Bloggertone

In May 2009 it came to our attention at Whatswhat.ie that a UK company was targeting companies on our directory inferring they were Google.  The problem is that this company is tricking Irish businesses into thinking they are being called by Google so the call must therefore be bona fide and they handing over credit card details..

Their main sales spiel is:-

• We can get you on the first page of Google in the top 10 organic/natural listings and guarantee that you stay there
• We can guarantee you stay on the first page of Google somewhere
• We’re only selling these spots to one type of company in your area
• Google have allocated us one space in the organic/natural listings and we are the only reseller that can do this
• Blah blah blah

Basically what they are selling is Google Adwords for a fixed price per month.  We’ve been told prices that range from €90 to €250 so far.

Google Adwords do NOT get you on the natural/organic listings in Google – on any page.  They get you in the sponsored listings and not always guaranteed the top 3 or first page.

With Google Adwords you will show in the sponsored listings on the right hand side and very top randomly.  The traditional figure quoted is 75% of users will click on organic and 25% on paid/sponsored link. (courtesy of Webmentor.ie)

Now I am not an Adwords expert at all but from what I have learnt from my own Google Ad Words campaigns, companies really need to ask the following questions of anyone providing this service:-

• What are the exact AdWords phrases being used?
• How much does each phrase cost – what is your bid?
• What were the views on Google.ie over the last 30 days for these AdWords?
• What is the limit you will set on the account daily?
• What is the limit you will set on the account monthly?

I am sure there are lots more questions that can be asked and there are plenty of Google Accredited agencies in Ireland that can do your Google Adwords campaign for you. You can even set up your own Google AdWords account and monitor it yourself.

We have over 66,800 companies listed on Whatswhat.ie and believe they have contacted 1,000’s to date.  This company is called Matchmaker Marketing based out of Cheshire in the UK.  They also operate under the following aliases – Zenith Marketing, Apex Media, Storm Media and Sphere Marketing…to name a few.  They have an ongoing vigorous campaign targeting Irish companies and I have heard from over 300 companies about them to date.

Google gave me their statement to add:-

“Google has set up an authorised reseller programme in the UK and Ireland to ensure small businesses can get the best help and advice on their online marketing activity (listed here). We would urge businesses to research agencies online before working with them to ensure you get the best from your marketing spend.”

We are not saying Matchmaker Marketing is not a legitimate company and they cannot offer a legitimate service.  They are no longer Google accredited for selling AdWords – hence the company name changes recently.  They are not ‘Google affiliated’ or a ‘Google reseller’.  Unfortunately they are not saying that when they ring Joe Bloggs the Plumber who thinks he’s been called by Google because they picked him out of the hat for his area to make sure he gets onto the first page of Google!!

I’d welcome any information anyone has on these companies and also please let me know if you have been contacted.