Member Avatar for tgreer

I run a couple of low-volume, niche-specific sites. I run ads on them, from that big search engine company. I was recently told that my account was terminated for "invalid clicks", with no further details. I can only speculate that someone overenthusiastically clicked many, many ads. Searching the web a bit on the topic seems to indicate that's exactly what has happened to many, many others.

Suffice it to say, this irritates me mightily. Even though my account is evidently permanently "disapproved", the ads still show. Of course, they certainly have the right to ban anyone, for whatever reason they like. So be it.

I'd like to find an alternative. Is there an alternative? What I liked is that the ads were relatively low-key, and were (usually) on topic.

Thanks!

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This thread illustrates a common problem for low-volume, niche publishers: an account closed for "invalid clicks," as reported by . Many publishers note that ads can continue to appear after a suspension; ad code may still serve inventory while the publisher no longer receives credit. That makes quick, evidence-based diagnostics and a concise appeal the best first move.

"Invalid clicks" is a catch‑all: automated/bot activity, repeated clicks from the same IP or user, incentivized or solicited clicks, or accidental clicks driven by placement. Practical diagnostics: export click/impression data for the suspension window and compare CTR to historical baselines; look for spikes, unusual geographies or referrers, repeated clicks from single IPs or user agents, and time-of-day clustering. Pull server logs and analytics exports to build a short timeline (timestamps, IPs, pages). Preserve screenshots and raw CSVs as evidence.

A focused appeal helps. Include publisher ID, exact suspension date/time, the timeline of suspicious events, and the concrete steps already taken (examples: blocked IP ranges, removed suspect referral sources, moved or removed ad placements). Example appeal body: "Dear [Ad Network] team — Account [ID] was disabled on [date]. The site is a low-volume niche resource; no intentional click manipulation was performed. Attached are analytics and server-log excerpts showing concentrated clicks from [IP ranges/dates]. Actions taken: blocked IPs, revised ad placement, and tightened referral filters. Requesting a re-review and guidance on further remediation." Keep it factual and concise.

Diversify revenue rather than relying on a single network. As and noted, alternatives exist, but each has tradeoffs; research terms and payout rules before migrating. Immediate checklist: save all correspondence, export raw logs/analytics, block or rate-limit offending IPs, submit a data-backed appeal, and implement safeguards (move ads away from accidental-click hotspots, avoid paid traffic sources). Do not attempt to generate clicks artificially — that will void appeals and lead to permanent bans.

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Member Avatar for g0rb4ch3v

Member Avatar for pulse

Tom, I know this frustration. I see these kind of things happening nearly everyday and there is nothing you can do about it.

Someone got so frustrated with G that he made this cartoon -

[IMG][/IMG]

Heh. It's my favourite one, so just couldn't resist posting it here.

Back to topic, Here are some alternatives to AdSense that you can use :

This isn't that I recommend any of them one over another (I got no experience with them), so do your won research about them before signing up with them.

All the best!

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