider in our detailed post, Why You Should Hire an In-House Social Media Coordinator, and make an informed decision that aligns with your business goals.
Tip 8. No One Likes Slow Pages, Especially Not Google!
Google is trying to do what’s best for its users. And when they say they want to rank fast sites, they mean it!
Google ranks websites in part based on how fast your site loads and also whether your site has good performance on mobile devices. If you’re not optimizing your site’s performance, then Google will penalize you in their rankings.
To check your website’s speed, use tools like PageSpeed Insights (also known as Lighthouse) or WebPageTest.
These tools will analyze the entire page load time of your website and give recommendations on how you can improve it by optimizing images, using caching and compressing content, etc.
Tip 9. No Automatic Software Downloads Without A User’s Permission, E.G. Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, And Malware!
If you are a developer, SEO or online marketing agency, or just someone who uses software to get work done, this is the most important tip of all. Never install software without the user’s permission!
Never install software without reading its terms and conditions. If it asks for something unusual (e.g., it says it will send your data in the form of text messages), don’t install it!
Don’t ever download anything that comes with an attachment like “bundle” or “setup” or whatever else they call them.
You can always see what files are being downloaded before installing a program by right-clicking on them and choosing Properties from the menu that appears at the bottom of your screen.
Tip 10. Never Lie About Anything On Your Site! Never Lead With False Promises! Never Sell Items You Don’t Have!
If you’re going to compete in the world of Google AdWords SEO, you’ll need to be completely honest. You can’t make false promises or sell things that aren’t true. If you do these things even once, it could get you blacklisted from the platform for life!
So don’t let this happen to you. Always lead with verifiable facts and only offer products that are real and ready for customers.
Unlocking growth opportunities requires a keen eye for strategic insights. Dive into our guide on How to Use Marketing Strategy to Spot Growth Opportunities in Your Business and learn how to identify and capitalize on prospects that can drive your business forward.
Tip 11. Do Not Take Over The Screen With Unwanted Pop-Ups Or Pop-Unders
Pop-ups and pop-unders are two different types of advertisements that display on the screen when you visit a website. Pop-ups appear in front of your browser window, while pop-unders can appear behind or below the current page.
The purpose of these ads is to draw your attention away from what you’re doing and convince you to buy something. They can be annoying for users because they serve no other purpose than advertising.
Malware is short for malicious software any program that does something harmful or destructive to your computer without your consent (such as stealing personal information). Malware often uses pop-up windows as a way to get its message across, but not all pop-ups are malware!
Tip 12. Do Not Offer Free Gifts That Are Never Delivered (Example Is “Free iPod”)
Here’s a tip that will save you from being blacklisted:
Do not offer gifts that are never delivered (for example “free iPod”) or require lots of hoops to claim it (spamming, phishing).
This is just one of the many reasons why I was blacklisted. If you want your ads to get approved by Google AdWords then avoid these things. Don’t use misleading information in your ads or landing pages either.
For example, don’t trick people into signing up for something they didn’t want by lying about how much money they’ll make if they sign up for some sort of training program or ebook club.
Also, avoid taking over the screen with unwanted pop-ups or pop-unders that interfere with navigation or add new browser windows when someone clicks on an ad link unless there’s a compelling reason for doing so which there rarely is!
Understanding how people discover and engage with your brand is key to success. Explore insights and strategies in our article, How Do People Discover You and Buy from You?, to refine your approach and create meaningful connections with your audience.
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped you understand the repercussions that can arise from a bad Google Adwords experience.
While this was only our experience, we feel it’s important to share stories so others don’t make the same mistakes we did. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you might find helpful:
What to Do If Your Website Was Blacklisted by Google Learn actionable steps to take if your website has been blacklisted by Google, ensuring your online presence remains secure and reputable.
How to Find If Your Website Is Blacklisted by Google Discover effective methods to determine if your website has been blacklisted by Google, along with guidance on rectifying the situation.
Google AdWords Account Suspended? Here’s What You Can Do Find out what actions to take if your Google AdWords account has been suspended, ensuring your advertising efforts continue successfully.
FAQs
What are the common reasons for a website being blacklisted by Google?
Websites can be blacklisted by Google for various reasons, including suspected malware infection, spammy content, or violations of Google’s quality guidelines.
How can I check if my website is blacklisted by Google?
You can use online tools and services to check if your website is blacklisted by Google. These tools analyze your website’s status and provide information about its reputation.
What steps should I take if my Google AdWords account is suspended?
If your Google AdWords account is suspended, start by reviewing the suspension notification for specific reasons. Address the issues outlined, make necessary changes, and follow Google’s reinstatement procedures.
Is it possible to recover from a Google AdWords account suspension?
Yes, it’s possible to recover from a Google AdWords account suspension. By rectifying the issues that led to the suspension and demonstrating compliance with Google’s policies, you can work towards having your account reinstated.
How can I maintain a positive online reputation after a blacklisting incident?
To maintain a positive online reputation after a blacklisting incident, regularly monitor your website for security vulnerabilities and malware. Implement best practices for online security and content quality to prevent future issues.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.