Friday, March 13, 2009

Local Ad Link is a Scam

Hype aside, this post clearly explains why this is service is in fact a total scam.

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, LocalAdLink 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 LocalAdLink 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 LocalAdLink 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 – LocalAdLink has a client, Vital Signs was 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 LocalAdLink:

“I signed up for Boomj local adlink advertsing. I signed the $99 permonth 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 whats going on.
I get the same amount of clicks from organic sites. or even my free yellow pages.com ad.

Google said I has 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 definently 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.

When you do the math, it is simple when you compare Local Ad Link to real PPC management firms that offer real value. If you are still a believer in Local Ad Link after reading this article, DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!

Talk to Jump Fly Inc or leveragemarketing.net or just search "ppc management" on Google and ask any legitimate company to compare their service to the Local Ad Link packages. You may note that none of them charge more than a 20% management fee - that means that over 80 cents of every dollar actually goes to the purchase of Google clicks. Local Ad Link pays a 50% commission and then other compensation (MLM structure) and they pay their bills and then they theoretically turn a profit. So, how much money is actually being used to buy Google clicks for the end customer? What's left to buy clicks on Google? 20 cents on the dollar? 10 cents? Certainly not even close to any reasonable industry standard. Do the math and the truth about this service is simple.

16 comments:

  1. WOW I find this totally slanted and one sided. You conveniently forgot to mention several things. Like the ad gets placed on over 100 search engines like Google and 100 websites like myspace. And your examples of proof are NOT what happens to atleast 80% of the ads. I know guy in Long Island that placed ad with Local AdLink and he spent $50 for ad and he got people all over New York calling him. So ad not being limited to just one zip code is great thing for business. I dont know much about Pay Per Click BUT MOST of people I've talked to that have ads with Local Adlink say they used to spend thousands of dollars a month for PPC and now ONLY spend $200 a month with Local Adlink and get BETTER results ..more sales..more leads for there business..more hits on there website...if your going to try and prove something to be true you NEED alot more than few things that confirm your cynicism

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  2. Typical spin from Local Ad Link representatives that intentionally avoid the transparent facts about this service. Even if good strategy was employed in the use of Local Ad Links campaigns (the strategy is far from good, it's negligent at best), the fact is that Local Ad Link does not have any special discounts on Google, or other search engine clicks. The simple fact of their commission structure, unless Local Ad Link is trying to lose money intentionally, proves that this service is an outright scam.

    Diagram the dollar spent on a Local Ad Link Campaign:

    If a rep is paid 50% of the dollar, and possibly more levels in the MLM are paid a percentage of the dollar, and then Local Ad Links operating costs and net profit are removed from the dollar, what's left to be spent on the paid search marketing campaigns? 10 cents? 5 cents? 1 cent?

    So, if I'm managing my own account which takes all of 15 minutes to set up for each search engine, 100% of my dollar goes to buy clicks.

    The poster here is claiming that by spending 75%-95% LESS money on clicks and more money on Local Ad Link "management fees", your search engine campaign will be more efficient. Does that make sense?

    In addition, zip code specific marketing is flawed if you are using geo targeting for non zip code specific keywords such as "cabinets in los angeles" as opposed to specific zip code search terms such as "90023 cabinets". Zip code specific searches will the only search terms that will consistently target a zip code market area accurately. If you go back and read the initial post, more details are available about this very flawed approach to paid search marketing.

    As is typical of Local Ad Link representatives loading the internet with spin control, the real questions about their scam are avoided. In a market where real professionals who manage paid search campaigns (yes, all of the search portals) are charging no more than a 20% for strategies that work, why does Local Ad Link promote a service where over 75% (at least) of the paid search ad budget is being sapped by Local Ad Link.

    Can anyone at Local Ad Link or one of their current or former representatives provide the commission structure and MLM payout structure?

    The math is proof Michael - this isn't cynicism or Local Ad Link spin technique.

    Thanks for your post!!

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  3. It appears that your argument is solely based on comparing LocalAdlink with Google Adwords. Here’s the problem with your claims: You should know that LocalAdLink is not claiming to be a SEO company or trying to compete with Google Adwords.

    Their main focus is to create an affordable online campaign to help small business owners brand their company through their local search directory and advertising network.

