Some folks have said that BlogRush might violate Google AdSense terms of service. It’s important to voice concerns and make sure we’re clear about the repercussions of what we do. I respect my fellow bloggers who are raising doubts about BlogRush, but where it concerns Google AdSense policies violations I think those doubts aren’t justified.
I’ve been using AdSense for years. I know what the terms are. Although the AdSense team wrote a blog post that discusses traffic exchanges, that post does not constitute an addition to the AdSense TOS. And even if you wanted to see it that way, traffic exchange programs only violate the AdSense Program Policies if they involve artificial or automatic clicks or incentives to click. And when they say incentives, they mean incentives for the visitor.
There is NO INCENTIVE to click a BlogRush widget link.
I think it’s quite clear that BlogRush isn’t a traffic exchange program. It’s part feed syndicator and part advertising program (because they sell paid links). But since it’s categorical rather than contextual, there’s no violation of AdSense TOS from that angle, either.
It’s an RSS-based widget just like any other.
Now I am not the Mouth of Sauron. I don’t speak for Google. I don’t even have much of an interest in BlogRush, since it still has to prove to me that really will increase traffic. If it doesn’t, it’s outta here. I might just get rid of it anyway, because so far I don’t see that it’s a compelling benefit to my blog’s readers. But I can read just like anybody else and I don’t see how BlogRush violates AdSense policies.
I respect awesome linkbaiting just as much as the next blogger, but I don’t care for people spreading FUD. My prediction is that we will very soon get an official word on the matter from Mordor Google, and that nobody will have their AdSense accounts revoked because of BlogRush in the meantime.
Some of my favorite bloggers have said BlogRush violates AdSense policy, but I must disagree with that interpretation. I am so sure about this that if you disagree with me, I encourage you to leave a comment. If by some amazing chance I’m wrong, I will totally eat humble pie in a blog post and apologize to everyone by name who leaves a comment. If you feel there is enough doubt to justify not using BlogRush, then don’t. It’s your site, your decision. AdSense pays you money, BlogRush pays you nothing.
11 Comments
Hi,
I have this on my blog. I don´t it will be unsuccessful, but it surely DOESN`T violate Google Adsense TOS.
Great pic, but it still can’t lure me to BlogRush
I want the first bloggers to tell me how many visitors they got through the service (and how many they lost). Then I will rethink my decision.
Thanks, I’m particularly pleased with myself for the picture. I looked at my stats today and they are indeed shown as coming from BlogRush, and not from the original referrer site. The referrer URL is widget.blogrush.com. I got four hits. I’ll give it a month.
I just got my first four referrals and they also say widget.blogrush.
I am willing to wait a month. I am in the religion/spirituality niche, so that makes it even tougher!
nada
Ladynada, if you’re in the spirituality niche, then that’s great for you, because there are tons of blogs about that (as I’m sure you know). Begin a little email campaign asking people to sign up for it using your referral link and be at the top of the pyramid for your niche!
I assume you’re referring to a post I wrote today. I’m not sure why anyone would have any concerns about AdSense TOS since it’s a tool like StumbleUpon and people can choose to click on the headlines that interest them. That’s it. Is it asking them to click on ads? Definitely not. So yes, there appears to be no concern with AdSense, and I really have no idea why people thought so. However, we do report on forum discussion, and that was what came up
Sorry to disappoint, Tamar, but this isn’t in referrence to your post or anyone else’s post in particular. I’m afraid I didn’t read your post.
Wow! Nice Pic. I like it. BlogRush won’t violate Google AdSense terms of service as per my knowledge.Yes, I agree that BlogRush isn’t a traffic exchange program.
No worries, Michael. Guess there is more concern about BlogRush than I thought.
BTW, you might want to check this response from a Google AdSense Rep. Perhaps there is concern on Google’s end too, but I don’t understand why.
Tamar, yeah that’s a big question mark. That’s like saying: we don’t endorse the use of RSS-based widgets on blogs. Feed advertising is nothing new, even if BlogRush has unique way of doing it. And they seem to be down at the moment, too.
Still on testing mode myself. This second day of testing, it doesn’t seem to be working as advertised.
And their video introduction actually gives me more doubt than entice me.. but, just a few more days… we’ll see if it really works.
But just like you, it is not something I will keep even if it works.