We use both Paypal and Google Checkout for our entering our monthly drawings here at myITforum.com. In the past, I’ve attempted several times to get myITforum.com signed-up for Google Adsense. But, due to their policies, they’ve rejected us every time. The one item they reject us for is because we host non-Google advertisements (banners) on the site. Google says they don’t allow this but, sadly, I see that’s not the case with other web sites. Personally, I believe it’s because we cover Microsoft products a little to much for their taste. Again, that’s just a personal theory, since other web sites host non-Google ads, yet Google has authorized Adsense for them.
Today, I received an email from Google Checkout (on Christmas Eve, no less) indicating that they may revoke myITforum.com’s ability to utilize their pay service for our monthly drawings. Why? They don’t like us using Google Checkout for donations. Hmmm….bah humbug!
I’ll be thinking on this over the course of the next few days, but more and more, I really don’t think it’s worth doing business with Google. I stopped using their Search engine months ago with no adverse effects. It may be that Paypal really is the Internet payment service of choice. If you look at the donations made to myITforum.com over the last year, less than 1/8 of them were made using Google, even though we offer both Paypal and Google pretty clearly. A lot of folks have a Gmail account and Google Checkout is tied to that account, making it easier to make Internet payments. Google is smart that way. But, have you heard the latest? Google will also be using your Gmail information like contacts, email content, etc., to target you for their coming Social Networking apps. Thinking about the implications, I don’t know if I would be comfortable with that.
So, anyway…keep your eyes peeled. We’ll still make it easy for you to donate and get entered into the monthly drawings, we just may have to cut the final cord with Google.