Google's December 2019 Policy Update

[tom804]

New Call Directory, Forwarding, and Recording Services Policy (December 2019)
Other restricted businesses policy to no longer allow ads for call directory, forwarding or recording services. These services usually involve calling a phone number to obtain another phone number (or business information such as address) or to be connected to another service. This policy will not restrict ads for online directory services or call recording software.

[Posted September 2019]

So what's everyones thoughts and opinions?

 

[Graybeard]

>>>

• Whether your keyword content relates to unaffiliated businesses and/or government services (e.g. your ad may be disapproved if you use keywords like “social security,” “pension services,” or company names/branded keywords);
  
  
• Whether your ad text claims to be the call center for a government service and/or unaffiliated business instead of a paid-for call directory service;
  
  
• Whether your landing page is designed to mimic the website of an unaffiliated business and/or government service, to disguise that the service provided is a call directory/call forwarding service.
  
  <<<

Google will not be a party to consumer scams ...

 

[tom804]

"or to be connected to another service" This is the part that really sticks out. Most people running pay per call are just directing the calls to another serivce provider.

 

[Phill AdsBridge]

if it's a landing page in the middle -- game over for many

We offer Tracking without redirects function, that allows avoiding ban for redirect when using self-hosted landing page in a tracker for Google AdWords campaigns.


**********************************************************************************
Make your no redirect campaigns successful with AdsBridge!

 

[Graybeard]

that's no landing page just a redirect?
if it's a landing page in the middle -- game over for many

 

[tyoussef]

probably the source of the complaints customer assistance ...

i think so, they keep memorising them stupid scripts .

 

[awesomesauce]

We offer Tracking without redirects function, that allows avoiding ban for redirect when using self-hosted landing page in a tracker for Google AdWords campaigns.


**********************************************************************************
Make your no redirect campaigns successful with AdsBridge!

This would be almost no help with a PAY PER CALL campagin where the user is redirected through the telephone line.

Now on to answer the question...

The policy update is concerning as a ppcall affiliate, but who knows how it's going to actually be interpreted. In typical Google fashion the policy update is quite vague. It could be the end for most affiliates, but people will adapt and keep going.

 

[Graybeard]

I meant redirect without a landing page direct to the call center (the ones in India or Pakistan (offshore)) <<< probably the source of the complaints customer assistance ...

Google redirects all of their links so they can track them ... so ... that should not be a problem at all ....

 

[Phill AdsBridge]

This would be almost no help with a PAY PER CALL campagin where the user is redirected through the telephone line.

Now on to answer the question...

The policy update is concerning as a ppcall affiliate, but who knows how it's going to actually be interpreted. In typical Google fashion the policy update is quite vague. It could be the end for most affiliates, but people will adapt and keep going.

You are right, that's why I didn't answer to tom804 but to Graybeard on his comment that "if it's a landing page in the middle -- game over for many". Our service provides tracking without redirects feature to avoid ban for redirects from Google. It is very useful for those who want to track their campaigns with a tracker but use own landing page.

 

[Graybeard]

You just don't get it Phil -- seems to me that they are targeting affiliate landing pages here -- we will see what the outcome is ... Affiliates using landing pages for lead referrals for call centers ARE basically redirecting. A duck is a duck even if you want to call it a rooster