Guantanteed #1 On Google!

That's right a Google rep calls you up, and tells you that

for "your keywords here," for a flat monthly fee. 

He goes on to say that he will guarantee it!  "You should act now because traffic is spiking for your keywords," he says. 

A guy such as this called me with such a claim recently.  He had done a little homework and listed off a couple of web sites I own.  He also rattled off some freely available keyword research (aka my important keywords available from free Google tools) to show he understood me. He then attempted to solidify trust by telling me his mom is in the same business as I am, so he understands it.  Beautiful!

The rep tells me that there are a limited # of words available that only I can have.  "You will be #1 above your competition!" he says.  It is implied that because of his relationship with Google I am getting this special opportunity.

Great I say.  Is that an Adwords ad I ask?  Pause ensues, then evasive language follows.  No, this is a sponsored link that only you can have.

He explains that there are "seven thousand hits a month for your keywords.  He has listed off several phrases.  I ask, which specific keyword is that that has seven thousand?  "Well it depends," he explains.  How much does it cost I ask?  It is $150 per month for "your keywords here" and different amounts for other keywords.  Well now I am really getting curious about this guys profit margins and how he is organizing this. 

He claims he a Google authorized agent.  That is highly doubtful I think to myself.  He finally lets slip the word..."Adwords."

The UPS truck is in my driveway and I am expecting am important package that needs to be signed for, so I cut him short after asking "Do you have a web site?"  He freely offers it to me along with a telephone number to call--his cell phone he says, making is sound special.

The FAT Profit Margin

So here's the deal.  The term that I pay this guy $150 per month for, has the following attributes according to Google keyword tool:

2,900 local (US) searches a month (exact match)

52 Estimated Impressions

1 Estimated Click

So he makes about $149.28 per month (estimated).  Nice! 

Closer to reality...
I happen to know that the keyword does a little better than this in reality.  I get 16 average human visits per day for that term in #2 position "with quotes" on Google Analytics," for a site he did not spot as mine.  Based on that, he makes $138.48 per month off of that keyword.  Ok, you might say, you are still not number 1.  He promised #1.  Fair enough.  The #1 position gets more traffic than #2. Sometimes as much as two or three times that traffic.

My plan is to save that $150 a month and put it toward building more quality links, including paid directory listings.  With that kind of money, I can get myself some nice exposure.