Is google adwords scamming me?!!!

Discussion in 'Google AdWords' started by Fbos123, May 27, 2010.

  1. #1
    I started a Google Adwords campaign about a month ago

    Lets say its for "Hamburgers and French Fries"

    However..... Google Adwords is showing my advertisement for RELATED keywords, that I NEVER chose.... nor do they come up on my account..... such as "FAST FOOD, SOFT DRINKS"

    How could this be?

    Now my Google Adwords account is being depleted $100 a day and I am NOT targeting those keywords

    Has anyone had any similar experience with this?

    What should I do??

    - Fbos
     
    Fbos123, May 27, 2010 IP
  2. Alias_123

    Alias_123 Greenhorn

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    #2
    well I'm not really an expert but did you try to contact google with this problem because personally if I was a big company with a big reputation I would like to keep my costumers happy maybe you can work out a deal with them since they didn't deliver what there suppose to...
     
    Alias_123, May 27, 2010 IP
  3. Fbos123

    Fbos123 Peon

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    #3
    Im shocked over this, and I cant find a # to call or email Google Adwords -- do you know how to contact them?
     
    Fbos123, May 27, 2010 IP
  4. Alias_123

    Alias_123 Greenhorn

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    #4
    go to google and type in how to contact google it will be the first link at the top then scrol lto the bottom of the page and the address and phone number will be there hope this helps :) I would have posted the link but I dont know if I was aloud to lol
     
    Alias_123, May 27, 2010 IP
  5. magda

    magda Notable Member

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    #5
    What should you do?
    Read the support material that Google provide about how adwords works before you put money into it.
    Your keywords are set to broad match, that's why they show for search terms you think you haven't chosen.
    First read up about match types
    http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=6100
    Then read all the other supporting material and stop screaming 'scam' every time you're too stupid or lazy to bother to learn how a system works.
    http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/static.py?hl=en&page=webinars.cs
     
    magda, May 27, 2010 IP
  6. Lucid Web Marketing

    Lucid Web Marketing Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Broad matched keywords get expanded and your example is a great one: a word like "hamburger" (broad matched) will get expanded not only to the plural but also laterally such as "fast food" and "ground beef". Broad matches are to be used very carefully. My rule of thumb is to limit them and get as much of my impressions triggering phrase and exact matched keywords. My goal is 80% but that's easier said than done in some industries.
     
    Lucid Web Marketing, May 28, 2010 IP
  7. Fbos123

    Fbos123 Peon

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    #7
    Hey Magda --- it IS a scam

    Google knows most people arent going to read through all that and are going to suck as much money out of you as possible

    They emailed me back.... and yes it is this broad match crap, even though many words arent even close!!!

    Its a scam in one form or another --- !!!
     
    Fbos123, May 30, 2010 IP
  8. InstantCashMaverick

    InstantCashMaverick Peon

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    #8
    Its no scam but it is a problem for those new to adwords. If you are particular about words you want you need quotation marks, or alternatively you can use [keyword] around keywords you do not want
     
    InstantCashMaverick, May 30, 2010 IP
  9. Rian

    Rian Well-Known Member

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    #9
    I agree, Google is not scamming you.

    If you go through life entering into agreements and signing them without reading them you will be signing your life away. Whether or not Google knows people will read the TOS, it still remains your responsibility to read the documents and familiarize yourself with the product before using it.

    You have learnt a lesson, correct it now and in future you can use this experience to help others.
     
    Rian, May 30, 2010 IP
  10. ggHowell

    ggHowell Guest

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    #10
    i don't think google would scam anyone... they're on the fortune 500 ffs!
     
    ggHowell, May 30, 2010 IP
  11. Fbos123

    Fbos123 Peon

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    #11
    Its certainly a form of a scam.... theyre adding extra keywords you didnt choose, so they get more clicks therefore more money --- even though you never picked it and those "broad" keywords might not have anything to do with your site, which in most cases they DID NOT

    Its like getting a plane ticket...... and in the fine print its telling you you're going to be upgraded to first class wether you like it or not unless you notify them.... and you dont know until you get on the plane, unless you read the 10 pages of fine print

    Very sneaky

    They make it HARD to get rid of those broad match keywords too you have to go in and put in negative signs


    However, I dont want to talk bad about Google...... they might be watching me right now up on their Google Earth Sateliites:


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kswJuKfYtI
     
    Fbos123, May 30, 2010 IP
  12. simey

    simey Active Member

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    #12
    The "broad" match has gotten a lot 'broader' over the years. If you are an advertiser, you need to keep a close eye on them.
     
    simey, May 30, 2010 IP
  13. Fbos123

    Fbos123 Peon

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    #13
    Its extremely broad -- but its all part of learning, im learning A LOT about Adwords... very very interesting stuff to say the least!!!
     
    Fbos123, May 31, 2010 IP
  14. priyaseo

    priyaseo Peon

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    #14
    No, It wont be a scam. Google is the best in all the services provided.
     
    priyaseo, May 31, 2010 IP
  15. DPM Creative Group

    DPM Creative Group Peon

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    #15
    We are a graphic design company in Sydney called DPM Creative Group and have used AdWords for nearly 12 months. Although we're not entirely convinced of the achieved results (50 hits and no inquiries or 500 hits and only one inquiry for example), it has still been a reasonable success for us. Particularly when we became more comfortable in using fewer keywords and localizing the search criteria.
     
    DPM Creative Group, Jun 1, 2010 IP
  16. clbyodo

    clbyodo Peon

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    #16
    No,i dont think Adowrds would scam you as it is a Google company.
     
    clbyodo, Jun 1, 2010 IP
  17. PaulSch

    PaulSch Active Member

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    #17
    No. You're not being scammed.
    It's what you get for not doing your research properly - if you don't know exactly what you are doing take professional advice before getting locked into a programme like adwords. If you're on 'broad' search, and I guess you are, then you are going to be paying heavily for not checking out the TOS.
    I do sympathise with you. It's an expensive lesson.
     
    PaulSch, Jun 1, 2010 IP
  18. aurtus

    aurtus Peon

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    #18
    the fastest way to switch your broad match keywords onto exact match is to download google editor - just search for it and highlight all the keywords you need to change match types on and do it in one go...this will save you a lot of time. then upload! that's it.
     
    aurtus, Jun 1, 2010 IP
  19. chtdatweb

    chtdatweb Well-Known Member

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    #19
    I think broad matching is pointless. Just disable it and plow money into keywords that you ACTUALLY want your "potential customers" to click on. Another good suggestion is to carefully review the adwords campaign in analytics, as you might find that someone keywords your targetting will have a high bounce rate.
     
    chtdatweb, Jun 2, 2010 IP
  20. candid

    candid Peon

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    #20
    Well there seems to be a problem from broad matched keywords .It does happen to us also and needs to be taken care of.However that's a little difficult .
     
    candid, Jun 2, 2010 IP