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In case you havent heard, Google has finally taken steps to ban advertisers who promote links to scam sites. These types of sites and offers include crazy get-rich-quick schemes, teeth whiteners and weight loss products.

Previously, Google would simply take down an advertisement if it pointed to a sketchy site or violated any terms and conditions, in essence banning the advertisement, not the advertiser.

Obviously, this is pretty huge news, as Google is critically important to any internet marketer, and is more than likely the marketers largest source of traffic.

Aside from being news worthy, Googles actions illustrate an even larger point for those of us who are internet marketers: you have to focus on running a legitimate business.

Unfortunately, too many internet marketers have become modern day snake oil salesmen. They pitch products they know nothing about, or worse, that they know wont live up to their outrageous claims, and try to scam as many people as possible in order to money. Once one well runs dry, they simply pick up and move on to the next bogus product or niche.

Dont get me wrong, Im not trying to say affiliate marketing is wrong or immoral. In fact, I do a fair amount of it myself, and I think I’m a pretty ethical person.

The difference between a legitimate affiliate marketer and your run of the mill scam artist is a legitimate marketer qualifies the products they promote, provides honest and unbiased reviews, and the money is secondary; a scam artist makes outrageous claims about products theyve likely never touched or used simply to make a quick sale.

So, if you’re running an online business promoting your own or someone else’s products, make sure you’re doing it the right way, or you too may face a Google ban, or possibly something even worse.