    LocalAdLink is only 1/3 of the overall strategy of Boomj (the parent company) to assist with this endeavor.

    I would find it very hard to believe that Bob McNulty (CEO and Billionaire) would risk his reputation creating a scam.

    Jerome
    www.askjerome.com
    www.success800.com
    www.ncbbd.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for the comments Jerome.

    I am not confusing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) with PPC optimization. I have not claimed or implied that Local Ad Link is competing with Adwords in any statements on this blog.

    To clarify, PPC (Pay Per Click also referred to as Paid Search or Sponsored Links) optimization is the process of optimizing pay per click campaigns such ad Adwords or YSM and others. PPC optimization is a process that is different from traditional SEO, however, like SEO, PPC optimization is critical to managing cost and position for paid search campaigns. Advertisers who understand PPC optimization typically pay far less per click while achieving higher PPC positions simultaneously. Any company claiming to be competent PPC marketers (which is exactly what Local Ad Link is doing - using PPC to promote their clients), usually studies and implements PPC optimization.

    In the case of Local Ad Link, basic PPC optimization (not related to SEO) has been ignored. Thus, the campaigns appear to be compiled by a Pay Per Click novice. Additionally, as mentioned before, the zip code strategy is fundamentally flawed (please read previous posts on this topic).

    I agree with you that Local Ad Link is not competing with Google Adwords - Local Ad Link simply uses Adwords as its only apparent valuable positioning for its clients.

    To your statement:

    "Their main focus is to create an affordable online campaign to help small business owners brand their company through their local search directory and advertising network."

    If their focus is to create affordable campaigns for small business owners, then why would they charge far more for their clicks and management fees than any other company in the industry? By doing so, it drives the cost of advertising on search engines to the highest point (driving return on investment down dramatically if not to zero). Are you saying that by driving the cost of a paid search campaign to its highest point is somehow making it more affordable when literally every other option (including self management and outsourcing to a real PPC expert) is less costly and more efficient? How does that make it affordable?

    As far as the other two thirds of Local Ad Links strategy, if it involves the creation of directories and marketing a directory, I will say two things:

    First, directories rarely have value unless they are being picked up organically and achieving first page listings on the search engines. This implies that there is an organic strategy. I've not seen any organic presence for any Boomja or Local Ad Link directories as of yet (with their Page Rank so low, that strategy won't have a chance to work anytime soon). Of course, this idea is far from new - neither is software that creates multiple directories. The Yellow Pages have been marketing their directories for years as have many many other firms with competitive and established high Page Rank directories. No innovation there...

    Just like the horribly insincere paid search campaigns created by Local Ad Link, this appears to be more smoke and mirrors.

    As for Mr. McNulty, I'm not sure why he would have his name associated with this project. I'd prefer to be wrong about this service, but everything I've heard and read so far leads me to the same fact that this is not a valuable service and more closely resembles an MLM scam. Again, just do the math and follow the dollar.

    I would be interested to hear more about the other two thirds of the marketing strategy. I hope, for the sake of the people that have been taken by Local Ad Link, that there is something of value in this service. So far, the only evidence that exists is the math and the math says this is a scam.

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  5. Hey truth, thanks for the information!

    I think that a lot of people are confused about how LocalAdLInk (LAL) is actually meant to benefit it's advertisers. It is not in fact to be placed on Google. Yes that is one of the many places that ads will be shown, however the ultimate goal is to have people start their searches on LAL so that they can find local places to do business.

    When people's ads are showing up on Google, Yahoo and MSN this is a bonus. It does not have to be optimized, even though I agree with you that if they did optimize it, the value to the customer would definitely increase, however this is not at all what they do and that is obvious.

    The reason that so many people are confused is because uneducated reps are out there stating that ads will be placed on Google as a result of using LAL and that is not a true statement at all. In this initial push, they have in fact been able to get people's ads to show and who knows how long that will last, but where the real results are going to come from are the many different partnerships that LAL has created with many different websites to show our ads exclusively to their visitors.

    So to focus on LAL and Google alone is really not fair. I tell my potential clients that if they show up on Google, that this is a bonus but not a typical result. I have customers that are very happy with the service and any LAL reps that are reading this need to understand that it is the fault of people who are out there mis-leading their potential clients who have put LAL under scrutiny and you need to watch what you are telling people because it is not true...

