[Rob Hall]

Rob, the listings you are talking about are 'organic' listings, they get there because the websites content matches what the searcher is looking for (or at least what Google thinks the searcher is looking for). Sites like Tiledoctor which probably have dozens of other sites linking to it have more 'authority' than a site Joe Bloggs might knock up, so they get placed higher.

There are ways to get your organic listing higher (this is what is meant by SEO - Search Engine Optimisation), by manipulating the text on your site to match what might be searched for, as well as getting bigger sites to link back to yours. This is a bit of a minefield though, as Google is always changing the parameters that it uses to measure a sites 'authority'

However, if you search for "Tile cleaning [some random town name]", you might find that the results change, and you get smaller companies with more 'authority' because their service is closer related to what the searcher is looking for.

Google 'paid for' searches (Adwords, or PPC - Pay Per Click) is a good alternative, as you'll always feature on Page 1, regardless of your content (provided your budget is big enough).

Setting up an Adwords campaign is not something that I can guide you through on the forum, as it would take a few hours to get a decent campaign up and running.

There are books you can buy here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_sabc?url=search-alias%3Daps&pageMinusResults=1&suo=1356782371532#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=adwords&sprefix=adwor%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aadwords

The Brad Geddes "Advanced Google Adwords" is a good book, but it's probably worth spending a bit of time playing with setting up a campaign before you start reading, otherwise you'll be a bit baffled as to what is being talked about.

I recently re-jigged my campaign, and have cut my adwords spend from £150/month to under £40 - without losing any 'clicks'. As a guide, from 1st December til today I have had 45 Adwords clicks, at a cost of £32.69.

Thanks Ash
In your opinion, is it worth the £32.69?
Do you appear on the first page in your area?
Will you get a job(s) from it?
Did you get work after spending £150/month?

Do I contact google about SEO?
Do you use google?

Questions questions....!! Sorry.

Does anyone else do the same?

[AshWhite]

Yes it's worth the £32. It was worth the £160 when I was spending that, now it's just even more profitable. The return of Adwords is approx. 10x (sometimes higher, sometimes lower of course).

Google won't help you with SEO, there are companies out there who specialise in it, but there is a lot of snake oil out there - a lot of people got caught out with the recent Google algorithm change and their pages spiralled from page 1 to page 20+ (i.e. might as well not exist at all).

Of course, with Adwords, the SEO is irrelevant (although relevant content on your site will place your ad higher in the sponsored section, as well as make the cost per click less).

I would imagine that 50% of carpet/hard floor cleaners use some sort of PPC for advertising, it's the most effective and consistent for me.

I am in the process of becoming authorised by Google to resell Adwords services. If you want details, drop me a message to ashley@floors2show.co.uk and I'll fill you in.

[Rob Hall]

Yes it's worth the £32. It was worth the £160 when I was spending that, now it's just even more profitable. The return of Adwords is approx. 10x (sometimes higher, sometimes lower of course).

Google won't help you with SEO, there are companies out there who specialise in it, but there is a lot of snake oil out there - a lot of people got caught out with the recent Google algorithm change and their pages spiralled from page 1 to page 20+ (i.e. might as well not exist at all).

Of course, with Adwords, the SEO is irrelevant (although relevant content on your site will place your ad higher in the sponsored section, as well as make the cost per click less).

I would imagine that 50% of carpet/hard floor cleaners use some sort of PPC for advertising, it's the most effective and consistent for me.

I am in the process of becoming authorised by Google to resell Adwords services. If you want details, drop me a message to ashley@floors2show.co.uk and I'll fill you in.

Thanks for that Ash, I will drop you a message.
I am having a new site done as we 'speak' I will ask what they do for getting the site noticed.

So, SEO has nothing to do with Google Adwords, but I will need an SEO. Really, I suppose I need both, but 2 different companies do it.

Does anyone else who has been involved with this thread use the same idea for advertising, with similar results?

[Billy Russell]

Hi Rob,

Unlike Ash, i haven't got a clue what so ever about seo and ad words etc etc, but i can clean carpets, so i stick to what i know best and pay someone to do what they know best, seo, websites blah blah blah! 

I use this guy http://www.alloymarketing.co.uk/

gives me really good results, and is very competitive on price

[Rob Hall]

Hi Rob,

Unlike Ash, i haven't got a clue what so ever about seo and ad words etc etc, but i can clean carpets, so i stick to what i know best and pay someone to do what they know best, seo, websites blah blah blah! 

