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Policy Requirements

The primary goal of the policy review is to ensure that your implementation provides a high-quality user experience. All end user tasks in your implementation should be easy to perform and well documented.

The policy review covers the following categories:

Policy

  • Your web site and network must adhere to the Google AdSense Program Policies.

    Any network, web site, or page that uses the AdSense API must adhere to the standard AdSense program policies. Your use of the AdSense API should not facilitate your users in bending or breaking these policies.

  • Your web site and network must adhere to the Google Webmaster Guidelines.

    Any network, web site, or page that uses the AdSense API must adhere to these guidelines. Please pay special attention to the Technical and Quality guidelines.

  • You may show ads on your site from other ad networks in accordance with the AdSense Terms and Conditions.

    If a specific ad block is used for Google ad revenue sharing, it should not be used to show non-Google ads. For the AdSense API, rotating Google ads and non-Google ads in the same ad block is prohibited. If you choose to show ads from other ad networks on your users' pages, you should create a diagram which clearly indicates to the user which ad blocks are yours. You must also disclose to the user that the other ads are not provided by Google and that users will not receive any share of the revenue generated by those non-Google ads.

  • If you are sharing revenue on a given page, all Google ads on that page must use API ad code and be subject to your revenue share.

    For example, you cannot have some ad blocks for which the user gets a share of the revenue and some ad blocks for which you retain all of the Google ad revenue.

  • Users should be able to specify different email addresses for use with AdSense and your service.

    When users set up their AdSense account with you, it makes sense to pre-populate email fields with the address they use for your service, but you should allow them to edit these fields.

User Experience

  • The entire AdSense process, from account creation (or association) to showing ads on their pages, should be clear to users.

    While this may seem self-explanatory, this is the most important part of your implementation. A user unfamiliar with online advertising should be able to find and complete the Google AdSense application process without seeking help from your site or Google. Users should be able to include ads on their pages without directly modifying the page source.

    Tip: Have someone unfamiliar with your implementation test out all parts of your user interface to make sure the processes are clear and easy to follow.

  • Answer any questions about the AdSense functionality that you're providing on your pages.

    You should field any questions about creating accounts, implementing ads, and anything that occurs on your web site through help pages and/or FAQs. We will support users with any questions they may have regarding their AdSense accounts, ad serving, or payments; please refer users to our Help Center at https://www.google.com/adsense/support/ for this support. Our Help Center will answer their questions and allow them to send us an email if they need further assistance. You should never directly give out any Google support email addresses.

  • Any information you give users about the Google AdSense program should be accurate and similar to the information that we provide to publishers on our web site.

    Please ensure that any information you provide about the AdSense program, advertisements, and payments is accurate and consistent with our online documentation. When possible, we encourage you link directly to the relevant information in our help center and include a short version in your user interface or FAQs.

Information Disclosure

  • Prior to AdSense account creation or association, you must clarify to users that they will be participating in the Google AdSense program in addition to the programs on your web site.

    You should also include a short description of Google AdSense and how it interacts with your web site. Users should be completely aware that they are signing up for an account with Google.

  • You must disclose the revenue share a user will receive prior to AdSense account creation or association.

    This information should be disclosed in the normal workflow of user sign-up and not require unnecessary navigation to another page. This revenue share percentage should also be included in any help files or program descriptions included in your pages.

  • After AdSense account creation, you must display a message telling users they should complete the application process by checking their email for a message from Google AdSense and following a link in that email.

    Users will not show live ads or accrue revenue until they have successfully submitted their AdSense application by following the email link, and until that application has been approved by Google. You should also remind users that they will be prompted to give your web site access to their AdSense account as part of the sign-up process and that this access is necessary in order for ads to appear. An example of such a message follows:

    Congratulations, you have successfully created your Google AdSense account! You should now check your email for a message from Google that will allow you to complete the application process. A link in that email will prompt you to give Google your contact and payment information, as well as request confirmation to associate your account with website.com. You must complete this step before you can begin showing live Google Ads and begin accruing revenue.

  • After AdSense account association, you must display a message telling users they should check their email for a message from Google AdSense verifying that they are granting your web site access to their Google AdSense account.

    Users will not be able to show live Google Ads on your pages or accrue revenue until they verify their association with your web site. An example of such a message follows:

    Congratulations, you have associated your Google AdSense account with website.com. Before you can begin showing live ads on our pages and accruing revenue, you must verify with Google that you have granted website.com access to your ad code and performance information in your account. Please check your email for a message from Google AdSense and verify this by following the link in that email.

  • You should notify users if they have steps left to complete before earning revenue.

    Many of your users will forget to check their email, or for various reasons will not finish all the steps required to show live ads. To help them start earning revenue, you should display a message to those users who have steps left to complete. Users should see this message even if it has been some time since they first tried to sign up.

Branding

  • You should refer to accounts as "Google AdSense accounts" instead of just "AdSense accounts."

    This wording better communicates to users that they are signing up for a Google program in addition to the services on your web site.

  • If you use the Google AdSense logo, you must follow the guidelines set forth in the AdSense API Terms and Conditions.

    These terms are outlined in Section (III-3.) of the AdSense API Terms and Conditions.

  • It must be clear to users which information entered on your pages will be sent to Google.

    This information should be separated from any other information that users are entering on that page and you should clearly indicate that it will be sent to Google.

  • If you display any information received from the API to your users, such as performance metrics, you must clearly label the information as being provided by Google.

    This information should also be separated from any other page content so that it is clear to users which information is provided by your web site and which information is provided by Google.

Optimization

  • Ad units and placements should be optimized to allow your users to earn substantial revenue.

    For content ads, you should use TextAndImage to maximize earning potential. The AdSense Help Center has more useful tips on choosing ad formats, deciding where to place Google ads, and utilizing multiple ad units. There are also specific suggestions for forums and blogs. If your users are selecting their own ad formats and placements, you should provide them with guidance so that they choose optimal ad settings.

  • Ad units should be be integrated into the look and feel of your site.

    Ads should fit into the layout and color scheme of your different templates. Ads should never cover any content.