    Educate yourself on the product and what it is actually intended to do and you will have happy customers that are not expecting results that neither you nor LAL can deliver.

    Thanks Truth!!

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  6. The author of this post seems to be a smart internet marketer but he has missed some very important points in his comments about LocalAdLink.

    Do the math?

    You stated that LocalAdLink is a scam for many reasons. Yet I see as an advertiser a strong value in the LocalAdLink Service.

    I own a company who advertises for several hundred companies for this discussion I will tell you about a Mortgage loan lead generation website I manage.
    I use both PPC and LocalAdLink to drive consumers to the website.
    I use the keywords "Mortgage Loan" in both campaigns

    I also self administer my PPC as a SEO and SEM expert. My average cost for PPC for the selected keyword is $14.00 to $27.00 depending on the time of day.

    Compared to LocalAdLink

    I also have a LocalAdLink Advertisement that for $199.00 per month of which I get 50% back as a Brand Builder commission selling an advertisement. My cost is less than $100.00 per month for 50 zip codes. Compare that with “yellowpages.com”

    As you know for the same out of my pocket expense of less than $100 for a Google PPC campaign I would get only 7 leads.

    For the same $100 on LocalAdLink I have been getting 20 to 30 clicks per day.

    I can see the traffic on my website in my analytics and it shows I have been getting on my mortgage lead generation website over 200 conversions from LocalAdLink traffic per month since I have been using it and its been two months.
    200 times $14.00. Do the math! I would have to pay Google over $2800.00 to get the same traffic that I pay less than $100 for. That’s. NOT a SCAM! That’s a DEAL!!!

    Why does this work so well?

    You really think that I can pay $100 out of my pocket to LocalAdLink and they are going to pay $14.00 per click to place me on Google?
    Here is a small list of search engines I am getting organic traffic from

    Google.com
    aol.com
    yahoo.com
    myspace.com
    altavista.com
    Comcast.com
    MSN.com
    CNN.com

    Additionally I am getting traffic other than search engines websites over 100 so far from LocalAdLink
    How is it that LocalAdLink can place my ad on all these domains and hundreds or even thousand more without doing PPC?

    First off let’s be sure that LocalAdLink does not need to do any PPC to promote any business advertising. It has over 1,000,000 domains and over 20,000,000 web pages that LocalAdLink pushes your ad out to as an impression. LocalAdLink itself has over 30,000 links going to it.

    This connection is created by the relationship with iSUPPLY.com, BOOMJ and over 100 high profile websites like CNN. This link strategy is what pushes LocalAdLink ads to top placements in search engines. It’s done all organically.

    The ads I create on LocalAdLink show up in many search engines outside the zip codes I picked to use because I can build the ad well using the tools they provide and since its linked so well I show up organically in over 15 search engines in 14 countries.
    As well as an impression in over 1,000,000 domains most are with a PR of 3 or more.

    How can it do that?
    For many reasons but the best one is link strategies provided by the LocalAdLink operation. Your ad is a website and it is placed in the network that LocalAdLink provides thus making your ad and your website if linked to higher organic placements in search engines.
    I can prove this beyond a doubt not just for my personal ads sales I placed for my company but thousands of ads my team and I have placed on LocalAdLink.

    Now let’s take the MLM effect or really it should be called Viral Marketing because that best explains the process of selling and recruiting the LocalAdLink Opportunity.

    It’s really Viral Marketing because of this aspect. I buy an advertisement for my business from LocalAdLink and it works. I tell several of my business associates that I bought an ad from an online advertising company. I tell them how its works for less than $100.00 per month.

    They in turn try it out and when it works they tell others just like I did. This is called viral marketing. The benefit to me as a buyer of LocalAdLink advertising is that if I tell only 5 people and they buy an ad mine cost me nothing. This is viral marketing not MLM.

    You can make serious money selling advertising I know I sell it every day. What LocalAdLink offers is an alliance with the consumers of their product.
    By offering a Binary payout with a product that every business consumes like advertising you create a wealth building opportunity from the effect of the binary payout plan they use.

    Let’s say you bought an ad from LocalAdLink today and as mine do yours works well too. Then over a 12 month period you manage to get 2 people to buy an ad per month for $199.00 at the end of the year you would have 24 people buying an ad.
    Your monthly income from telling others your ad works will be $2388 per month and your ad only cost you a net less than $100.00 when you started.

