Another Ad Question

1. 77

   DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years ago

   Okay--so we all know it is forbidden to click on ads on your own hubs, and at least severely frowned upon, if not outright forbidden to do so on the ad on other hubbers' articles.
   
   But--how about their Amazon ad capsules?  Are those fair game?  More than once, I've seen an Amazon item someone had placed, relative to their content, and yet I shied away from clicking on it, for fear of running afoul of the ad-click rules.
   
   Does the ad-clicking ban apply to all ads, or only the google/HP ads placed there outside of our own control? 
   
   Anyone know?

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   1. 83

      bravewarriorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I've clicked on Amazon ads placed in writer's hubs and not been penalized. I did it because I was sincerely interested in the product offered, and have even made purchases that way. Since most of our traffic comes from hubbers (unless the topic is high in Google searches), clicking on an Amazon link is not frowned upon. Clicking on the link as the author is not good. HP has a record of each of our IP addresses. Notice, when you receive a comment, the IP address is posted. Not sure if anyone else can see it, but the author can. Therefore, HP is aware of hubbers trying to scam the system.

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   2. 85

      SpaceShantyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You cannot click on ads on your Hubs as the advertiser will be charged and you will profit, it is called 'click fraud', just as if you were to claim you worked more hours at a job than you actually did.
      
      I may be wrong, but I have not heard that you are not allowed to click on ads on other Hubbers Hubs if you genuinely find them interesting as you may go on to make a purchase or become a customer, that is afterall the purpose of advertising. 
      
      As for Amazon capsules there is no problem because clicking on an Amazon capsule does not cost Amazon anything or benefit the Hubber/Hubpage financially.  In other words any Amazon products added by the Hubber are fine to click on or even make a purchase.  You cannot however make an Amazon purchase through your own Amazon capsules/referral links, this is against Amazon affiliate TOS.
      
      The only exception would be adverts displaying Amazon products/services as these are PPC (Pay Per Click).
      
      I hope this has helped and not made you even more confused!

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      1. 77

         DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I know we cannot click on google ad sense ads or HP program ads, and I stated as much in the intro to my question.
         
         My query was strictly about Amazon ads on another hubber's article--because I found the product she placed, related to her article, to be interesting.
         From the other answers, it does seem that it is acceptable to do so.

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         1. 99

            Rochelle Frankposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            It "might" be acceptable to click on an Amazon ad if you are interested, but why take the risk? You can easily do a Google or Amazon search of the product name if you are interested in the product.
            I get the majority of my HP income from Amazon, and I would rather that hubbers don't click on my ads and possibly jeapordize my account.
            I also actually do quite a bit of shopping on Amazon since I live in a rural area which is severely "shopping deprived".  I would love to contribute to the accounts of other hubbers by ordering through their links, but am not willing to take the slightest risk of having their (or my) account put in jeapordy.

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            1. 53

               paradigm searchposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Same here. If it wasn't for the internet, things would be extremely grim in that regard.

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            2. 85

               SpaceShantyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               There is zero risk clicking on other Hubbers Amazon links.
               
               As I said before, you are not allowed to make a purchase through your own Amazon affiliate links.

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            3. 66

               relacheposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               When you live in the city in which Amazon is based, there is almost nothing they will not deliver.  Half my neighbors order their groceries from Amazon.
               
               If you click on your Amazon affiliate codes, they will still make the sale to you, they will just disregard the commission to your account.

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               1. 86

                  NateB11posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Oh, man, I want to have groceries delivered.

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         2. 70

            Matthew Meyerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            If you see a product in another author's Hub and you want to buy it, then you can click the product to do so.
            
            The problem is clicking your own ads or telling people to do so (including your friends and family).
            http://hubpages.com/faq/#how-to-attract-readers
            
            From the FAQ
            You may also share your Hubs with family, friends, and co-workers, but do so with caution.
            
            Don't ever have friends or family members click on your ads and don't ever click on your own ads or those of people you know. This will quickly get you banned from Google's AdSense and it's very difficult to be reinstated.

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            1. 77

               DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Thank you, Matthew; that is what I thought, but just wanted to double-check about Amazon capsules, specifically--Thanks for the clarification. 
               
               So clicking on an Amazon capsule ad that we are interested in purchasing is okay, but, as I thought, never on Google/HP Program ads, no matter where they appear.

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               1. 89

                  Venkatachari Mposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  But why one should not click on other hubbers' ads? A person should not click on his own ads. Google does not forbid clicking on other writer's ads.
                  Only, if you are clicking with malicious intention, then, that is wrong.

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2. 79

   colorfuloneposted 10 years ago

   If I really want to see an Amazon product I will either right-click on the capsule and open it in another window (which BTW is not a click at all).  Or, search for it in my browser.

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3. 86

   NateB11posted 10 years ago

   I've always wondered about this, I've heard that it's okay to click on Amazon ads here, but I'm paranoid about clicking ads, I never do it. Logically, as others have pointed out, it seems that we can click on Amazon ads though. Clicking on others' Amazon ads is not a benefit to us so Amazon won't count it as click fraud and clicks themselves do not cost Amazon anything. I think Amazon has a policy about buying products you advertise for them because they won't pay you a commission for your own purchase.

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   1. 86

      NateB11posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, shoot, on this forum thread http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/67737#post1483104   it is stated, by a very reliable source, we cannot click on ads of other Hubbers. I think they are talking about Google ads, but I thought I should post that link to clarify.

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