Reach Local and other PPC companies.

[Eieio]

So I guess it's a safe bet to say that the two members on here that used reach local's services had a less than stellar outcome..


So I have a few questions for you guys that Tried our reach local.

1. What would you do differently now that you had this experience??


2. Will you still use P.P.C. for marketing purposes..


3. Do you think the problem was specific to using that company or do you think PPC is not worth it for your company or business model?


4. Any advice for other guys looking to use a PPC campaign company?

[y.painting]

1. What would you do differently now that you had this experience??

Never used them, but did use another service similar to theirs
(one of the big four, as they're known - ReachLocal, WebVisible,
Yodle, and OrangeSoda).

My biggest gripe was the lack of creative ads (most ads
actually featured my business name as the title. WTF?! and the huge
(and strictly undisclosed % of spend that was used just
to manage the account. I suspect is was around 50%).

2. Will you still use P.P.C. for marketing purposes.

Yes, absolutely.

3. Do you think the problem was specific to using that company or do you think PPC is not worth it for your company or business model?

Both. For example, for big ticket remodeling jobs or custom
homes, etc, I really find it hard to believe that many HOs are
looking for you purely online. If I'm getting a 60K bath,
I am not looking for you online or in the paper. I am asking my
friends. For smaller jobs, ppc is great.

So, you have to be selling stuff HOs are looking for, but the
people managing your campaigns make a huge difference too.
See below.

4. Any advice for guy looking to use a PPC campaign company?

Yes. See this page: http://www.topseos.com/rankings-of-best-pay-per-click-management-companies

Actual third party ranked ppc services (they also do seo service providers and others).

Pick a company that's
- small
- will give you a dedicated person for your account
- will actually work on your adwords within your own adwords account (ie you won't lose all of your campaigns, etc if you decide to leave)
- do not have long contracts

Now, keep in mind, most will require around 1K for sign up to set you account up and anywhere from 15% (if you're spending a lot per month) to 30% (if you're spending less per month) of the monthly spend for management.

[Blue]

4. Any advice for guy looking to use a PPC campaign company?

I still use this one (http://www.contractormarketingpros.com/index.php). Its free unless someone calls you. Their is no click option. They have to call and the call is recorded. They give you a landing page for 49 bucks and a dedicated phone number that forwards to your cell phone. If you get a BS phonecall then its easily disputed because of the recorded call.

I have received 5 leads from them and sold two so far. One of the sales spawned a double bathroom gut for their inlaws. I am actually working on it now.

[naptownCr]

I still use this one (http://www.contractormarketingpros.com/index.php). Its free unless someone calls you. Their is no click option. They have to call and the call is recorded. They give you a landing page for 49 bucks and a dedicated phone number that forwards to your cell phone. If you get a BS phonecall then its easily disputed because of the recorded call.

I have received 5 leads from them and sold two so far. One of the sales spawned a double bathroom gut for their inlaws. I am actually working on it now.

What's the lead cost per lead?

[Blue]

What's the lead cost per lead?
I have mine set at 22 per lead but you can set that higher for more exposure.

So far I am out about a hundred bucks vs. 40k.

[naptownCr]

I have mine set at 22 per lead but you can set that higher for more exposure.

So far I am out about a hundred bucks vs. 40k.

that's really cheap
Your lead cost comes in at .003725 as a percentage of sales.
And I included the 49 set up fee so I used 149 as your cost

[Blue]

that's really cheap
Your lead cost comes in at .003725 as a percentage of sales.
And I included the 49 set up fee so I used 149 as your cost

Its ok to run. Not many leads. It is fun to type in a phrase and be in 4 spots on the 1st page!! It just proves that clicks are just clicks but a phone call is an opportunity to sell.

[Washashore]

Interesting...
How long have you been using this service?

So it's $49 for them to set you up and you pay $22.00 for each phone call that comes in and is recorded?

Thanks.

[Blue]

October or November. Not many leads I know, but then again my website delivers about the same ratio, which is also horrible. For me I think its due to my location. I still find that my money clients aren't that web savy. Even an oil company owner that i just finished a room addition for found me in the newspaper and said that he doesn't use his email acct much!!

[HomerJ]

October or November. Not many leads I know, but then again my website delivers about the same ratio, which is also horrible. For me I think its due to my location. I still find that my money clients aren't that web savy. Even an oil company owner that i just finished a room addition for found me in the newspaper and said that he doesn't use his email acct much!!

This looks very interesting.

After a year of hit and miss results with my DIY website, I'm looking to take things to the next level. A PPC campaign is part of my strategy, and this company is definitely intriguing.

[Blue]

This looks very interesting.

After a year of hit and miss results with my DIY website, I'm looking to take things to the next level. A PPC campaign is part of my strategy, and this company is definitely intriguing.
ya, you can do it yourself like some of the members here, but if you are like me its just one more thing to take up your time.

[fez-head]

1. What would you do differently now that you had this experience??

I would never give my credit card out again. I wanted to pre-pay by check or money order and Reach Local would not allow it - that was a major red flag but I trusted Leslie Anne

The contract was 7 pages long in #10 font. I did not understand most of it and am pretty sure that it was written that way on purpose. Who needs 7 pages for a PPC campaign?

2. Will you still use P.P.C. for marketing purposes.

Yes

3. Do you think the problem was specific to using that company or do you think PPC is not worth it for your company or business model?

Reach Local continually screwed up my keywords and never credited my account for their mistakes. I was extremely specific saying that I wanted the big ticket "Basement Remodels Only" - and absolutely NO small handyman type jobs that I can pick up all day long without the help of PPC.

Guess what every single charge was for??? Over and over I told them and over and over they ignored me and burned through the clicks. Burn and churn baby - burn and churn.

4. Any advice for guy looking to use a PPC campaign company?

DO NOT get locked into any type of contract. Pay for performance - if they do not perform you should not have to continue paying them like we did. We payed and payed even when we knew we where being raped because we signed a 7 page contract and they automatically deducted from our account (WITHOUT WARNING). I finally canceled my credit card to make it stop. FU Reach Local - go ahead and sue me.