Google Ads - Be Warned

aludcov

If you are a new business and take the advertised spend £400, get £400 free Google credit, be warned! 

I recently invested in Google ads because of the promotion, under the impression that I would spend £400, and get £400 back. After much chasing, they informed me that a promo code needs to be applied when you first open an account, and the ad is uploaded - small catch, they don't actually sent you a promo code! 

It's a shame, because Google basically have the monopoly on the success of web based businesses reach because of ads, you have very little rights, or wriggle room for support. I would recommend all to take heed before spending large amounts of money advertising with Google, and look at other avenues for spending your limited small business budgets early on.

Bradden

If you have evidence of this issue I suggest you complain to the ASA. If it's an online promotion it should fall under their remit. In my opinion they are one of the more efficient public services.

coffeehound

Comiserations.  It sounds glib, but it really is necesssary to read the smallpriint first with these offers; I fell foul of a similar one with another company last year due to creating an account first.  Here's the terms anyway

Terms and conditions for this offer:

1. Offer available only while supplies last (limited availability).
2. Offer available only to advertisers which are new to Google Ads, with a billing address in United Kingdom. One promotional offer per advertiser.
3. To activate this offer: Click on the button or link associated with this offer for it to be automatically applied to your first Google Ads account. The promotional offer must be applied to your first Google Ads account within 14 days of your first ad impression being served.
4. The promotional offer will only be applied to your account if a payment profile and a valid payment method is added during the initial signup process.
5. To earn the Google Ads credit: After the promotional offer is applied to your Google Ads account, your advertising campaigns must accrue costs of at least £400 (excluding any taxes or applicable fees) within 60 days. Making a payment of £400 is not sufficient. The tracking of advertising costs towards £400 begins after the promotional offer is applied.
6. Once step 5 is completed, provided all eligibility checks are met, the credit will typically be applied within 35 days to the Billing Summary of your Google Ads account.
7. The credit expires 60 days after it is applied to your account.
8. Credit applies to future advertising costs only. Credit cannot be applied to costs accrued before the promotional offer was applied to your Google Ads account.
9. You won’t receive a notification once credit in your Google Ads account is used up and any additional advertising costs will be charged to your form of payment. If you don’t want to continue advertising, you can pause or delete your campaigns at any time.
10. Your account must be successfully billed by Google Ads and remain in good standing in order to remain eligible to use the credit.
11. Google Ads reserves the right to remove the promotional offer from your account if a payment fails, an offer was mistakenly applied, you breach these terms or your account otherwise falls out of good standing. In such cases, if the promotional credit has already been granted, Google Ads reserves the right to nullify that credit.
12. Full terms and conditions can be found here: https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/ads/coupons/terms/

RizwanKhan

It's definitely disappointing when promotions don't work out as expected. Thank you for sharing your cautionary tale, it's important for other businesses to be aware of potential pitfalls. Exploring different advertising avenues could indeed offer more flexibility and better results for small business budgets. Wishing you better luck with your future marketing endeavors!

seatbeltnoob

They are really.!!!!!! with coupons. Been in business for 11 years now. Had one 75 free credit when I opened. Despite given them thousands every years..it's my biggest expense. I never ever got a thank you. Christmas present through thr post, voucher or anything.

You will never ever get a coupon again. You might receive a coupon through thrbpoat occasionally when you move addresses or something. But when you try to use it, it will say new customers only

aludcov

@coffeehound
I agree, but the terms and conditions are so well hidden though when you first sign up makes it almost impossible to follow. I think what's more frustrating is they rang me constantly trying to market their services, suggesting I up my bid and money spend, but would not support me when requested. I would avoid google ads at all cost going forward