I had a call from a friend that also uses some of TLD's services so is somewhat a client as well. Unfortunately he called me after making the decision to take up an offer by a New Zealand based internet marketing firm that guaranteed him a "Front page Google" result for ONE keyword phrase including his city ("City Keyword"). I am not going to give the exact words or website involved to protect the privacy of my friend; however you will get the idea with the example I give here.

What they guaranteed was that for say "florists Napier" that he would get a page one result when some searched the term Florists Napier - guaranteed! Now anyone with a little knowledge about Google knows you cannot guarantee a front page results ever, well at least not for a meaningful keyword search that drives qualified traffic to your website.

It is just a big computer

So I went and did the search and unlike "Florists Napier" which shows usually around number 2 on page one; my friend's site was nowhere to be found in the search results. Google dishes up these 10 sites that are likely to be what you are looking for. I say likely because Google is an algorithm and let's face it computer software sometimes gets it wrong. (Sorry Google :)
But wait there's more; I did the search again and ping there is my friend's site! But NOT in the top 10 search results, but still on page one! Yep you guessed it, his site was in a paid Google advert. These sit down the right hand side of the page and also have 2 at the top. So they are on page one but not what my friend though he was getting.

This is costing him $200+ gst per month.

So what this Internet marketing company is doing is charging a client $200 and setting up a Google Adwords account and spending a fraction (My guess $30 - $40) of his $200 on adverts. Now don't get me wrong, all companies need to make a profit for their time and effort. The trouble is the WAY they sold it to him. Had my friend known it was just an Adwords campaign; he could have set this up himself for free and spend the full $200 on adverts if you so chooses.

It's the Google Guarantee that gets you!

There are only 10 positions on page one for organic or free search results. So firms like TLD get hired to optimise their websites (SEO) to try over time to beat their competition. The goal is to gain the valuable in terms of traffic and clicks; position on page one, especially if you can get in the top 3. So my friend heard guarantee and thought these guys must know some secret that TLD does not.

The trouble is -it has ZERO long term effect

Running an Adwords campaign is a strategy to create instant results and hopefully more than cover your investment in increased clients or sales. This however is not what my friend wants, he wants his website to get to page one in the top 10 FREE results and stay there. This can be done, but takes consistent time and effort. So before you take up an unbelievable offer, email the team at TLD and we will give you a free opinion on the GREAT offer. You never know, that short conversation may teach you a few tips on how to make improvements yourself to you website :-)

Update and Quote from friend

This is my friends responce to the article:

"And they charge a "one off extra fee" to set it all up, I did say, well I don't want to do it then....but the boss was put on the phone and put the pressure on me, making mention I would recover the outlay in a short time.....

Up until now not one enquiry........
I did say is this the ads on the right and he said no! you will appear on the left.....

He will be getting an earful when the month is up....

and I'll ring you first in future."

Need I say MORE!!!