Question

Do you think Google and agency relationship has been deteriorated?  

Answer 1

Yes 100%. I think every decision Google has made is to try and crush agency work that isn't ads based. Stuff like adding more ads, random ranking GMB listings regardless of condition, fullness, reviews etc. and generally playing with us adding and removing features. Even the conversation of potentially charging for GMB is trying to crush us

Comments

@blowgun I've been in this industry for 17 years mate. Google have constantly changed the goal posts. I've got customers who have had SEO, rank top then pay for ads for the exact same phrases they rank for, ads constantly pick more work up. Particularly in service businesses where google have gone up to 5 ads and map pack before you see a natural listing. That's almost 1 whole page of listings to scroll through!  

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@blowgun I mean, if you think this then you're wrong. I hope you dont lead customers down that dangerous path. Like I say, been in this game a very very very long time

Answer 2

That’s about right.  

Answer 3

Lets all go to Bing.  

Answer 4

Googles tactic since 2012 is basically trying to make SEO as expensive as possible.  

Comments

Didnt say there is an issue, just thats what they are doing. :)

Answer 5

MAFIA Getting people to bid and pay for their own brand searches is a joke.  

Comments

@gelasias so why should people pay for SEO? They’re still paying.  

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@mesocratic Depends on the brand name - if the brand crosses into generic territory then yes in a sense you are right - but, for most people ranking by brand is a default as long as you setup the basics i. e. GMB.  

Answer 6

Yep. Remember the "don't be evil" motto?  

Comments

Guy with the gun pun

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@meeks76 Exactly!  

Answer 7

Google has bitten the hand that feeds it, the company will morph into something else over time but it is not going to remain top of the tree forever

Answer 8

I’m gonna lose my ppc partner badge when they update the TOS. I can’t always maintain 20k spend my clients are small business that relies on my manual bidding so they don’t get wrecked by big G automation

Comments

@euniceeunuch1555 that badge is useless anyways no one cares for it

Answer 9

From the Google Ads Strategy group

Answer 10

I hate the daily calls from the "account strategists" that have found "multiple ways" to help improve my account. I'll talk to one of them, see they are pushing automation etc, which I have no problem with, but need them to understand why it doesn't work with my account. Then 1 month later the process starts over with a new "strategist". I'm like don't you guys keep notes? Also, they will call super early when I'm sleeping and call multiple times in a row I'm like wtf?  

Comments

And from every single adwords account even if you tell them never to call again. I have asked them lots of questions about this. They won't combine manager accounts to a single rep, and each rep has different account levels based on spend. The people that have $500 spend get someone with like 400 accounts per agent $5000 has like 40 or something. I don't work for them so I don't know the real numbers. I haaate that if I give in and actually set an appointment 1. They usually miss the meeting because they have too many accounts and 2. If you follow any of their advice over time your account will get completely wrecked and you will need to start over.  

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@thibodeaux Yup! I now tell them that I can't do their phone meetings because I'm hard of hearing. The biggest thing is that they don't know your client's business, so how could they possibly know what's good for the account? What works for 1 account obviously doesn't work for all. Just like maximize conversions has improved significantly, but still not applicable to apply to low volume accounts where weekly/monthly conversions are low. Yet they still recommend it.  

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@euniceeunuch1555 Meacham Yeah I usually spend more time fighting with them than is helpful.  

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@thibodeaux yeah, that's why their calls are now blocked, and I rarely bother with their emails. If they were really trying to help they could outline it in an email anyways so we had an actionable plan to work with.  

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@euniceeunuch1555 Meacham How do you block them? Every account I have gets calls from a different number every quarter. Yeah, when I tell them to email me instead they usually get really weird about it. The higher level campaigns are better about that but then get offended when you don't agree or implement the changes lol.  

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@thibodeaux Well it seems like they call from 650 area code always. Once I've established the reps number I just block it individually. They include it their emails too. What's funny is that Verizon's call blocking program already establishes their calls as spam before I even mark them, so clearly lots of other people have marked them as spam as well. I don't have any enterprise-level accounts, so I'm not sure how they handle things differently, but I don't see what's the problem with emailing? It's almost like they don't want their advice in writing in case it's wrong. I have no issue with an initial discovery call, but I'm busy enough as is(talking on facebook ;) haha) to talk to them on a regular basis over the phone when I'd prefer written communication always so you don't have to take notes or record the call.  

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@euniceeunuch1555 Meacham i got their call today. G - rep said minimum adspend is $14k every quarter. I told him if the 6 numbers I play come up Friday night I will sign up.  

Answer 11

Lol so good

Answer 12

They are calling all the time because they have peaked. Follow the markets that have said that ad revenue has peaked in areas. Also with other competitors taking more share from display.  

Answer 13

Love that meme! Can I steal that one

Answer 14

DON'T BE EVIL

Answer 15

I know this is an SEO forum but Google also isn't a fan of PPC agencies. They're very actively trying to build a world to cut us out as well.  

Answer 16

@legroom, you have an amazing, limitless imagination for these (well placed) memes.  

Answer 17

Their new partner program terms are complete rubbish. Incentivizing actions on their questionable automated recommendations and on growing spend.  

Comments

It's retarded man. Screw their badge. I refuse to use their automated garbage, and I still have mine. Let's see for how long.  

Answer 18

Now this is a legit post . . the meme is outstanding like @hadik28 Castillo mentioned in another post