I use this guy http://www.alloymarketing.co.uk/

gives me really good results, and is very competitive on price

Thanks for your VERY honest post Billy

What do you consider competitive?

£30-£50?
£50-£100
£100+ ?

...and for how many leads?

[Rob Hall]

To All the Contributors and readers of this thread.

I need your assistance PLEASE.

Up until yesterday, I WAS the WEST YORKSHIRE TILE DOCTOR.

Russ, the owner of Tile Doctor has decided to terminate my contract with The Tile Doctor company, due to THIS THREAD.

Apparently, according to a message left on my mobile by Russ, I have been trying to recruit other TILE DOCTORS on this thread.
I have looked through this thread and nowhere does it say..."Wanted, TILE DOCTORS to work for me"
In fact POST NUMBER 32 actually says that I DO NOT want to employ anyone.

Am I missing something?
Have I given any Tile Doctors (or anyone else for that matter) the impression that I want you to work for me?

Do any of the readers/contributors to this thread understand the reason why I started this thread?
The title of this thread is "The Best Place to Advertise"
It does not say Attention Tile Doctors....Come and work for me"

 

Russ, I have tried to phone you, I have text you, I have emailed you, I have emailed Jeremy....you still have not explained why you think I am trying to recruit YOUR Tile Doctors??
Maybe you can explain HERE....
I am not really one for Dirty Washing in Public, but you give me no option as I have tried so many times to contact you without ANY reply or reason.

[AshWhite]

Just spend the money on adwords and advertise your own company individually.

[Rob Hall]

Just spend the money on adwords and advertise your own company individually.

Thank You ASH
Do you understand what I was TRYING to acheive, or have I given the wrong impression?

I am going to do what you suggest, I am in the process of a new website and will spend the money on optomising my own website.

[SteveAllan]

Hi Rob
Just do as Ash says and get on Adwords. I assume you have a database with your previous customers you have done work for that you got as a tile doctor, get on the phone to them send them a letter whatever to let them know your still about for ongoing work and referrals.
Having said all that I'm not surprised Russell had taken this action, you kind of undermined what he is doing with this thread, I'm not taking his side just an outsider looking in.
Chin up mate you don't need him onwards and upwards.

[Kev Martin]

Rob

Don't take his actions to heart.  In addition you could reclaim all the fees you paid to Tile Doctor as well.  Because he has terminated your contract and technically you have done nothing wrong.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tilinglogistics

[SteveAllan]

Alright Kev, are you in office Monday, I need some bits and bobs.

[Kev Martin]

Alright Kev, are you in office Monday, I need some bits and bobs.

In office as usual 8.30am on.  Tony is on holiday this week. 

Kev Martin
Marblelife ltd
Tiling Logistics

[Rob Hall]

Hi Rob
Just do as Ash says and get on Adwords. I assume you have a database with your previous customers you have done work for that you got as a tile doctor, get on the phone to them send them a letter whatever to let them know your still about for ongoing work and referrals.
Having said all that I'm not surprised Russell had taken this action, you kind of undermined what he is doing with this thread, I'm not taking his side just an outsider looking in.
Chin up mate you don't need him onwards and upwards.

Cheers Steve. I know what you mean, but my point is, I never asked anyone to come and work for me. He doesnt seem to understand what I was trying to do.

[Rob Hall]

Rob

Don't take his actions to heart.  In addition you could reclaim all the fees you paid to Tile Doctor as well.  Because he has terminated your contract and technically you have done nothing wrong.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tilinglogistics

Cheers Kevin. That has crossed my mind too, I can see it getting ugly!

[Rob Hall]

Funny isn't it though, another day goes by and no explanation from Russ.
Come on Russ, at least have the decency to contact me, point out the bit where I was trying to employ Tile Doctors!!
I think you will find that there has been no such attempt.

[Kev Martin]

Rob

Don't take his actions to heart.  In addition you could reclaim all the fees you paid to Tile Doctor as well.  Because he has terminated your contract and technically you have done nothing wrong.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tilinglogistics

Cheers Kevin. That has crossed my mind too, I can see it getting ugly!

Rob

Nothing Ugly about it!  He takes money for leads then terminates that agreement for no reason???  Money Back!!!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

[Rob Hall]

Rob

Don't take his actions to heart.  In addition you could reclaim all the fees you paid to Tile Doctor as well.  Because he has terminated your contract and technically you have done nothing wrong.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tilinglogistics

Cheers Kevin. That has crossed my mind too, I can see it getting ugly!

