Just wondered if WWs has any input over the ads by Google that are on the left hand side of our screen.

Just noticed this one by Author House, who, if you look on Preditors and Editors are 'Not Recommended' and have been subject to a court case where they have been sued for thousands of pounds. Under their heading 'Looking for a publisher' on our WW page it says this -

Get published in just 30 days. Keep your rights. Earn 50% royalties.
www.AuthorHouse.co.uk

Now, I am a bit concerned that some WW members might see this and contact them, without knowing that they are dodgy, and it seems as if WWs are promoting them by advertising them on here.

So, is there not a screening process to make sure the companies who we are showing are reputable? Or do WWs not have any say whose ads are shown on here?

Katerina

Any website that signs up for Goodle Ads sells its soul in the process because ads like this pop up on them, and they have no choice in the matter. I have seen them everywhere - even on well respected publishing houses websites.
I am surprised that a subscription-only website should feel the need, but, as I said, it is an industry-wide phenomenon. The trick it to make them as unobtrusive as possible, preferably by placing them at the bottom of the page where people rarely scroll down to look.

It's not actually true that website owners have no control over the ads that are displayed. There are two methods that can be used to control the ads shown; one explicit and the other contextural. If there are specific advertisers that you believe should be blocked, like the one mentioned, they can be quite easily and they should not appear again.

Ads are placed on pages in order that site owners can earn revenue to keep the sites running and I'm sure that's why they're on here. Having them placed in 'out of the way' positions on the page would entirely defeat that object.

The key concept behind successful and worthwhile ad publishing is that the ads should be of use to the site visitors. Again, there are many tools and methods of implementation that can be used to ensure this. Yes, they can be obtrusive and annoying but that's down to the webmaster, not the ads.

Jon

Authorhouse are still on here by the way, now under the heading 'Have you written a book'.

Why haven't they been removed? They are not a recommended publishers as I stated above.

Katerina

Well, it's down to David (or whoever runs/owns the Adsense account) to do it.

Jon