Direct linking to merchant site - How does one please Google?

**ThePostman** · 11-09-11

Hello,

So I've decided to dabble in a bit of PPC since I know very little about it and seem to be a bit stuck as it stands.

I am trying to work with a merchant by direct linking to their site through Google Adwords. The problem is that Google refuses to approve my ads on the grounds that my display URL is different to my destination URL. The reason this is so, obviously, is that I am using a network tracking redirect before ending up on the merchant page.

I've tried explaining to Google how affiliate marketing works (they should bloody well know anyway), and in fact in their disapproval email they stated that...

"Redirects used for tracking purposes are fine if the final Destination
URL uses the same domain as the Display URL."

Despite this I can't get anyone to approve the ads which is starting to get frustrating (I figures the PPC world would be much more fast paced and flexible than this).

So my question is to all you affiliates doing direct PPC - how did you get your ads approved?

Thanks!

**realfun** · 12-09-11

You don't im afraid. Google PPC doesn't allow direct linking

You need to use a landing page, which obviously means you loose click throughs to the merchant but thats the rules

**Barry** · 13-09-11

Are you sure you are using the correct 'destination url' in your ad copy and not using the affiliate redirect url? Seems obvious but just a maybe?

Baz

**Stimming** · 13-09-11

Originally Posted by realfun

You don't im afraid. Google PPC doesn't allow direct linking

You need to use a landing page, which obviously means you loose click throughs to the merchant but thats the rules

Complete rubbish.

If the destination URL redirects to the same url you're displaying, then it should be fine. Affiliate tracking or not. Some networks have issues with the load times of their tracking, which causes Google to disapprove on occasions but this only seems to happen with 2 or 3 networks.

**benfriedman** · 13-09-11

Originally Posted by realfun

You don't im afraid. Google PPC doesn't allow direct linking

You need to use a landing page, which obviously means you loose click throughs to the merchant but thats the rules

This completely wrong. And Google does not like landing or 'bridge pages' so much anymore. unless you are PPCing to the merchant or to a proper site it is not worth trying.

**Hero** · 13-09-11

Originally Posted by realfun

Google PPC doesn't allow direct linking

Which school of online marketing did you graduate from?

Unless this is your canning plan - convince everyone that they can't do ppc, so that you eliminate potential competition and keep it all to yourself...