How to Identify and Tackle Click Fraud

Identification and tracking examples of click fraud is the first step to eradicate the problem. Click fraud is a huge burden on the resources of advertisers operating nationally and internationally, estimated to occupy about 30% of all pay per click advertising spend. With so much at stake, no wonder the search engines are investing so much time and effort in developing solutions.

One way that search engines and other pay-per-click program providers have attempted to curb the growing problem of fraud is by introducing algorithms repetition IP address. These formulas are designed to pick up on suspicious click patterns emanating from a single IP address, which can help to discover the existence of farms and click the competitor sabotage directed, as well as identifying potential fraudsters at source.

However, there are a variety of problems with this method to attempt to identify the fraudsters.                            


Firstly, fraudsters logging on through a modem, DSL or cable modem can almost completely to the audit, as each new online session, a new IP address is generated. In addition, there is a wide range of software available to alter IP addresses, which again can be used to "cheat" the algorithm. Cookie and session tracking are other methods by which search engines may attempt to discover any fraudulent activities, but again there are ways around these for the fraudsters.

Most comprehensive software are being developed profiles and reports on the browsing habits of each click-through to enable companies to track and monitor suspicious behavior, although this could be seen by many as intrusive and ineffective as something on a small scale is still likely to go unnoticed, based on the extensive coverage of listings on the Internet.

The problem of click fraud recently hit the headlines with a class action raised against Google, Google encourages them to offer $ 90 million in settlement potential.Perhaps an acceptance of responsibility, the supply of Google is in line to suggest the extent of click fraud, and its vast costs to the Internet economy.

There are a number of self-help remedies that can be implemented to keep a body harm. The first of these remedies is the use of search engine optimization and organic listings. If a site is fully optimized, it could possibly achieve a ranking that another site is willing to pay $ 2.50 for a click. 


Similarly, high ranking organically, there are no clickthrough rate, so the costs associated with PPC are not applicable.Although the process is much more laborious and takes more time to see results, the SEO process is much cheaper in the long term, and it is estimated that 25-30% of all fraudulent clicks running a high organic listing can save money that otherwise drained by click fraud for more beneficial reinvestment.

Year after year, as the pay per click advertising market continues to grow and thrive, click fraud surely follow. Unless an effective means of preventing click fraud is developed and successfully implemented, buyers will steadily lose confidence in the world of advertising and turn to more efficient marketing methods less waste, which could severely affected search engines and could threaten the online economy as a whole.