What is Brand Bidding?

Brand bidding is buying search or contextual ads on keywords containing an advertiser's trademark (casino name, nutra brand, dating service name). The user searched for the brand directly; the affiliate intercepts organic intent and claims payout.

Why it is banned

Advertisers already invest in brand awareness; brand traffic converts with little affiliate effort. IOs almost always include "no brand bidding / no TM keywords." Violations lead to rejected conversions, clawbacks, and bans in the affiliate network, plus trademark complaints in Google Ads and legal action.

Violation forms

• Direct keys: "BrandName login", "BrandName bonus".
• Typosquatting and misspellings in ad copy.
• Ads on brand + "official site" in the headline.

Allowed variants—generic keys ("online casino bonus") without TM where the IO permits; rules are especially strict in gambling.

Enforcement

Advertisers monitor SERP and auction insights; networks use brand monitoring tools. Affiliates must add TM to negative keywords. Disputed conversions are rejected during hold.

See also

Advertiser, Affiliate, Gambling vertical, Attribution fraud.