Rob

Nothing Ugly about it!  He takes money for leads then terminates that agreement for no reason???  Money Back!!!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

I totally agree Kevin, it costs a lot of money to be part of the set up.
Training is around £295,I seem to remember, then you have to buy the order forms, which I thought was a little strange, I am sure they were a few hundred pounds, then, I was asked to pay £85+vat/month to optimise 'my website'. The website is a page on the Tile Doctor website. This is where I got a bit fed up with shelling out loads of money for very little return, it just does not make good business sense. This is when I opened THIS thread on here to see what others were doing with their advertising budget.

Kevin, please can I ask you, does this thread suggest to you that I am trying to employ any Tile Doctors (as Russ puts it) and I have been accused of "collaborating" with his competitors....? Who? Which competitor? I have given him the chance to explain, but has choosen to ignore me. Why?

Come on Russ....have the decency to explain, after all, I spent a lot of money with you and I think you owe me an explanation.

[Kev Martin]

Rob

Don't take his actions to heart.  In addition you could reclaim all the fees you paid to Tile Doctor as well.  Because he has terminated your contract and technically you have done nothing wrong.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tilinglogistics

Cheers Kevin. That has crossed my mind too, I can see it getting ugly!

Rob

Nothing Ugly about it!  He takes money for leads then terminates that agreement for no reason???  Money Back!!!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

I totally agree Kevin, it costs a lot of money to be part of the set up.
Training is around £295,I seem to remember, then you have to buy the order forms, which I thought was a little strange, I am sure they were a few hundred pounds, then, I was asked to pay £85+vat/month to optimise 'my website'. The website is a page on the Tile Doctor website. This is where I got a bit fed up with shelling out loads of money for very little return, it just does not make good business sense. This is when I opened THIS thread on here to see what others were doing with their advertising budget.

Kevin, please can I ask you, does this thread suggest to you that I am trying to employ any Tile Doctors (as Russ puts it) and I have been accused of "collaborating" with his competitors....? Who? Which competitor? I have given him the chance to explain, but has choosen to ignore me. Why?

Come on Russ....have the decency to explain, after all, I spent a lot of money with you and I think you owe me an explanation.

Rob

I have to very careful here!  I do not want to appear to be exploiting this thread for my own gains!  Tile Doctor used to re bottle Aqua Mix Products and sell them as their own.  When Aqua Mix pulled out of the UK in November 2009 and I purchased the remains of the Liverpool Warehouse stock that meant he could not get anymore Aqua Mix Product.  He then resorted to other companies to replace the product!  The decision to change the products has been noticed from a performance point of view by a lot of people who have done his course.  Since the advent of us being appointed under contract as the new sole importer of Aqua Mix into the UK & Europe under that agreement the resale of Aqua Mix under any other name has been stopped by the owners of the product.  Which means he could sell the product again but could not re lable it!  I have never stopped or refused Russell from having the Aqua Mix Product but neither has he approached me.  I also think it is unlikely that he would do!!!

Ultimately he has read the the thread or been directed to it by someone!  I have reread the whole thread and see no direct competition or anything directed at Tile Doctor, however, I also feel it is unlikely he will answer you on an open Forum.  He clearly dislikes me intensly, after all he sees me as direct competition and therefore sees me as a threat.  On the reverse I do not see him as a threat to my business at all.   I imagine and I am only summising here that he sees the collaboration with competitors he mentions to you as me probably,  although this is clearly not true.

Personally if I were you I would just forget the whole thing and concentrate on your own business but the decision has to be yours!

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics

[SteveAllan]

Rob
I assume from his point of view he is peeved that you explained on here that you felt your 80 odd quid a month was not good value. He is running it like a kind of franchise and in his opinion you have other motives.
Don't worry about it, you don't need him, spend your £80 a month on your own website. Get your Aquamix from Kev. I've never understood these networks as you have pointed out his customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

[Rob Hall]

Rob
I assume from his point of view he is peeved that you explained on here that you felt your 80 odd quid a month was not good value. He is running it like a kind of franchise and in his opinion you have other motives.
Don't worry about it, you don't need him, spend your £80 a month on your own website. Get your Aquamix from Kev. I've never understood these networks as you have pointed out his customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

Thank You Steve. I do intend to spend the £80 on my own website and even under the circumstances, I still have no intention of trying to employ a Tile Doctor, I think ANYONE would say that £80 a month is better spent on their OWN website NOT someone elses. I am very dissapointed with Russ that he has not explaind how and why he has drawn his conclusion.
Oh well...onwards and upwards eh?