Third-party policy: Harassing, abusive or untrustworthy behaviour

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Our policy

When advertisers work with a third-party partner, they should have as good an experience as they would have if working directly with Google. Therefore, you may not use harassing, abusive or untrustworthy tactics when engaging with potential or existing customers.

Here are some examples of behaviour that violate this policy:

Improper sales tactics

Harassing advertisers to use your services

Examples:

repeatedly cold calling potential advertisers

not respecting an advertiser's marketing or email opt out preferences

putting undue pressure on advertisers to sign up or stay with your business

Using deceptive tactics to pressure advertisers to use your services

Examples:

claiming that a potential customer's ability to appear in organic or natural Google Search results is about to expire

claiming that you can stop an advertiser's business from appearing in organic or natural Google Search results

claiming that advertising on Google will affect a potential advertiser's organic or natural rank

Untrustworthy behaviour

Sharing false Google advertising cost and performance information

Examples:

reporting Google advertising costs over and above the amount charged by Google

exaggerating the number of clicks or impressions delivered by Google advertising

Deceptive use of Google's brand to imply affiliation with or endorsement by Google

Examples:

using Google's brand to impersonate Google

displaying Google brand features as the most prominent elements of your web page

branding Google's marketing or sales material as your own (unless authorised in writing by Google)

Abuse of third-party programme certifications and incentives

Examples:

having others take Google certification exams on your behalf or offering to take the exams on behalf of others

offering Google Ads promotional offers in exchange for payment

Failing to spend a customer's media budget on the agreed-upon media

Examples:

diverting media budget destined for Google Ads or AdWords Express inventory to other media

selling mostly search engine optimisation while claiming that the customer's spend is mostly for advertising

Attempting to obstruct or circumvent Google's efforts to enforce or check for compliance with its policies

Examples:

aiding advertisers' attempts to circumvent Google's advertising policies

not responding to Google's requests for information relating to compliance with third-party policy

refusing to provide your customers with the customer IDs for their Google Ads or AdWords Express accounts

cloaking

using dynamic DNS to switch page or ad content

manipulating ad text or site content in order to bypass our automated system checks

Actions that Google deems harmful to its advertisers or users

Examples:

"phishing" and all attempts to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by misrepresenting yourself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication

clicking on your customers' Google ads to increase cost or apparent performance

advertising your own website within your customers' accounts

erasing or destroying Google advertising accounts of customers that you're about to lose

Report a violation of third-party policy

Think a third-party partner is violating this policy? Let us know:

Report a violation of third-party policy

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