Free Consultation with Adwords Media Specialist

will this help me or Google?

[backdraft7]

I have received phone calls and message in my adwords account stating:
"Free Consultation with an AdWords Media Specialist: For a limited time you're eligible for a free consultation to improve your account structure. Call 866-2-GOOGLE or sign up online today."

I am slightly suspect that this is something more than a helpful offer, and that it may tempt Google to start pushing buttons on their little black box to lower my organic results and force me into relying solely on Adwords for traffic. My site is over 10 years old and I know my traffic and customer patterns very well. My Adsense and Adwords are finely tuned to the point where Adsense pays my entire Adwords campaigns each month to the tune of about $500 +/- $250.

I think Google would rather see me paying them more than they pay me at month end and that's all this is about. Call me paranoid, but Google's business model and closed door policy does not lend itself much to trust.

Anyone care to share a success story regarding these consultations? or otherwise?

[Planet13]

I second the request for anyone to share their experience with such consultations.

[backdraft7]

to improve your account structure

this reads to me as "to improve our income from you".

Like every other sale consultation, they just want to hang you upside down like a pinata and hit you with a stick until all your change falls out.

I have submitted an appointment request, so I'll be sure to share my experience with all. Sure hate to be a Guinea pig though! It could wipe me out.

[smallcompany]

You will get a chance to review what they propose before letting it into the real.

It will probably be something that you'll figure as unfordable - this actually will depend on your margins and on what your business model is (ads, affiliate, selling your own stuff, etc.)

I believe that Google's way of optimization fits the fat corp budgets only. The rest has to figure it themselves.

[backdraft7]

That's what I expect...spend more to make more...
The problem is, the money I'm spending now is not delivering spectacular results.
95% of my sales come from organic search. If I tell them that, I'm sure they can adjust my organic results to force me into paying more. So, in the end, I am correct in my assumption that this is to improve their bottom line, not mine.

[LucidSW]

I've taken over client accounts that were originally started by so-called Adwords Specialist at Google enough times, including one just last week, to form the opinion that I wouldn't do it. Not because they would do things to improve Google's bottom line. Because they don't know what they are doing.

Granted, the client comes to me because there is a problem. There could be ten other specialists at Google doing a perfectly good job so they are satisfied and don't need me. But doesn't mean somebody else - at Google or elsewhere - couldn't do an even better job. Thing is, most account holders may never know.

There are likely hundreds of Adwords Specialists at Google. They can't all be great. Some are as I've said, really bad. Poor training by Google? Perhaps. Understanding of PPC and experience will also go a long way. PPC is not for everyone just like any other job and since Google needs lots of Specialists, there are likely a lot there than don't belong. They may not get paid enough as well. Unfortunately, those who realize they are really good at Adwords will go elsewhere or start their own business.

You get a chance to review what they propose as smallcompany said but since most people have no clue, they'll trust the Google rep. So they won't know if a campaign is well built or not.

If you're not getting good enough results, and/or worried the rep simply is there to put more money into Google's pockets, get a second professional, third-party opinion. Free is nice but for some things, you just have to get an expert and save time, trouble and money.

[backdraft7]

Thanks for sharing that Lucid! As with just about every company out there there these days, I'm sure their employees are under trained & underpaid. I still suspect Google's goal is to increase funds received from Adwords customers and ROI for the business owner is secondary. As a Google stock shareholder, I can appreciate that, but that doesn't make it right for my situation.

I've fully researched my key phrases, bidding and targeting. The only thing I think I'd do when calling them is open up with a barrage of questions on the organic search anomalies that I've observed over the years. I'm sure that would be barking up the wrong tree. I'm still curious to hear from someone who talked with them directly. Maybe they could help me better use the Adwords interface, but other than that, I doubt I'd change my campaign.

BTW - the Google rep was quick to get back to me but I was away from my desk. I'll call him tomorrow.