What Problems Did the Latest Google Update Bring for Affiliate Marketers?

[Yeezypay]

Google Ads has always been a tough platform for new affiliate marketers who try to promote grayhat offers. But in the last couple of months, even experienced affiliates have been facing new problems. Experts are talking about a major update to Google Ads that has brought stricter moderation and lots of account bans. There's real panic on the forums, with posts like "Has Google Ads gone crazy in 2024?" getting hundreds of comments from upset users. In this article, the team at YeezyPay will break down what's really going on with Google Ads and how to survive in the new "ice age" of Google Ads.

Google is monitoring everything



Everyone knows Google is always fighting affiliates who try to break the rules and send traffic to grayhat offers. But in the last two months of summer 2024, Google has turned up the heat, causing problems even for experienced affiliates.



A quick look at recent posts and comments on affiliate and media buyer forums shows a pretty gloomy situation. According to many users, there are a few main reasons why Google Ads is now banning accounts and ad networks left and right:

- Using brand new accounts with no history: In the past, you could make a new account and start a campaign right away. Now, that's almost a guaranteed ban. Google looks at new accounts very closely and bans them quickly if they don't seem "normal activity." To avoid this, you need to set up your account gradually and make it look like a legitimate business before you start running campaigns.
- Connections to banned accounts, payment cards, or IP addresses: When Google rolls out an update, its AI might accidentally ban an account if it sees anything suspicious that looks similar to other banned accounts. Accounts made using the same schemes or shared info (cards, phone numbers, IP addresses) get caught and blocked quickly. The algorithms are getting smarter and harder to trick. Even if Google bans an account by mistake, an appeal can take weeks or even months. However, for Google Ads agency accounts with high trust and a dedicated Google manager, appeals usually take a few hours to a couple of days. And if an account is banned for good, the affiliate can normally withdraw the remaining ad budget. YeezyPay provides access to these trusted Google Ads accounts, which is a safer bet than trying to fly under the radar with your own accounts.



- Website, landing page, or pre-landing page quality is now super important: Back in the day, even basic landing pages made with Google Sites could bring in traffic. Now, Google looks at everything – the content, how well it matches the ad, the design, loading speed, extra scripts, and more. To succeed now, you need high-quality, engaging websites that provide real value to visitors, not just a quick way to make money.



- Suspicious activity is not forgiven: Anything that doesn't seem like what a "normal" user would do can make Google Ads suspicious. Changing budgets often, starting and stopping campaigns, changing targeting, or getting lots of clicks in a short time can all cause problems. To stay safe, you need to act like a legitimate advertiser and avoid any behavior that could be seen as shady or manipulative.

Survival test: New challenges for affiliate marketers in Google Ads

The last two months have been a nightmare for many affiliate marketers who are used to making easy money with Google Ads. The usual strategies have stopped working, bans are happening all the time, and making consistent profits is getting harder and harder.

The main issues being discussed on forums and chats after the latest Google Ads updates include:

- Ads getting rejected for no clear reason: Even experienced affiliates spending $80,000–$100,000 per month are complaining that Google Ads is being super strict and blocking ads without explaining why. Even whitehat ads that used to work fine are getting banned. To avoid this, you need to triple-check your ad copy, landing pages, and targeting to make sure you're following all of Google's rules and keep your account squeaky clean.
- The "Circumventing Systems Policy" error is the new normal:This error, which means trying to get around Google's rules, has become so common that some affiliates see it as just part of the game now. But that doesn't mean you can ignore it. Bans for "Circumventing Systems Policy" are very hard to overturn. To stay out of trouble, you need to play by the rules, use whitehat strategies, and avoid anything that could be seen as trying to trick the system.
- Cost per click (CPC) is going up: Because of more competition and Google Ads cracking down hard, ad costs have gone up, making affiliate marketing campaigns less profitable. To deal with this, you need to make your campaigns as relevant and high-quality as possible. By writing great ad copy, targeting the right people, and giving users what they want, you can improve your quality scores and get cheaper clicks.

Adapting to Google updates: How to thrive in the new reality



With Google Ads going through big changes after the latest update, it's easy for affiliate marketers to feel overwhelmed and want to give up. But the key is to stay calm, adapt to the new situation, and keep pushing forward. Veterans who have been using Google Ads for more than a year know that it doesn't forgive weakness, and to be successful, you need to always find ways to survive the updates.

Here are some practical tips from experienced affiliates on how to minimize the risk of ad rejections and account bans:

​​ - Quality is king: In 2024, Google has made it crystal clear that half-baked creatives, pre-landers, landers, and other low-quality content won't cut it anymore. Your website, landing page, or even a WebView app needs to look and feel like a real resource made for actual people, not bots. Put in the time and effort to create content that's engaging, informative, and visually appealing, and matches what your target audience wants and needs.
- Keep your accounts "clean" and "legit": Using reliable anti-detect browsers is a must, but it's not the only thing you need to do. You also need good proxies, real payment cards, and to steer clear of anything suspicious that could get you banned. The smartest move is to use trusted Google Ads agency accounts, like the ones YeezyPay provides. These accounts are much more stable and less likely to get hit with surprise bans.
- Stay on your toes and in control: You can't afford to relax, even if you successfully launch a campaign and your account runs ads for a month straight. You need to constantly monitor your key metrics, make data-driven changes, and stay up-to-date with the latest Google Ads developments. By proactively finding and fixing potential problems, you can minimize the risk of account penalties and maintain a healthy, compliant presence on the platform for the long haul.

Conclusion

The recent Google Ads updates have shown that the days of easy money in affiliate marketing may be coming to an end. Success now depends not just on what you know and what skills you have, but also on using top-notch tools and being able to adapt quickly to new realities.

Here's what really works in Google Ads in 2024:

- Quality content is non-negotiable: Mediocre landing pages and cookie-cutter creatives just won't get good results anymore. Every single part of your marketing funnel should look and feel like a real, whitehat campaign designed for your specific target audience. By delivering value and encouraging engagement, you can build trust, boost conversions, and set yourself up for long-term success.
- Trusted accounts are a lifeline for high-volume traffic: Brand new accounts that have been sitting idle for years are getting mass-banned, often taking ad budgets down with them. That's why smart affiliates are flocking to verified agency accounts with solid track records, priority ad reviews, and the ability to get your remaining budget back if you do get banned. YeezyPay provides access to these premium accounts and takes the headache out of finding good ones and warming them up slowly.
- Constant monitoring and analysis are still crucial: Keeping a close eye on your key stats and digging into your campaign performance is as important as ever. By tracking your results and making data-driven optimizations, you can quickly adapt to changes in the Google Ads space and jump on new opportunities. In the fast-paced world of affiliate marketing, being agile and adaptable is the key to consistent profitability.