Does Google Adwords Penalize For Squeeze Pages?

[LifeinVegas]

I recently bought a WSO called "Local Search Crusher". One of the strategies it teaches you is to build a landing page for your Adwords clients so you can improve conversion ratios with a more targeted offer and landing page.

Here is the example they suggest you use -



Roger says in the video module quote, "that this is what a great landing page looks like".

I asked them if Google would penalize my client if I used a squeeze page like this.

The reply I got was: "We are not teaching use as squeeze page only,
Roger talks about using a word press site with a squeeze/ optin added,
as your site will have content , and rank better".

This is the only example Roger gives, and it looks pretty much like a squeeze page to me.

I like the looks of this page, and I like the idea Barry and Roger have presented. I would like to go out and start crushing it! However, I asked them to be a bit more specific as far as what to do and what not to do with a landing page so as not to be penalized by Google, and have not received a response.

Since I am fairly new, I was hoping that someone with a bit more experience could take a look at this and let me know if I could get a client banned from Adwords by using a system like this?

Has anyone else bought this WSO? Does anyone else have the same concerns, or am I just missing something here? (A very good possibility)

Barry and Roger are not answering any questions on the WSO thread either, maybe because it's closed.

[Lucid]

To me, that's a squeeze page too. I think Adwords would consider it a squeeze page as well.

Originally Posted by LifeinVegas

"We are not teaching use as squeeze page only,
Roger talks about using a word press site with a squeeze/ optin added,
as your site will have content , and rank better".

Basically correct what he says. The "squeeze" is the optin for something the visitor may find of value, in this case, a 50% coupon. But it shouldn't be the ONLY thing on the page or even the focus. A squeeze page to me is a page where it says not much else but "give us your email, we'll send you something" without really telling you what that something is.

Kind of iffy in the picture you show. I'm guessing that big white box would be actual text, content. The opt-in is clear. In that case, it might pass. A few more examples may explain it a lot better. As you mention, the goal is conversions at lowest possible cost.

Try it and see what happens. You won't get banned from Adwords, unless you keep doing the same mistakes. You just will have your ads suspended until you fix the issue.

[paulgl]

It's not about a squeeze page. It's about harvesting emails.

If you harvest emails and phone numbers like that, I
can't see how that would fly.

I don't believe you can get an email address in exchange
for something free. The 50% off coupon is a free item.

Telling someone you get something free in exchange for
an email is against adwords TOS.

You can harvest personal info, but you need to explain
more than that page has.

That's a very crappy page to try and spin on adwords.

You also must do the following:
Describe what personal information is collected.
Describe how this information will be used by the company.
Describe how this information will be transferred to third party companies.
Provide instructions on how users can modify or delete their personal information.
Provide instructions on how users can opt-out of future communications.


Paul

[LifeinVegas]

Yes that was my concern, considering I'm not that familiar with the TOS for AdWords. The WSO suggests using OptimizePress to create this type of landing page.

Then they suggest charging the client $997 per month for hosting the landing page and managing the campaign, then the client just has to pay the additional costs of the ppc campaign to Google.

Do you think this would be a competitive price for this service?
I'm asking people who are now managing Adwords campaigns for clients.

[Lucid]

The specific page of the TOS concerning information collecting says you can't offer free gifts in exchange for information as Paul said. Now, the question really is, would that coupon be considered a free gift? Paul says yes, I'm not 100% sure although I would tend to agree more than disagree. But as the page we can see does not provide more information on how that information will be used, there is an extremely high risk that page would not pass.

BTW, what you use to create the page has no bearing. Use whatever software you're comfortable with.

Clients will pay whatever they feel gives them value for their money. I don't think too many would pay that much for this but there are some out there who will, especially if you make them that many times over in profit.

[paulgl]

Are you just interested in local searches?
Are you aware of Adwords Express?
Google AdWords Express

It's geared for local and easier to manage than
a broad search-based ad campaign.

You still need people to click on the ad. That's where
ad copy comes in, not necessarily the landing page.

And I do believe google actually auto-manages the account.
If you are already listed in some directory, it is really easy.
If your business has a google+ page, you can actually
direct people there. That way you don't need to worry about
a landing page.

This Adwords Express is just one more gem that google has
come up with. I don't know how they do it.

On the flip side, it can be worth it to pay $1,000 a month if
they generate thousands of dollars for you. That would
mean taking a $1,000 gamble to see what one month gets
you.

Paul