    You would be putting 20 plus times the cost of your ad back into your pocket every month as long as they buy those 24 ads. This is Viral Marketing not MLM.

    As a person in position at LocalAdLink and as professional a SEO and SEM I see great potential using LocalAdLink.

    Being a Trainer at LocalAdLink and a Team Leader with 1000’s of associates at LocalAdLink I will prove to anyone that LocalAdLink works and is definitively a most excellent source for inexpensive online advertising.

    I am available anytime to show you and anyone else exactly how LocalAdLink works.

    Paul Croskrey
    Your AdLink Guru
    209-586-4769

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for your post.

    So, let me figure this out.. To your point:

    "It (Local Ad Link) is not in fact to be placed on Google. Yes that is one of the many places that ads will be shown, however the ultimate goal is to have people start their searches on LAL so that they can find local places to do business."

    I see, so being placed on Google is not a priority and being placed in an unknown directory is? Wow! Talk about profit margins! Free software exists that can allow me to build my own directory or any subject - I should start charging people for a business opportunity package so they can market my unknown directory!! Thanks for the tip.

    As to another statement you made:

    "Educate yourself on the product and what it is actually intended to do and you will have happy customers that are not expecting results that neither you nor LAL can deliver"

    Thanks, I am definitely getting and education about the "results" Local Ad Link clients can expect. Other than a light wallet and a listing in a directory that no one needs or uses, there will be no results. I certainly hope that is the expectation that Local Ad Link representatives share with prospective customers - or are they more focused on selling the business opportunity than actually providing a service?

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  8. I recently met with several people who've been doing LAL as a business for a few weeks. I'm weighing my options as we speak, but after reading all of the posts to this blog, you've given me reason to pause. Having recently left a binary MLM that didn't produce the results I was looking for, you could say I'm a little reluctant to get back into another that may not provide real value for the end user. Thanks for all your posts, pro and con.

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  9. Thanks for your post Mr. Croskrey.

    You have made some specific claims about the performance of Local Ad Link vs. PPC campaigns in the competitive mortgage business. Your claim is detailed and deserves detailed analysis.

    Let’s start with the premise:


    “I also self administer my PPC as a SEO and SEM expert. My average cost for PPC for the selected keyword is $14.00 to $27.00 depending on the time of day.”

    Ok, that is probably true for many competitive mortgage phrases on PPC. A little high, but possible. Right now, for example, Google quotes a top position at $14.39 per click for the keyword, “mortgage”. Back to your post:

    “I also have a LocalAdLink Advertisement that for $199.00 per month of which I get 50% back as a Brand Builder commission selling an advertisement. My cost is less than $100.00 per month for 50 zip codes. Compare that with “yellowpages.com”

    As you know for the same out of my pocket expense of less than $100 for a Google PPC campaign I would get only 7 leads.”

    7 clicks, not leads, but yes, I see what you are saying.

    “For the same $100 on LocalAdLink I have been getting 20 to 30 clicks per day.”

    Holy ****! You’re saying I can get mortgage clicks 3 to 4 times less than top PPC positions? That’s pretty good, but where does it come from? It could come from Quality Score optimization for Adwords but Local Ad Link doesn’t optimize PPC campaigns, so where does it come from? So far so good:

    “I can see the traffic on my website in my analytics and it shows I have been getting on my mortgage lead generation website over 200 conversions from LocalAdLink traffic per month since I have been using it and its been two months.
    200 times $14.00. Do the math! I would have to pay Google over $2800.00 to get the same traffic that I pay less than $100 for. That’s. NOT a SCAM! That’s a DEAL!!!”

    Ok, this is very interesting. A conversion is a filled out lead form by definition (in the mortgage industry – in other industries it’s an actual sale). It would require far more than $2800 to generate 200 conversions (form fills) at $14.00 per click. So, your claim of 200 conversions is no less than amazing! For $100???? Sign me up today and I’ll be selling those leads off to companies who have been trying to do that for years – Lending Tree and many many others who have apparently wasted millions of dollars in PPC, radio, TV, and organic development – all they ever had to do was wait for Local Ad Link to come along!! Wow! I’m a multi millionaire!! Paul, please don’t go to Lending Tree with this before I do! I want to be the middle man!! Sorry, I’m so excited! Back to your post:

    “Why does this work so well?

