Google Ads Billing Practice

frugalftw on 30/12/2022 - 18:10

Hi People,

I've been hit with a few invoices from Google Ads lately. I find it somewhat scammy that the emails never disclose the amount, and it requires logging into the backend and clicking a few times to download the pdf to find out. I finally logged in to check out the charges today, and they have been going up for no apparent reason. Last April, the invoice was about $10, says 26 clicks. This November, the invoice was $96, says 53 clicks. I could not find any customer service to do anything about it from Google's end either.

It does not feel legal to me, does anyone know if there are laws about it? It's worse than any of the difficult to opt-out email campaigns I'd encountered so far, and I'm pretty sure that is illegal, on top of the super vague charges.

Computing

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 30/12/2022 - 18:16
    +1

    Hi Person,

    Are you expecting these invoices? Ie. Do you actively advertise with google?

    Regards
    Just and internet random person.

    • frugalftw on 30/12/2022 - 21:08

      Lol yes I am, kinda set it up and forgot about it over a year ago tho.

  • spackbace on 30/12/2022 - 18:19

    Business puts prices up, seems to be scammy…

    Ok, well there's the vast majority of businesses this year

    • frugalftw on 30/12/2022 - 21:27

      Have a good new year.

  • Benoffie on 30/12/2022 - 18:42
    +3

    Google provides full reports in your Google Analytics account that should explain your click through costs etc. Without knowing your SEO and adwords, that cost per click seems excessive (jump from 38c per click through to $1.81)

    If it were me, Id spend some time looking at my SEO and adwords and tracking what changed.

    Often, businesses place adwords in for themselves when the SEO is getting them the click throughs anyway.

    For example, search Bunnings. Youll note that there's a Bunnings ad then the Bunnings link. Bunnings can afford to be stupid and justify the expenditure on the adword 'Bunnings'.

    But considering almost 40% of Australians use adblockers, and id suggest almost 100% of people searching for Bunnings type in Bunnings not 'big green hardware store', it's a waste of money. And Google charge substantially more for it as it is preferentially placed in the search.

    If you have a business where people are likely to search for you in roundabout terms, pumping more into SEO is the key. But again, without specifics Im just generalising.

    Also, if you haven't yet, claim your business on Google. Usually will get a $600 advertising credit from that

    • frugalftw on 30/12/2022 - 21:26

      Thank you for the write up.

      I’ve changed the ads around this April and haven’t touched it since. Haven’t been invoiced until around September. When looking into the invoices, it looks like the numbers have jumped up for some reason. Granted I’d spent a week or two trying to fix a Google Map mishap, they still haven’t fixed it. Wonder if that’s what you were referring to, for the exact word search. (I had to search for it because it’s not showing on the map. It seems Google Maps can’t distinguish different suits in the same arcade. )

      Ironically all the leads generated from the internet has been rather dead, no-shows. So I’ve not been investing time into it. World of mouth has been magnitudes better and allows me to give the referring clients better service (extra time for free).

      I’ll see if I want to have anything further to do with Google Ads to make that potential $600 worthwhile. I really don’t see how their practice is justified for a service provider.

      • Benoffie on 30/12/2022 - 21:49

        Sounds like SEO might be better. Also assuming from your reply that youve claimed your business.

        Might be worth pumping more into Meta if you have a FB page and, depending on the business, moving into IG (if not already). Meta rewards businesses who advertise with more credits. The trick is to target the ads and timing wisely to avoid overspending but still generate $5 ad credits frequently enough.

        If nothing else, encourage clients to leave positive google reviews against your claimed business. Totally free and likely to drive future leads.

        • frugalftw on 30/12/2022 - 22:38

          Well, it’s a personal service business, so I can’t scale except when I teach classes, that’s when I played with FB ads. They tend to over-report impressions and whatnot, but there’s a level of transparency I don’t ‘feel’ like I’m getting with Google.

          Advertising feels like a PTW game overall, takes a bit of effort to gather data and tweak the parameters, not sure if it’s worth my time.

          I have issues asking clients to leave reviews lol I mean, if they are bringing their friends and family already, it feels like too much to ask, even though they brought them in for their benefit, not mine. I even have issues asking if they wanted to book in for the next appointment lol Lots of feral clients showing up once every few months 😅 Had someone came back today a year later. I’m working on my problems 🤨

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