SEM Service FAQ
To assist your understanding of our Search Engine Marketing service, we've created this FAQ. If you have any questions about the information below or additional questions not listed here, please contact us.
- Will you accept other clients within our same industry?
- Do we have to sign a long term contract?
- Will the accounts be in our name?
- Do we have to provide you our credit card?
- Why do you pay the search engines?
- How do we know that our money is safe with you?
- Do you provide reporting?
- Will you setup conversion tracking?
- What search engine will you put my ads on?
- Do you receive any commissions from the search engines?
- Who writes your Ad copy?
- Can you just setup my campaigns and then let me manage them?
- Why do you require at least $1,000 in monthly spend?
- Can't I just give you a flat bid price to pay?
- Why do you cap your commission?
Will you accept other clients within our same industry?
For larger clients we do sign non-compete agreements. Once signed we will not take another client in the same or related vertical without your permission. Existing clients will remain our clients, but you will be informed of them prior to agreeing on the non-compete.
Do we have to sign a long term contract?
No, we prefer to earn your business. Only when clients want us to sign a non-compete do we require twelve or eighteen month contracts. Normally our initial term is only three months and the contract then proceeds month to month. The initial three months is simply to ensure that we can recoup some of our costs in setting up your campaigns.
Will the accounts be in our name?
Yes. All search engine accounts will be in your name. If at some point you decide to stop using our services, you will have the ability to bring the account in-house or assign it to another agency.
Do we have to provide you our credit card?
No. We will require advance payment each month of the search engine spend by ACH transfer or check, but the monthly search engine charges will be made against our credit card or invoice.
Why do you pay the search engines?
For a few reasons, the main one being, it's easier. The credit card authorization process sometimes fails (especially in Google). By us controlling the payments to the search engines we can quickly respond to any problems, ensuring your campaigns remain online.
How do we know that our money is safe with you?
We've been around for a while and have managed millions of dollars in annual search engine spend for our clients. You can trust us. If you're a larger client and still have some doubts, we are willing to post a bond to guarantee your money is safe.
Do you provide reporting?
Yes, we provide weekly reporting on traffic, conversions and cost and monthly financial statements on deposits, spend for the prior months and commission.
Will you setup conversion tracking?
Yes, if needed. The most reliable conversion numbers will come from your internal database and we prefer to make arrangements to integrate some of that data with our custom built tracking and analysis databases. If you don't have a way of tracking conversions or if you would like quick and easy access to the conversion numbers, we will setup a web analytics tracking program as either part of our contract or through our Web Analytics Implementation Service.
What search engine will you put my ads on?
We primarily focus on the big three, Google, Yahoo and MSN. We find that traffic from the second and third tier search engines usually convert at a much lower rate, so while the Cost per Click may be lower, the Cost per Acquisition usually isn't. We do keep an eye on the industry and if a new engine should emerge as a great source of quality traffic, we won't hesitate to get your campaigns listed.
Do you receive any commissions from the search engines?
No. When we get discounts or credits from the search engines, we pass them along to you. In fact most of our clients usually receive a $50 or a $100 credit toward their campaign spend when they sign with us.
Who writes your Ad copy?
We do. Some agencies let the search engines write your ad copy and then pass it off as their own work. You'll find that this copy usually follows a template of “relevance – benefit – call to action” and while there is nothing wrong with that format you'll notice that the copy could be very similar to other advertisers already in place. We write copy based upon the goals of the client and the types of products / services being offered for the segment of the user we're trying to reach.
Can you just setup my campaigns and then let me manage them?
Yes. For clients with a limited advertising budget, this is usually the best approach to take. Having us analyze your goals, conduct keyword research, write the ad copy and create your campaigns could give you the head start in search engine advertising that you need.
Why do you require at least $1,000 in monthly spend?
It comes down to the amount of time needed to analyze and optimize the campaigns and the cost of that time. We don't manage SEM campaigns with monthly spend less than $1,000 because at a 15% commission rate, we wouldn't cover our costs. If we charged a higher commission rate, then the advertiser loses out.
Can't I just give you a flat bid price to pay?
No. You'll find that you're usually paying a much higher rate if you go with this approach. While you may state you wish to pay $.25 per click, the agency will then place you listing across numerous third tier engines at $.15 per click. That's a 40% commission rate.
Why do you cap your commission?
To demonstrate to our clients that we're out for their best interests, not ours. We're not trying to get you to spend as much as possible with the search engines. We're trying to maximize conversions at the lowest possible cost within your budget.
Contact Us
If you'd like to start increasing qualified traffic to your site, give us a call at 800.340.3844 or complete our request form.
