Why Did Google Flag Your Website? That Gut-Wrenching Email

It starts with a notification. Your revenue plummets overnight. Ad serving is limited or disabled. That dreaded email from Google lands in your inbox, full of vague policy jargon. You are not alone. Globally, ad fraud is projected to cost businesses $172 billion by 2028. Invalid traffic makes up nearly 17% of all ad interactions in the United States alone. The financial hit is real and immediate.

For app developers, the story is just as grim. In 2023, Google blocked 2.28 million policy-violating apps from the Play Store and banned 333,000 developer accounts. An accidental policy breach or a sudden spike in bot traffic can get your app delisted, cutting off your hard-earned user base and revenue stream in an instant.

The core pain point is always the same. You have lost revenue and do not know exactly why. Google’s warnings are often confusing. Identifying the toxic traffic source or the specific policy you violated feels impossible. Was it a competitor’s bot attack? Accidental clicks from a bad ad placement? Is your app’s user interface causing problems? Let’s break down the most common reasons you got flagged.

Top Reasons Google Flags Websites and Apps

1. Invalid Traffic (IVT) is Your Biggest Enemy

Invalid traffic is any click or impression that does not come from a real user with genuine interest. It is the number one reason for ad account suspensions.

• Bots and Scrapers: Automated bots crawl your site, clicking ads and creating fake traffic. This can come from competitors trying to drain your ad budget or fraudsters trying to earn fake revenue.
• Accidental Clicks: This is a huge problem. If your ads are placed too close to navigation buttons, are disguised as content, or pop up unexpectedly, users will click them by mistake. Google’s systems are smart enough to detect this pattern.
• Click Farms: Real people, often in different countries, are paid to click on ads. This fraudulent activity is a major red flag.

Put an end to IVT by getting started here.

2. Content and Ad Placement Violations

How and where you place ads matters. A poor user experience that leads to accidental clicks is a policy violation.

• Ad Overload: Too many ads on one page create a bad user experience and can get you flagged. On mobile, an ad should never take up the entire screen or push content below the fold.
• Sticky Ads: Ads that stick to the top or bottom of the screen on mobile can easily lead to accidental clicks. They cover content and frustrate users.
• Misleading Labels: You cannot label ads with phrases like “Resources” or “Helpful Links.” It must be clear to the user that they are clicking on an advertisement.
• Prohibited Content: Your entire site or app must be free of prohibited content. This includes copyrighted material, adult content, hate speech, and the promotion of illegal goods. Even linking to a site with prohibited content can get you in trouble.

3. App-Specific Violations

Mobile apps have their own unique set of rules that are easy to break accidentally.

• Intrusive Interstitials: Interstitial ads that appear suddenly, especially after an app loads or a user closes another ad, are a violation. Users must be able to dismiss them easily.
• Incentivized Clicks: You cannot ask users to click on ads or watch videos in exchange for in-app rewards. This artificially inflates ad interaction and is strictly forbidden.
• Deceptive Layouts: Placing ads next to buttons or in a way that tricks the user into clicking is a fast track to getting your app flagged.

The Solution: Stop Fraudulent Traffic Before Google Sees It

Fighting invalid traffic on your own is nearly impossible. Manually blocking IP addresses is like playing whack-a-mole. You block one, and ten more appear. You need an automated system that works 24/7 to protect you.

This is where MonetizeMore’s Traffic Cop comes in.

Traffic Cop is an advanced AI-powered tool designed to detect and block invalid traffic before it reaches your ads. It uses sophisticated machine learning algorithms to identify bot behavior, click farms, and other forms of invalid activity in real time.

• Prevent Revenue Clawbacks: Traffic Cop shields your ad inventory from fraudulent traffic, preventing the revenue deductions that come after Google detects IVT.
• Protect Your Ad Accounts: By blocking invalid activity, Traffic Cop keeps your accounts in good standing with Google and other ad networks, safeguarding you from sudden suspensions.
• Works for Web and Apps: Whether you are a website publisher or an app developer, Traffic Cop provides robust protection against all forms of invalid traffic.

Do not wait for that dreaded email from Google. Protect your revenue and your business from the growing threat of ad fraud.

Click here to learn more about Traffic Cop and safeguard your ad revenue today!

Aleesha Jacob

With over ten years at the forefront of programmatic advertising, Aleesha Jacob is a renowned Ad-Tech expert, blending innovative strategies with cutting-edge technology. Her insights have reshaped programmatic advertising, leading to groundbreaking campaigns and 10X ROI increases for publishers and global brands. She believes in setting new standards in dynamic ad targeting and optimization.