| Even if you are new to internet marketing and | | | | on. |
| the Google AdSense and AdWords advertising | | | | By being selective about where you place ads |
| programs, you might have heard of a practice | | | | you can check the quality of the site before hand. |
| known as "click fraud." Click fraud is a growing | | | | Also if you do suspect click fraud your list of |
| concern for both advertising agencies such as | | | | potential suspects is much smaller. |
| Google, as well as webmasters who host pay per | | | | 3. Avoid posting ads to site from high risk |
| click ads. | | | | countries. |
| What is Click Fraud? | | | | Advertisers such as Google allow you to choose |
| Google's AdSense program has two parts to it. | | | | in which countries your ads will appear. If you |
| The first is the owner of a website, and the | | | | start locally and quickly establish click through |
| second is an advertiser. The advertiser agrees to | | | | rates; these rates should be relatively constant |
| place an ad on the owner's website and pays | | | | even when you expand your advertising. |
| based on how many people click on the | | | | 4. Investing in click fraud detection software. |
| advertisement. The more visitors who click on the | | | | Making an investment in detection software can |
| ad the more money the owner will make. Some | | | | be extremely beneficial in the long run. Make sure |
| owners of dubious morality will click on ads that | | | | you research potential programs carefully. |
| are on their own page so they can get more | | | | 5. Hire professional help. |
| "clicks" on the ad, and thus more money. | | | | This is for advertisers who spend large amounts |
| The practice of click fraud has grown to incredible | | | | of money advertising and can afford to hire a |
| complexity with the use of proxies, spyware, and | | | | professional. |
| adware. If you are an advertiser who advertises | | | | Click fraud will likely continue to be a major |
| on so-called "content networks" then there are | | | | concern for advertisers who advertise on pay per |
| some things you can do to detect and combat | | | | click networks. However, aggressive efforts on |
| click fraud. | | | | the part of Google are beginning to reduce the |
| 1. Beware of sudden spikes in click volume. | | | | number of fraudulent clicks. Currently there is a |
| Ads always have a certain click through rate. If | | | | move towards a "cost per action" system, where |
| your click through rate increases suddenly without | | | | an advertiser would only need to pay if a |
| a corresponding increase in sales, you might be | | | | purchase was made. This would essentially |
| dealing with click fraud. | | | | eliminate the problems associated with click fraud. |
| 2. Carefully choose which sites to place your ads | | | | |