    You really think that I can pay $100 out of my pocket to LocalAdLink and they are going to pay $14.00 per click to place me on Google?
    Here is a small list of search engines I am getting organic traffic from

    Google.com
    aol.com
    yahoo.com
    myspace.com
    altavista.com
    Comcast.com
    MSN.com
    CNN.com

    Additionally I am getting traffic other than search engines websites over 100 so far from LocalAdLink
    How is it that LocalAdLink can place my ad on all these domains and hundreds or even thousand more without doing PPC?

    First off let’s be sure that LocalAdLink does not need to do any PPC to promote any business advertising. It has over 1,000,000 domains and over 20,000,000 web pages that LocalAdLink pushes your ad out to as an impression. LocalAdLink itself has over 30,000 links going to it.

    This connection is created by the relationship with iSUPPLY.com, BOOMJ and over 100 high profile websites like CNN. This link strategy is what pushes LocalAdLink ads to top placements in search engines. It’s done all organically.”

    Wow! It’s organic traffic? Fantastic! Where does it come from and how is it distributed on those search network portals? The Google network covers AOL, MySpace, and AltaVista – the others are in the Yahoo network – no mystery there, but those are paid search and content network partners.

    So, where does this magical organic traffic come from? I mean, if it’s real, I’m going to broker leads to Lending Tree at $5 each and make millions! It can’t come from the Local Ad Link directory – that’s a low PR directory that will take years to be any kind of force – it has to catch up to Merchant Circle, Hotfrog, local.com, and hundreds of other robust and far larger directories rich with content and media options. Boomj? Same problem there – nothing of substance that will generate organic rankings. Just another directory generator.

    Where does the traffic come from? Where are these organic sites? I can’t wait to find out so I can pick out the color for my Ferrari!!!! I’m very excited; please don’t make me wait too long!


    But, I have some questions Paul:

    Isupply.com – this is a high PR site (6). What is the nature of that relationship?

    CNN offers a PPC feed to anyone though Yahoo Pay Per Click and other ad feeds – is there any more substance to CNN’s relationship to Local Ad Link or Beyond Commerce or Boomj?

    Can you provide examples of any organic positions that have contributed to your mortgage “conversions”?

    You mentioned “This link strategy is what pushes LocalAdLink ads to top placements in search engines” – your right about one thing – Local Ad Link has hired many people to develop links to it fast. Note that of the many many links, Local Ad Link has tagged their articles with the keyword: “Local Ad Link Scam”

    There is a reason for this – they are intentionally trying to bury any web page that calls them out on the truth about their service – and they are doing a bang up job burying the bodies. The Ripoffreport.com (PR 6) and Scam.com (PR 6) don’t even appear on Google’s first page for the keyword “local ad link scam”. That requires real effort. In the area of loading the search engines to dilute the keyword “local ad link scam” to bury any link that might expose Local Ad Link, I’ve never seen anyone do a better job – that’s a real compliment.

    With all due respect Paul, you don’t know much about internet marketing. The difference between clicks and conversions? And you are a trainer? All sarcasm aside, you should probably find a new scam because this one won’t last. The momentum won’t stop and the word will continue to get out to the public no matter how hard the Spin Machine at Local Ad Link tries to cover it up – no doubt they are doing their best.

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  10. This perspective is from from a Local Ad Link representative and a business owner - and it's definitely NOT pro-LocalAdLink.

    Local Ad Link has deplorable customer support. There is no phone number to reach anyone other than a computer . . . I have attempted to reach Local Ad Link multiple times through their support desk, and their phone system, regarding a billing error - their mistake, not mine. This error has already cost me $199.95 plus an additional $178 in bank charges. Do you think LocaL Ad Link has corrected their error? Of course not! So, their error is costing me money, but they're benefiting from the money they take from others to build their business and brag. They'll go to their fancy hoopla in Las Vegas this coming weekend and tell of all the money they're pulling in - my guess is that the money they're making is at the expense of many unsuspecting reps and business owners.

