Local Adlink
17815 Sky Park Circle
Irvine, California, 92614
U.S.A Local Ad Link – Great Program or Complete Rip Off?
Recently, I was exposed to the LocalAdlink.com “business opportunity". After evaluating this company, its comp structure, and marketing practices, I am concerned about the black eye their bogus program will put on the face of the internet marketing industry – in particular, Google.
First off, from what I understand, Local AdLink claims to have a “secret sauce" in the form of advertising packages that utilize Google Adwords. Reselling and managing Google Adwords account is no secret. Companies and individuals have been doing this successfully for years and often it is outsourced to professionals who optimize Adwords campaigns – I am one such professional. Observing the methods that Local AdLink uses shows me that they are novices at best when it comes to managing Adwords Ads. I'll get to those specific practices later in this post.
Local Ad Link intimates that they have some sort of secret window in to Google sponsored links. The fact is they are buying clicks just like anyone else – the difference is they have no idea how to by clicks or build a good strategy.
Here's one of the many reasons why: they are selling advertising packages that claim to be targeted to specific zip codes. Google is in fact set up to do geo targeted campaigns, however, the accuracy of geo targeted campaigns varies based on the size of the geo targeted area. For example, when it comes to targeting a whole country, Google can get a 99.9% accuracy. At the state level, it's about 85% accurate. At the zip code level it's only 50% accurate. That means that 50% of geo targeted clicks at the zip code level are WASTED clicks. This translates to a low value, off target strategy – complete hype.
Here's an example of how ridiculous this strategy is:
I searched on Google for “Corona CA Signs" and found a page with a Local AdLink ad in the sponsored pay per click links.
Note, the search term I used in Google is “Corona ca signs" indicating that I am searching for signs in Corona California. So far so good – Local AdLink has a client, Vital Signs were represented at the top for this search term, however, the ad copy is not optimized to increase Quality Scores. This is a minor flaw compared to what is found when you actually click on the link and see the landing page for Vital Signs.
The Local Ad Link displays a client that is only 569 miles away from Corona! So much for zip code targeting! But, anyone who knows Adwords already knows this. It is obvious that Vital Signs will receive zero value from a search for signs by someone in Corona CA. Ask yourself how valuable that click is. This is not an uncommon scenario with Local Ad Links ads - it's their standard - completely off target and total waste of the one chance their service has to produce any value.
This still is not the worst of it. The ads are only shown intermittently and rotated with other competitors if shown at all.
Still worse, Local Ad Link not only wastes the very few clicks it gets for its clients on out of the area results that are far from targeted, but they pay their representatives 50% of the client spend. On top of that, they still have to turn a profit AND pay Google their Pay Per Click fees.
Put this in perspective. Professional (reputable) pay per click management firms like Jumpfly and many others charge a client a 15% management fee for REAL Adwords optimization.
Here is a post from another victim of Local AdLink:
“I signed up for Boomj local adlink advertising. I signed the $99 per month ad. I calculated out my cost per click and it was $16.50 per click instead of googles $2.38 per click. I used Google analytics to monitor what’s going on.
I get the same amount of clicks from organic sites. Or even my free yellow pages.com ad.
Google said I have 10 clicks in 10 days and only 2 of the clicks were new visitors. So I paid $16.50 per click. Wow! What a deal. This is definitely a scam. Go with Google adwords. This works. I have over 80% new visitors compared to my local adlink ad at only 20% NEW VISITORS."
Is anyone catching on? This is the most blatant advertising scam I've seen in a long time. From what I've heard, Local Ad Link actually tells prospective MLM prospects that they are better off going through them than going straight to Google. Then, they hype up their zip code marketing 'strategy'. Sadly, it is painfully obvious to anyone who understands Adwords that there is no strategy whatsoever behind the hype.
In the end, Local Ad Link can only be a scam. They have to buy their clicks from Google like everyone else. The only difference is that they mark up the resale amount higher than anyone and then they put the ads in all the wrong places with the worst strategy in the history of Novice Google Adwords advertising - putting a black eye on Google and REAL professionals who actually study strategies that work.
Translation – it's all hype and there is little to no value for the client. In the end, all their service accomplishes is to deliver a highly insincere version of what Google can really do for a business. I wonder how long Google will allow itself to be abused or how long it will take for people to catch on to this scam. Either way, scams unravel at some point. If you are caught up in the ether and hype of Local Ad Link's MLM, just go shop around for Pay per Click management companies - they are everywhere charging 80% less and actually implementing a real strategy.

Ok, a lot of people say bad things about MLM because they are bitter, so here are copies of my emails:

I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN PAID BY THIS BULLSHIT COMPANY. THEY PAY THE TOP PRODUCERS SO THEY WILL KEEP RECRUITING. IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS AND NOW MY UP LINE WONT EVEN TAKE MY EMAILS ..JUDGE FOR YOUR SELF.

06-09

Our sincere apologies for the delay; checks for week 24 are being staggered through the mail due to the extreme flow of the week.

I have personally checked with accounting for information in regards to your check:

Check #29500; in the amount of $574.83; was cut on 6/26/2009.
This check is commission for LAL 161781 and LAL 167531.
Please allow 7-10 mail days from today to receive your check.


07/09

Dear Brand Builders and Account Executives:


Weeks 23, 24 and 25 commission checks have been mailed.

We noticed a discrepancy in the Star Matching Bonus portion of Weeks 26 & 27 and have recalculated and reposted these two commissions in your back office.

When we launched the new system, Week 25 Star Matching calculated correctly. However, in Week 26 and Week 27, the Star Match was matching against both the current week and the previous week(s).

We apologize for this and have made the correction to your Week 26 and Week 27 commissions. We have also updated the programming so that this will not happen in the future. This only affected the Star Matching Bonus, all other commission types were not affected.

Week 26 checks are being re-issued and will be mailed immediately. Week 27 will be mailed on schedule on Friday, July 17th.

Regards,

LocalAdLink Support

The check is in the mail, yeah right!!!


I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A DIME!!!

This company is an amazing Scam and work of art. Their ads are lame and too expensive. You get Zip codes while pay per click does it cheaper by state or city instead of zip codes.

I honestly don't know how people fall into this stupid business. The ads are expensive, you are better off with Pay per click ads, craigslist, backpage, etc. I get more business from craigslist which is free instead of paying Local Ad Link $200 bucks where my ads didn't even show up.

I joined the business and it was not what i expected. My money is gone and cant get it back. For those of you looking to join this business beware of this 'SCAM.' Do not join. Do not get involved in it at all, you will waste your money on this home business. I thought that this was a legitimate home business and its a pure 'SCAM.

They tell you that you will get local ad links company stocks to get you into the business.

Beware people, 'BEWARE.'