Ad fraud is a major issue in the digital advertising industry, and it costs businesses billions of dollars every year. In fact, ad fraud is set to cost businesses $100 billion in 2023 alone.

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Ad fraud refers to any activity that generates fraudulent clicks or impressions on an ad, without any actual engagement from a real user. This can include bots, click farms, or other fraudulent techniques.

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Ad platforms aren’t protecting advertising campaigns from ad fraud. That’s a fact. 

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We know this is true as we save thousands for our customers each and every month. But, Google, Facebook, and the rest, all maintain that they do enough to combat invalid and fraudulent clicks. With this being easily disproved, it begs the question: What else are they not being transparent about? 

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A Black Box Of Information

The problem with tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft is that they are increasingly asking marketers to trust them when it comes to ad fraud prevention, but they don't provide complete access to all their data. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for marketers to determine the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and to detect fraudulent activity.

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Big tech companies are like a black box of information when it comes to ad fraud. They have access to vast amounts of data on user behavior, and they use this data to optimize advertising campaigns. However, they don't always share this data with advertisers, which can make it difficult for them to understand how their campaigns are performing.

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Another problem with the lack of transparency from big tech companies is that they don't always provide the right refunds for fraudulent activity. If an advertiser detects ad fraud, it can be a hassle to claim back their losses. They have to prove that the fraudulent activity occurred and provide evidence that it was caused by the big tech company's platform. This can be a time-consuming and costly process, and many advertisers simply give up on trying to claim back their losses.

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It’s much easier to be proactive and have an ad fraud solution in place to look out for your campaigns. Yet, many advertisers argue that they shouldn’t have to invest in additional protection from something the ad platforms should tackle in the first place. 

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The lack of transparency from big tech companies is not just a problem for marketers; it's a problem for consumers as well. When advertisers are defrauded, they have less money to invest in creating high-quality ads that are relevant to consumers. This can lead to a proliferation of low-quality ads that are irrelevant and annoying to users.

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The cycle of ad fraud that perpetuates the web needs to be a higher priority for all, and this is something that many advertisers have lobbied for since as early as 2008.

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Calls For Greater Transparency

There have been many calls for greater transparency from big tech companies when it comes to ad fraud. Some industry experts have suggested that companies should be required to provide advertisers with complete access to all their data, so they can monitor their campaigns and detect fraudulent activity. Others have called for a standard set of guidelines and best practices for ad fraud prevention that all companies should adhere to.

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Advertisers argue that Google has the resources and technology to identify and prevent ad fraud, but that it is not doing enough. Some have accused Google of prioritizing its own revenue over the interests of its advertising customers. It’s easy to see why, when the most successful cases of getting a refund for fraudulent traffic have been via court order.

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Google has responded to these concerns by introducing a range of measures to combat ad fraud, including automated filters and manual reviews. However, some advertisers argue that these measures are not sufficient, and that more needs to be done to protect against ad fraud. They continue to call for greater transparency and more robust measures to combat ad fraud in order to ensure a fair and effective advertising ecosystem.

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The Increase Of Automation

The lack of control advertisers feel towards their marketing campaigns has been increased due to the rise of automation. While automation itself is great for monotonous tasks and helps to speed up day-to-day marketing efforts, it presents a few issues. 

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Let’s look at Google specifically. Google is notorious for making off-the-cuff changes that leave marketers scrambling to catch up. What worked on a Monday morning can be completely different by the next afternoon, with no forewarning. 

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This has created a culture of “you say jump and we ask how high” when it comes to Google’s relationship with advertisers as, at the end of the day, Google has a platform that millions of businesses rely upon.

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However, this unbalanced dynamic combined with a general lack of trust, is what leads advertisers to feel wary when they’re continually pushed into automated solutions that remove their control. 

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For example, when Google stated that Responsive Search Ads are better than Expanded Text Ads, you have to take their word for it as you now can’t create ETAs even if you wanted to. 

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So, while automation can be highly efficient, when coupled with ignored problems such as ad fraud, it makes you wonder whether Google really does have marketers’ best interests at heart.

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The Benefits Of Knowing Your Data

We know that ad platforms such as Google Ads aren't going to change, and so it’s up to advertisers to implement the right ad fraud solutions to protect their accounts.

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But, once you have ad fraud protection in place, you can begin reaping the rewards of working with clean data. Let’s take a look at what they are:

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Improved targeting: Valid click data can help you better understand who is clicking on your ads and where they are coming from. This information can be used to refine your targeting and ensure that your ads are reaching the right audience.

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Increased ROI: By analyzing valid click data, you can identify which ad campaigns are performing well and which ones are not. This allows you to allocate your budget more effectively and maximize your return on investment.

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Better ad placement: Valid click data can help you identify which ad placements are generating the most clicks and conversions. By focusing on these high-performing placements, you can increase your chances of success.

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More accurate reporting: Valid click data can ensure that your reporting is accurate and reliable. This can help you make better decisions about your ad campaigns and provide more meaningful insights to stakeholders.

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Start Looking Out For Your Own Campaigns

In conclusion, the lack of transparency from big tech companies when it comes to ad fraud is a major issue that needs to be addressed. 

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Marketers should have access to all the data they need to monitor their campaigns and detect fraudulent activity. Big tech companies should also provide the right refunds for fraudulent activity, and make it easier for advertisers to claim back their losses. 

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But, we know this isn’t going to happen anytime soon. 

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So, the smart thing to do is to look into how ad fraud is affecting your campaigns yourself. You can easily get started with a free trial of an ad fraud solution like Spider AF. It takes just a few minutes to get set up, and then your campaigns will be fully protected from every type of invalid click. 

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Then, you’ll be part of the group of advertisers who are taking a stand against fraudulent traffic, and big tech’s lack of transparency into these issues.