So you go to your AdSense account today to see it’s been disabled. You try again but with no luck, and then check your email to discover that Google has notified you that your AdSense account has been shut down.
Some of our readers have written in, concerned that their Google AdSense account may be disabled in the future. They were also confused as to why we haven’t discussed this topic or shared these risks with our audience.
We wrote a post discussing the risks of online publishing, but we felt that this issue deserved more attention. We haven’t dealt with this directly in the past, which is why we may have been vague on the subject.
Our content is mostly focused on developing niche sites and earning money through AdSense, so if you don’t have that option anymore there hasn’t been much to say. Still, it’s a significant problem for those who are affected, and we wanted to provide them with the choices we know are accessible and would choose if something like this were to happen to us.
If you’ve been banned from the AdSense publisher network for breaking any of its guidelines, there are a few things you should check before panicking.
If you find that your AdSense ads are not appearing on your website or YouTube channel but you still have access to your account, it may be because AdSense has been disabled for that site. However, it’s also possible that there is a lack of advertisers in your niche.
The greatest thing to do would be to examine other sites to ensure that advertisements are showing, or you may try adding someone else’s AdSense account to the site to see whether the ads appear for them. When your account is disabled, Google sends you an email explaining everything and giving a broad explanation as to why the account was shut down. Google will most likely NOT go into further details about the ban because doing so would reveal information about their inner workings that they don’t want to be revealed.
You may learn more about them by reading Google’s disabled account FAQ. They also have a disabled accounts forum where you can interact with other people who use these services.
If you think your account was disabled by mistake, you can appeal the decision by filling out this form.
We hope this article provides some clarity for those of you who are worried about their AdSense accounts being shut down. For more information on how to keep your account safe and troubleshoot any problems, check out our guide on How to Secure Your Google Adsense Account from Suspension.
Why does Google Do this?
It becomes clear while reading and talking with many (not all) AdSense account invalids that the vast majority of them are well aware of what they did wrong. It’s quite apparent after a little conversation for those who were not aware that they’re blindly ignorant of Google’s ToS standards regarding AdSense accounts.
Obviously, it’s crucial for Google to keep its advertisers happy so that they will continue using the system. If the advertisers don’t feel confident that they are receiving legitimate traffic, then they will stop using the system and publishers will be left with a system that doesn’t pay as well.
We’re grateful that Google is protecting the long-term viability of the AdSense program, even though we may not always get credit for clicks or see lowered values due to smart pricing.
You can’t outsmart Google.
Google is excellent at detecting fraudulent clicks. Some publishers have believed that contacting friends and family, having them search for their site, find, and then click on the ads keeps them safe, but this is a big risk with little payoff. Others have attempted to disguise their activity or use automated software to click on the sites for them, which of course is unethical and considered invalid behavior.
In order to generate income, some publishers will purchase fake traffic from less-than-reputable sources or will buy websites that get the majority of their traffic from such places. (When I mention shady sources, I’m talking about those who may be paid or induced to go to certain sites through things like shares and social media posts.) Often this traffic will have no interest in the particular subject but does result in clicks that cost the advertiser money. This type of traffic is harmful to advertisers…they’re paying for traffic that will, ultimately, not convert for them. Sticking to search engine optimization (SEO) is a safer route for bloggers and site owners.
If you have been banned before, do not try to create a new account with a different name or friend’s information. Google will catch on and shut down your account again. Instead, follow the steps we outline below.
There’s a fourth option that, while less frequent, is reported by reliable sources. Some people have said they didn’t do any of the above and still had their ad account disabled for no reason. It’s difficult because there’s always a nagging doubt about how honest they are being in regards to what they’ve done with their account and sites.
In some instances, they actually harm their own account by giving others the heads-up about controlled sites. With good or bad intentions, it’s possible that other people click on advertisements found on this site. This could be due to readers wanting to increase revenue for their friend by clicking on ads or clicks could come from competitors who want to generate issues for the original user.
Before you continue to the next steps, make sure your online business is not violating Google’s AdSense Program Policies by cross-checking it against this set of policy violations.
I’ve been banned from AdSense. What should I do?
The only way to get your account back that is accepted by Google is to file an appeal form, which you can do here. You can also read this article or this one about bloggers who appealed and were successful in getting their accounts reinstated.
While the appeal procedure is the only way to lawfully restore your personal account, Google also allows reputable firms to apply for and join the AdSense program. Many top AdSense earners establish and operate several businesses (corporations or LLCs) to spread their AdSense revenue across accounts or take advantage of smart-pricing policies and rules. It’s critical that these organizations BE SEPARATE ENTITIES from a legal and financial standpoint, no matter why they were formed.
It’s also vital to note that if you put the AdSense code back on the sites where it was previously banned, whatever it was that caused your AdSense account to be disabled from those sites may affect you again. If those websites had put advertisers at risk before, another account is likely to be considered a threat to those advertisers once more.
The advice given in regards to AdSense or any legal issues should not be taken as legal counsel. If you have questions regarding the advice given, please consult a lawyer.
Helpful Links
Adsense Ban Article
6 Reasons why Google may disable your Adsense Account.
Conclusion
Getting your AdSense account banned can be a huge setback, but it’s not the end of the world. You can always try to appeal the decision or apply to join the program again with a new business. Just make sure that you’re in compliance with all of AdSense’s Program Policies and Terms and Conditions before doing so.
