Google calls back…
In the middle of last week, I got a callback for a Product Management position at Google, so I have another phone interview on Friday. They basically ask you questions about products and design, leading to a question about how to improve a Google product. This seems like an interesting way to get feedback as long as it makes it into the official loop.
Anyway, since I had the opportunity, I went right after the core product and told the interviewer how I thought they could improve AdWords. Maybe next interview I can focus on Adsense. It’s a pet peeve…
Why? Well, for one thing, Adsense is COMPLETELY insecure. Since the publisher codes are available within the source of the page, anybody with a site extractor that supports PHP can fake being you and get ALL your sites banned in one go. Actually it’s easier - if someone wants to get you banned, all they have to do is join a free surfing site and put your URL in the rotation. You will then get invalid clicks and VIOLA, all your sites will be banned by Adsense. As a bonus, you will have no recourse with Google.
There are discussion and articles on various forums about this and it is some of Google’s dirt they try and keep under the rug. There is an easy way to fix this and I’m surprised they haven’t done it yet…method to be revealed in an another interview someday 
For instance, this site is EXACTLY the type of site Google wants in it’s publisher network. Yet, somehow everytime I submit, they come up with some vague reason to say it’s not what they’re looking for. It indicates their system is broken. I think they know that. Or maybe it’s because I’m starting to bash AdSense. I think I’ll submit MusingMill again today. Let’s see what happens. (revised - 10/17) Yes, Google turned this site down again. Hmmmm.
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