Get Google Ads For Free? I don’t think so…
I just got an unsolicited email promoting “Get Google Ads For Free”. I didn’t promote the product at the time of release because, well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? 
But the spam got me curious. What was all the fuss about and is the product still being sold? So I did some research… checked out the sales letter and then the discussions here and here.
It’s interesting that Clickbank is still selling a product which claims to get you Google Ads for free, but in reality seems to just suggest you pay for your ads, then defray the cost of those ads through ads you place on your landing pages. That’s arbitrage, not free ads. The arbitrage idea has been around for a while, and the margins are small to non-existant.
As one guy said on the forum… “I bought it and asked for a refund, it teachs you how to sell banner space at your sites”
Doh.
There’s a dislaimer, in small print, right at the bottom of the sales letter, which says…
“the system it involves neither has anything to do with any “AdWords™ and/or AdSense™ credits or vouchers,” nor the direct provision by Google to the customer any direct free advertising at anytime; nor any free pay-per-click or otherwise paid-for advertising directly; but rather is a system that if applied correctly and properly and effectively, and as instructed per the author’s direction, may allow for the elimination of the burden of costs pertaining to that customer’s pay-per-click and/or otherwise paid-for advertising expense(s).”
(sarcasm on) Huh? So you mean you don’t get free ads? (end sarcasm)
So, if you don’t get “free” ads, what does this mean… at the bottom of the sales page…
“Now Google pay-per-clicks are FREE using my amazing secret!”
/sigh.
I’ve sent Clickbank this question… let’s see what they say…
“Why don’t you include a “refund” percentage for products listed in the marketplace? Adding that data would sort good products from poor ones thereby helping affiliates decide which products to promote.
Please let me know your comments. I think withholding this data is detrimental to the integrity of your marketplace.”
I just found an excellent calculator here which shows you the refund rate for a Clickbank product. It takes the info Clickbank shows you in the marketplace and does the calculation. For “Get Google Ads For Free”, affiliates should earn 75% of $67 (less the Clickbank fee), which is $45.73. But the actual earning per sale figure is $37.19. From that data the calculator suggests a refund rate of 18.67%.
Ouch. That’s almost one sale in five refunded. 
May 11th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I’m glad to see you comment on the product purporting to get google ads for free.
Clickbank clearly thinks it’s so big that it’s reputation is beyond reproach but when they advertise this rubbish in their marketplace it leaves one feeling very dissapointed with them.
A mere look at the title of the product should have flagged it as garbage and had they reviewed it for 30 seconds it would have been obvious.
I’m at least glad to hear there are 20% refunds happening on this scam product.
So again , well said on this one Neil
May 11th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
It’s good to see you back to your original form: exposing scams, wherever you find them spreading and ensnaring netizens.
If Clickbank management can make the refund percentage stands out clearly, these sort of scam products will not have a second chance to having bestsellers status.
Affiliates that persist in pushing them will be branded as scammers and cohorts.
Very glad that you delivered this point to Clickbank. It’s time The Marketplace be rid of vampires.
May 15th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Great post Neil!
I sent a message to my list a few weeks ago warning them of this product and I got several nice responses thanking me for saving them some money and time.
“Google Ads For Free” is a great headline to grab attention, but it just doesn’t deliver.
May 15th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Glad I read all your comments , just saved me $67 thank you.
May 16th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Rosanne: I’m happy the blog post helped save you money.
Mike, El Gor and Australian Real Estate: Thanks for your kind words.
I’m still amazed that 80% of sales “stick”. I wonder what percentage of customers 1: download the ebook, 2: manage to open and read it.
Presumably it’s quite a bit less than 100%. Perhaps someone has done tests for download/open rates of ebooks in general… I know Mike Lieber says that only 50% of people entitled to download their monthly article packs actually do.
Neil.
May 20th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
I am grateful for this information. I also have seen those emails for some time now, and today decided to go to the site to see what it was all about. The wording led me to believe that there was some kind of catch involved. It reminded me of various schemes I used to get my postal mail years ago, some which I sent away for. It also reminded me of the many ads recently that advertised that you could make free phone calls, but then you find that you can make these “free” calls as long as you pay about $50 to $70 a month in order to get those allegedly “free” phone calls. It seems that “free” does not actually mean “free” anymore.
