Google PPC Blocked by Hosts.txt

[advancedmerchant]

Elsewhere in this forum, someone mentioned a HOSTS.txt file that blocks 90+ percent of ad and crapware sites, including those annoying popups, sites with viruses, spyware, etc. It is located at mvps.org, and has been very cool. I smiled as the most ads didn’t even download, simply showing “Page cannot be displayed” in the ad space. Pop under/overs went away (even the ones my other software missed), and page load times improved.

I find that a little while ago, I can no longer click on a PPC ad! - Turns out some of Google's Adservers are on this HOSTS File.

Easy fix- just delete the data from MVPS from the hosts.txt file, (or delete the Google entries)

Moreover, if other users have this HOSTS file, and click on my ad, am I charged for it, even though it is blocked by HOSTS? When does the charge count? When it is clicked, or when the page is delivered?

[lspence]

Originally Posted by advancedmerchant

Moreover, if other users have this HOSTS file, and click on my ad, am I charged for it, even though it is blocked by HOSTS? When does the charge count? When it is clicked, or when the page is delivered?

If the Ad is blocked by HOSTS, then there is no add to click, therefor no one will be charged.

[activeco]

If the ad itself is visible then you will be charged. If your site is not accessible for any reason, thus including user's local settings, it's not Google's problem.

[foreverlove]

If your site is not accessible for any reason

[wige]

In the case you are describing, where the ad is displayed but clicking on an ad causes a message that the page can not be displayed, the advertiser is not being charged. Each ad on a Google PPC block points to an interstitial page which records the click and some data about the clicker (IP address, browser information, etc) then passes the user to the landing page. It is this interstitial page that is being blocked by the hosts.txt file. If your browser can not get to the interstitial page, Google has no way to know that the click occured, and will not charge the advertiser.

[activeco]

To clear things out, I think there are two different questions here:

1.

Originally Posted by advancedmerchant

I find that a little while ago, I can no longer click on a PPC ad! - Turns out some of Google's Adservers are on this HOSTS File.

I think this is what Wige and lspence refer to. If the ad (pointing to Google) is not accessible, Google indeed cannot track/charge the click.

2.

Moreover, if other users have this HOSTS file, and click on my ad, am I charged for it, even though it is blocked by HOSTS? When does the charge count? When it is clicked, or when the page is delivered?

This was what I understood:
If your site is blocked by HOSTS but not Google, you should be charged.

[advancedmerchant]

Originally Posted by wige

In the case you are describing, where the ad is displayed but clicking on an ad causes a message that the page can not be displayed, the advertiser is not being charged. Each ad on a Google PPC block points to an interstitial page which records the click and some data about the clicker (IP address, browser information, etc) then passes the user to the landing page. It is this interstitial page that is being blocked by the hosts.txt file. If your browser can not get to the interstitial page, Google has no way to know that the click occured, and will not charge the advertiser.

I think Wige has it. Since the interstitial page, being served by the adserver- is blocked, they cannot collect the ad revenue data, so the advertiser does not get billed (at least that is the way it looks)

[Peter (IMC)]

And to be sure you can always ask Google this question too.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by advancedmerchant

Elsewhere in this forum, someone mentioned a HOSTS.txt file ...

Anyone know the URL of that original discussion please?

[donson]

Since PPC stands for Pay Per Click, I'm think you should be charged for the click and not the delivery. If it were called PPD, then you should not be charged. While many experts have expressed their opinion, I would be concerned about using PPC until the company you work with give you the exact answer.

If the ad company was successful to get someone to click on the add, they should not be penalized if some people that click on adds have added Hosts.txt. I doubt if people that add the hosts.txt go around clicking on ads.

Donson
"Your Janitorial and Office Supplies Store"

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by donson

Since PPC stands for Pay Per Click, I'm think you should be charged for the click and not the delivery. If it were called PPD, then you should not be charged. While many experts have expressed their opinion, I would be concerned about using PPC until the company you work with give you the exact answer.

If the ad company was successful to get someone to click on the add, they should not be penalized if some people that click on adds have added Hosts.txt. I doubt if people that add the hosts.txt go around clicking on ads.

Donson

When a user clicks on a link, such is a local action, one that instructs their browser to send a request for the resource identified by the link.

In this case, since the source of that resource is listed in the HOSTS file, the browser returns the resource specified there, rather than passing the request on to the cloud. I.e., the user's request never gets sent to the ad server, so that it cannot know about the click.

BTW, you should move your store's link into your Signature, so that it appears below your posts.

[donson]

Just wanted to thank deepsand for BTW comment about correcting my signature. I have added my URL to my profile.

This is all new to me. Hope I have it right this time.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by donson

Just wanted to thank deepsand for BTW comment about correcting my signature. I have added my URL to my profile.

This is all new to me. Hope I have it right this time.

If you want that URL to show in all of your posts automatically, go to User CP, and, under Control Panel/Settings & Options, go to Edit Signature.

After there constructing your Signature, go to Edit Options, and, in the section entitled Thread Display Options, check Show Signatures.