    I became a representative for Local Ad Link because I know some businesses will purchase Local Ad Link for the convenience of it. Different strokes for different folks. It's not up to me decide what product is good for a business. A lot of people will pay a premium for convenience. Not everyone wants to manage their PPC campaigns, nor do they know how - or know of the other options available to them. So, Local Ad Link seemed to be a solution for a certain niche.

    I say "seemed to be" because I tested the waters by running my own ad - and discovered that Local Ad Link doesn't always deliver the advertising a business owner purchases. In my case, they've charged me for an ad but I have yet to see it. And, we're past their 72 hour window - the time when the advertiser pays for their ad but Local Ad Link isn't contractually obligated to display the ad - well, apparently, Local Ad Link doesn't feel they need to display the ad after 72 hours, either! It's been 6 days since I ordered my ad. And my ad is still not on their website, or in my Back Office.

    In other words, since I've paid Local Ad Link for an ad and it's not being displayed anywhere, that's the most expensive advertising I've ever seen! I may as well have thrown my money down the drain . . . and, yes, you guessed it . . . Local Ad Link support is not hurrying to correct the problem. Why should they? They have my money.

    As far as the business opportunity goes - when you become a rep for Local Ad Link as a BB, you purchase approximately $1,000 in ad inventory that you are supposed to be able to use as a credit towards ads for yourself, or for other business owners, as an incentive to use Local Ad Link.

    I wanted to test the system, so I used some of my ad inventory for the ad I referred to above - and I was charged $199.95 for the ad anyway! So, the claim of Local Ad Link ad inventory being available is clearly bogus. Otherwise, why was I charged $199.95 for my ad?

    When I contacted Local Ad Link for support, they actually told me that they didn't charge me! Yeah, right! My bank just made up the charge and somehow erroneously sent the $199.95 to Local Ad Link out of the goodness of their heart? They must think I believe in the Local Ad Link Tooth Fairy too! Gimme a break! How stupid does Local Ad Link think people are?

    Local Ad Link also keeps plugging in additional income streams that benefit the company, and not reps or business owners. Now, I have no problem with someone promoting affiliate products. We're all in business to make money. Local Ad Link selling vista products and cutting edge media leads is their prerogative but, get this . . . they're actually charging their reps $1 to view the salespage of cutting edge media! Amazing, but true. They don't even tell their reps. what cutting edge media is until after the reps pay Local Ad Link for the privilege of reading a salespage! Unbelievable!

    I could go on and on, but I have to run for an appointment. I'll sum this up by saying this - I don't think most Local Ad Link representatives have a clue about what they're selling. And, form what I've seen, they're ONLY selling a business opportunity built on sand - there's no product behind their claims that is worth what they're charging - in my case, I've spent almost $800 between charges, bank fees, and ad credits and have not seen any product at all. Their customer service is sub par, to say the least - for representatives and business owners alike.

    Network marketing is a sound business model, but some companies sell hype and not good products too - they bring in people to sell their opportunity - people who don't know how inferior their product is. The company keeps their money and, of course, the reps can't get a refund. Network marketing companies that treat others like this usually go out of business. I can only hope that Local Ad Link is exposed for what they are, and that others do not lose as much money as I did!

    Oh, btw, I also brought 3 reps into the company - when I still trusted their hype - and was to be paid $130 for my efforts - and, guess what happened? No surprise here - they didn't pay me on time - I received payment nearly 2 weeks late - and I was sent a debit card with outrageous fees attached to it for future payments - like a $3.50 per month privilege fee, .50 per transaction fees - and a whole list of other charges for each withdrawal, etc. - guess who thinks that's a "convenient" way to pay their reps? Yep, Local Ad Link - who is undoubtedly making money on these fees while their reps are paying to help this company be profitable until they go public in a year or so.

    And, of course, future payments to reps is based on continuous ad sales - you know, selling those ads that don't get placed, and then having the reps handle the complaints from their customers, since no one can reach customer support. How long do you think ethical reps will continue to sell for Local Ad Link? Not long . . .and we all know who will keep the money earned by those reps - yep, the company: Local Ad Link.

