OK, I will be clear – Google are certainly not breaking any rules. It’s just, I disapprove. They do not meet my quality guidelines. Why? They are currently running an advert to promote the Google Engage Program. I mentioned this on Google+ the other day but the problem is still there (who am I kidding? Nobody will read this either). Here is their advert (note, this is an image, you cannot click it. Well, you can click it, but nothing will happen):
This Is Not An Advert
But, if you type Google.co.uk/Engage into your browser Google returns a 404 message. Look:
Clicking the ad takes you to the right page. But not everyone clicks adverts. I saw this on my own site, so naturally did not click it (clicking ads on your own site is still against Google TOS I believe even though they are now clever enough to disregard those clicks automagically).
If you are really curious, the correct URL is http://google.co.uk/intl/en/ads/engage/ – at least, if you are in the UK.
Poor practice in my books.
If you display a URL, make sure it works!