At any rate, I decided to use Google to search to see if I could find some information, and came to this page. Again I say, Thanks!
Ronald
May 21st, 2007 at 12:27 am
I’m very thankful for the information on that scam of a product. I found it in my inbox. Normally,t i don’t give a second thought when deleting spam but somehow I decided to read the “get google ads for free”, I’m sure out of curiousity. Though convinced, after reading the stuff, especially when I read the “sneaky” disclaimer, I decided to do further search on it and I landed on this page where I really got interesting analysis about the product. This is my first visit here. Undoubtedly you guys are doing great work exposing scams. Thanks, keep it up!
Oh I forgot the “amazing claims!”-The owner of “get google ads for free” claims he/she has bought an aeroplane, a boat, mansions, …the sun! oh sorry, he/she did not include the Sun. lol
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Ok be fair… How many of you have actually downloaded the book and read it? (Not browsed it, Read and even implemented some of it Understood it)
My brother and I bought 2 minute profits and googles black book … both books have really good legal strategies to generate income. The black book however simply puts things into perspective and you still don’t make sales unless you can afford to bid high for keywords etc.
The 2 min profit book is also clever… but makes you scared cos you have to wait for long periods until you might see a profit.
Basically everybody is trying stuff, and it seems that their strategies worked for them at one or more points in time… Dr. Cohen really does come accross in his letter like he nailed the problem with trying any strategy… and thats peoples lack of funds or sales to pay for PPC. I would buy the book, read it and apply the techniques before coming to a judgement like you guys have above. If it involves a 67$ loss to gain more insight, if I can afford it, then yea I will buy it…. if it simply works than I will make money, if not then at least I would have learned something… and thats priceless to a person pursuing success in anything. Knowledge is never worthless…
If any of you have bought this book and went through it like I stated above, then YOU should comment on its integrity etc.
So for the rest of you who simply are ready to thank away for saving you 67$.. well then you guys are what we call in South Africa, The ‘Ya Baas’ crew, which means the ‘Yes Boss’ crew for people that used to sit back and listen to everything and do everything they told to. (Before 1994 that is).
O yea, one more thing, these e-books if anything, they at least teach you some new ways of going about your business. You should ask yourself if what you are currently doing is helping you like you had hoped? If yes then you shouldn’t worry about google ads for free etc.
If not, then I say if you can afford to, try the stuff out… what else can you do? - Then you will be a person who Read, Understood and Applied the techniques, and those comments will be useful to anybody.
read this article:
http://www.imnewswatch.com/archives/2007/05/jon_cohen_click.html
Its more education for the affiliate nation…
May 25th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Hi mense (Hi Guys)
Please can anyone provide some feedback or info on this system..Thanks!
http://www.theovernightcashsystem.com/
Are these types of systems really worth investing in?
June 12th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Irfaan
A bit off topic but here’s my 2 cents. If I remember correctly I received a video about this “business” not long ago. Guys opening Fed Ex envelopes with money tumbling out and offered as proof.
If you look below the surface of this I think you’ll find it’s a “gifting” deal - dubious at best, some would say illegal. If anyone can correct me I’m sure they will. I have no first hand experience of the program.
I’d be very careful is all I’m saying. The domain was registered it appears, via proxy, so no information about owners. Anonymity always puts up a flag with “opportunity” sites.
Mo
September 27th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Man…you guys are really trashing the old Doc. It is kinda fun to read all this and listen to all of you moan and groan but nevertheless the old doc is living in style while you sit there posting BS on a site. Most of you probably did not even branch out far enough to buy the program before you started bashing it. I did…and it works. Sure the name may be a little misleading but most programs out there do the same. If you have not purchased the program, tried it out, then shame on yourself…I believe the old doc could get you for slander….Meanwhile for those of you who did purchase the program if it is not working for you, then be nice and pass it down to a friend who knows how to read! They can make a good living with it while you moan and groan!