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Deceptive ad with my name: what would you do?

by marciayudkin
8 replies
Just happened to put my name in Google just now and found the following Adwords ad pop up:

Truth On Marcia Yudkin
I sent back and got a refund from
Marcia Yudkin But This One Works
[[url here]]

I looked to see who was the jerk behind this, and searched my database for someone who'd ordered anything from me with that name. Of course, he wasn't there as a purchaser, let alone as someone who got a refund. This guy cannot prove the truth of what he's claiming.

What would you do? Is this against Google's terms of service? I'm thinking I'd rather have Google punish him than contact the guy directly, because then he'd just buy something expensive from me and return it to show he was telling the truth.

On the other hand, I'd sure like to tell this guy how scummy that tactic is.

Your thoughts?

Marcia Yudkin
#deceptive
  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Riley
    Marcia

    Check the target page for that ad. Most likely you'll find that it's somebody promoting your product. There are a number of Google Ads out there with "Kevin Riley a scam?" and "Product Creation Labs a scam?". When I look at those, it's one of my older products on ClickBank. Some CB affiliate has set them up and they send me a small stream of sales. No problem.



    Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

    Just happened to put my name in Google just now and found the following Adwords ad pop up:

    Truth On Marcia Yudkin
    I sent back and got a refund from
    Marcia Yudkin But This One Works
    [[url here]]

    I looked to see who was the jerk behind this, and searched my database for someone who'd ordered anything from me with that name. Of course, he wasn't there as a purchaser, let alone as someone who got a refund. This guy cannot prove the truth of what he's claiming.

    What would you do? Is this against Google's terms of service? I'm thinking I'd rather have Google punish him than contact the guy directly, because then he'd just buy something expensive from me and return it to show he was telling the truth.

    On the other hand, I'd sure like to tell this guy how scummy that tactic is.

    Your thoughts?

    Marcia Yudkin
    Signature
    Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan

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  • Profile picture of the author Okane
    It's called "keyword insertion"...

    Google says...

    "Keyword insertion is an advanced feature that can help make your ad more relevant to a diverse audience. To use keyword insertion, you place a short piece of code into your ad text. Each time the ad shows, AdWords will automatically replace the code with the keyword that triggered the ad."

    Sometimes, this can have funny results, like in your case.

    EDIT: Hmmm... seems, in your case someone really used your name in the add (and not the keyword insertion)


    Marc
    Signature

    signature is on holiday

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  • Profile picture of the author WealthWithin
    Probably directly going to Google will be the best idea.

    I think this is some sort of 'defamation'-ish.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Check the target page for that ad. Most likely you'll find that it's somebody promoting your product. There are a number of Google Ads out there with "Kevin Riley a scam?" and "Product Creation Labs a scam?". When I look at those, it's one of my older products on ClickBank. Some CB affiliate has set them up and they send me a small stream of sales. No problem.
      Nope, it is absolutely not someone promoting my product. It is someone disparaging my name, spreading false implications and trading on my name for their own profit.

      I've been checking the Google terms of service and will complain on the basis that this is false and deceptive advertising.

      Marcia Yudkin
      Signature
      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    Marcia,

    It might be par for the course to have this happen, but actually congratulations are in order now that you moved up in rank (in sort of a twisted way) and people are acknowledging your IM status (although negatively)

    Best,

    Justin
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Ames
    That affiliate or website is doing the same for a bunch of keywords like:

    Russell Brunson
    Mark Warren
    Dave Espino
    John Commuta

    etc.

    Pretty common. They want to drive traffic based on a well known name. Mike Filsaime had battled this a few years back. I don't know what the outcome was.
    Signature

    Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. -Winston Churchill

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  • Profile picture of the author charlesburke
    Lodge a class action Google complaint? I've always heard that all publicity is good publicity, but I never believed it. Now more than ever...

    Cheers from warm and smiling Thailand,
    Charles
    Signature
    MisterEbook.com
    Special offer for all Warrior authors... MisterEbook.com/warriorsonly.html
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      That affiliate or website is doing the same for a bunch of keywords like:

      etc.

      Pretty common. They want to drive traffic based on a well known name.
      You're right. And it wouldn't bother me as much if it was done in a way that's not deceptive and disparaging.

      Marcia Yudkin
      Signature
      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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