    In my experience, all I've seen is that Local Ad Link collects fees on everything, doesn't deliver their ads within their alloted timeframe, doesn't pay their reps according to their contracted agreement, doesn't investigate their support inquiries or answer them with reasonable solutions - and treats their reps and business advertisers like they're
    idiots. From what I've seen, I could not recommend Local Ad Link ads OR business opportunity to anyone with a conscience!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for post Sara. I'm very sorry to hear you were one of the many who have been ripped off by Local Ad Link. Sadly, even if your calls for support were answered, the service they provide has little to no value and does not even closely resemble a good place to outsource PPC marketing or any marketing for that matter.

    I strongly recommend taking your complaint to the following public agencies:

    Better Business Bureau

    http://www.la.bbb.org/ComplaintInformation.aspx

    California Attorney General's complaint page:

    http://ag.ca.gov/contact/complaint_form.php?cmplt=

    Help others by posting your story in as many places as you can.

    Scam.com has a thread going at:

    http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=80303

    ReplyDelete
  12. Why does LocalAdLink rate an “F” with the BBB

    I will tell you why. It's because the company is a fraud. I am a Brand Builder with LocalAdlink. I have been door to door too many different businesses in my local area. I have sold ads to businesses and to myself. My ad has never shown on any site but localadlink.com. Today they email me this:
    "Thank you for contacting LocalAdLink concerning your Basic ad only
    allowing one Targeted Term to be edited. Rest assured that our tech team
    is already aware of this and they are working diligently to have this
    issue resolved as quickly as possible. The good news is, both of the
    Targeted Terms you entered when first creating the ad are already in our
    system and has been pushed out to our third party affiliates to target
    your advertisement. If you would like to make a change to your Targeted
    Terms, please write a brand new email to support@localadlink.com. Put in
    the subject "ATTN: Marketing" and include the following information when
    requesting an ad edit:
    • .com username for ad
    • LAL invoice number
    • Business name of your ad
    • States where you chose your Targeted Zip Codes
    • Both of your desired Targeted Terms {even if you do not wish to
    change both of them}
    • Link to listing when you click view listing
    We appreciate your patience in this matter and apologize for the
    inconvenience this has caused. Best of luck in your endeavours.
    --
    Tier 2 .COM Tech"

    This has been going on since 2-09-09 I bought the ad on 2-09-09. I have been emailing support for over month. Please keep in mind this is a month to month service. I have been trying to call customer support for over a month at this number 949-679-7000 hmmm why is it they never answer the phone? That's just my ad. My customers are not showing either. All I see coming to me will be trying to clear my name. I have been to so many businesses spreading the word about this revolutionary product. I was 100% onboard with this company, believing everything. The service sounds so good and it works for like a week then for some reason, it just fails to provide. People are paying $99.95/month for this service that I personally sold them. Services are not being rendered and I am out here in my local community looking like a fraud. I am an honest salesman these people bought this service hook, line and sinker. I feel dishonest in a way. I feel like I have cheated my neighbors and fellow citizens out of their hard earned money. They could have canceled within 72hrs of making the purchase, but Localadlink was up and running for a week then, my customer stopped being seen. I actually paid to become a Brand Builder for the company and the support I receive is horrible. My customer’s don't see this. I have been handling all the problems between the customer and the company. This company is a terrible company to work for. If you don't believe the BBB title, here check it out for yourself http://www.la.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=100079069

    I have many issues with the company here are a few.

    Issues to be addressed:



    • CEO told us “We are not selling Search Engine Sponsored Ads – Support says, “When someone searches for the ad it will show localadlink.com under your heading of the ad and will be located as a sponsored site of the third party affiliate.”

    o Does anyone really know what we are selling?

    o If all our Documentation and Marketing Material is in line with Supports statement; that we are selling “Sponsored Ads as Third Party Affiliates”, why is the CEO Telling us different in the seminars?

    • In the last Technology Update 3/10/09. Current Bugs that will be fixed within 24 hours: #5
    “Search Engines - We are moving to get higher ranking organically with all search engines. We are aware of a reduction in display frequency within the Search Engines over the last 48 hours. This is due to last weekend's updates as well.”
    I have never seen localadlink “customers” in the Organic field. Let alone a “higher ranking organically”.  what does that mean?
    My question is, “What if the customer doesn’t have a website?” How are they going to be organically in the search engines? – “Explain HOW and be SPECIFIC…”

    • Support like to fall back on their Statistic System, until you point out that it’s not working. The Statistic System we are currently selling to our Clients is not working – Support says, “The statistics page isn't 100% accurate. IT is aware of this and we will be implementing a more accurate statistics.” Then why did they email statistics based on their self known inaccurate statistics.


    o Why is this not passed on to the entire sales force currently selling ads so we can tell our clients? The Clients are looking and the sales force is looking bad in front of the clients.

