That's called click fraud and it's a major problem among all of pay-per-click search engines.

Click fraud is a scheme that takes advantage of online advertising programs like those offered by Google, Yahoo/Overture, Findwhat and others. A fraudulent website is set up and participates in programs like Google's AdSense program. Unlike legitimate websites that attract human visitors to site, fraudsters use software "hitbots" or employ boiler-rooms of low-wage employees from other countries to generate clicks on ads, and then collect commission from pay-per-click programs.

In June, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Michael Anthony Bradley 32, of Oak Park California who was charged with fraud and extortion for a scheme involving Google's pay-per-click program. Believe it or not, Bradley actually tried to extort Google into paying $100,000 for click fraud software he created called "Google Clique."

Click fraud hurts advertisers by driving up cost of each click because many online advertising programs adjust price of each click based on popularity of a particular keyword and number of competing advertisers. And depending on how popular your keyword is, it can take just a few minutes to register hundreds of clicks. Click fraud can quickly deplete your pay-per-click account and leave you with little or nothing to show for your expentiture.

In a recent filing to Securities and Exchange Commission, Google acknowledged, "We are exposed to risk of fraudulent clicks on our ads. We have regularly paid refunds related to fraudulent clicks and expect to do so in future. If we are unable to stop this fraudulent activity, these refunds may increase. If we find new evidence of past fraudulent clicks, we may have to issue refunds retroactively of amounts previously paid to our Google Network members."

Now, in all fairness to pay-per-click companies I've used in past, I have to give credit where credit is due. Whenever I complained of click fraud, which was often, all of pay-per-click companies, without exception, did right thing and credited stolen funds back into to my account. Ironically, I have not had a click fraud problem with Google.

1. Set Yourself Apart From The Rest!

Almost all businesses have some competition - other people selling same, or similar, products. In order to survive and prosper despite your competitors, you have to set yourself apart from them.

Have you differentiated yourself from your competition? Is there something unique about your business, product, offer, or service? Study your product and your offer, and seek out what's unique about it.

Look at your competition. Study them! Pick their sales letters apart! Find out what they're lacking that you could use to establish your uniqueness.

Always ask yourself these questions...

"Why should customers choose me over my competitors? What am I offering that other businesses aren't? What are they getting from me that they're not getting from others?"

I see more and more people everyday, starting websites with same set of ebooks, bundled up in same way, promoting just about same benefits. The only difference, if any, is price - usually much lower than it should be.

If having a lower price is your only differentiating factor, you're in trouble because someone will always undercut you. Find unique qualities about your business, product, or offer other than low price.

If you don't set yourself apart by offering some unique positive and desirable benefit, your offer - and consequently, your business - will be lost among other mediocre offers that exist.

2. Learn To Write Response-Generating Sales Copy!

Are your ads and sales letters sucking people in, creating mental pictures and movies in their minds of benefits they'll enjoy? Are your sales materials getting customers so hot that they buy on spot?

Creating powerful sales materials is crucial to your business success. The best product does not always get sale; The best "sales presentation" does!

The quality of product is obviously important. However, customer will only buy if you can easily "convey" those unique qualities and benefits to him. Show him why he absolutely needs your product and why he'll lose out if he doesn't buy!

You've worked hard to get customers to your site. Don't let that go to waste. Learn to create compelling ads and sales materials that get your customers hot and ready to buy "now!"

3. Make Some Noise!

Are you sitting quietly hoping people will somehow know that you exist? It's not gonna happen.

Get out there! Make yourself known. Go to popular forums and contribute. Get in touch with other businesses and marketers and form alliances. Offer to co-create products with them.

Make outrageous claims! (As long as you can back them up.) Get publicity. Get press coverage and airtime if you can!