Blog Rash

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.

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