    • WHAT??? Support says, “To speed up the process please refrains from sending multiple emails regarding the same issue. Also, to help with response time, please write a NEW ticket instead of replying to this one.”

    o So, to speed up the process “refrain from sending multiple emails on this issue” but, instead of replying to this issue, “write a NEW ticket…” ??? How does this help??? Why fill up the system with New Tickets hen support does not answer the questions being asked in the first place!

    o Why does it matter if we reply: it is going to take weeks, even months or if we create a New Ticket: it takes weeks and sometimes over a month to get an initial response in the first place…? What is the worst of the two evils when neither way resolves the issues being presented?

    • We have been told for months that Support will have a 24 hour response time: “When a ticket is replied to, it will show in our system as received on the time of the initial ticket which means it could take weeks, even months until support reads it.“ HOW is “Weeks, even Months until Support Reads it...” acceptable from a Customer Support Department?

    I have emailed this to support days ago with no response...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for sharing your experience as Brand Builder for Local Ad Link. You believed in what they said they were doing, you worked hard to sell the service you believed in, and now your reputation is in jeopardy because they didn't deliver - and they won't deliver because their business model makes it impossible to deliver real results. Fortunately, there are firms out there that are legitimate who are looking for hard working sales persons like you. It might be worth looking for one to work with so you might repair the relationships that may have been damaged.

    Thank you for your honesty - it requires courage to be objective in a hype ridden MLM group.

    ReplyDelete
  14. In all fairness, it is important to remember that Local Ad Link is only 4 months old and still in Beta test phase, and ought to be judged accordingly. Where can one obtain a service that for $99.00 per month without any contracts or set up fees receives: Advertising populated through 109 different sites and search engines pushed out through 10 zip codes, upload capabilities for custom videos and coupons with changes made in real time, mapped directions to the businesses, ratings and reviews, with fully trackable results? Many small businesses do not even have a website and this gives them the added value of instant web presence. As for the BBB ratings, considering the 1000's of recent customers obtained, 4 or 5 reported problems for a company only 4 months old in Beta test phase, is really quite insignificant. The word 'scam' can and has been thrown at literally every network marketing company in existence, with Local Ad Link being no exception. Do not trust a blog to deliver truth, as frequently they are tremendously biased and inaccurate. Do you want the truth? Contact businesses directly that are paid advertisers on the Local Ad Link site. Ask them how the system has been serving them. Remember to compare what they say to what Local Ad Link claims to provide, not what a sales person may have mistakenly or deliberately misrepresented. Wait about 6 months and repeat the process, that will give you the full truth. But to call Local Ad Link a 'scam' all things considered, would be a totally unfair and
    unrealistic categorization.

    Truth In Reality

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kurt,

    Local Ad Link is the con du jour and it's going down in a ball of flames - as it should.

    Have you read any of this blog? Have your read the people who have come clean about this scam?

    Set aside the F rating at the BBB.

    Set aside the customer complaints and the repeated stories of the former Brand Builders and customers who received no service for their money.

    Set aside the FACT that Local Ad Link (Beyond Commerce) is bouncing checks to its reps 2 weeks after its big party in Las Vegas.

    The service itself has no value. The Local Ad Link directory is a joke - it has no presence and the only people using it are the horribly misled small minority of Local Ad Link MLMers. Getting business from a Local Ad Link campaign is very close to impossible. You are better off throwing your money into a wood burning stove - at least you could get a fraction of heat from it - that fraction being far more valuable than a Local Ad Link advertising package.

    By definition, it's a scam. When you con people into buying something that has no value - NEWS FLASH - it's a scam. '

    According to dictionary.com, here is the definition of scam:

    "a confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, esp. for making a quick profit; swindle."

    Local Ad Link perfectly fits this description.

    Read the very first post on this blog - I did the math for you. Math doesn't lie.

    You have a responsibility to the people you've conned. Come clean and stop damaging innocent people Kurt.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!








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