Service Magic Exact Match--MUST READ!

handyhands

If by chance, you're utilizing the service magic "exact match" program, here's something to be looking out for.

Go to google. Then, type in your company's name. Nothing else with it, JUST your company's name.

Look towards the right of the results page--where the "sponsored links" are.

If you're company name shows up towards the right, more than likely in the color "blue"--and you click on the link,....it drives you directly to service magic's website.

These scum are taking what could potentially be a targeted customer looking to go EXCLUSIVELY to your website,...hi-jacking that information,...selling it to other area contractors, and then selling what should have been your OWN EXCLUSIVE LEAD BACK TO YOU!!!!

And the saga continues.....

buildsmart

Does not shock me one bit...I have yet to be closed by SM sales reps.
Spend the money and run your own google ads to your website. However, a smart savy customer will try to find your website anyways and bypass the four contractors SM promises. if they really want to deal with just you.
SM promotes the lowest price. "Get the lowest price with 4 bids" Its a joke because no one will make any money bidding on price alone. A guy in North Carolina says it best. His name is Kip Charles and yet I have to date to do business with this guy but I have talked to him on the phone multiple times and he has the right idea. My business is far ahead on the web and I do not need any help. However, there are a lot of guys who do. I think his site is called www.contractorleadssuck.com
Cool Guy and he has a lot of good things to say thats for sure. If your sick of paying the Lead Generation sites then at the least check his site out.

NormW

Handy,

Same thing happened to me, but I never gave SM a dime. They never signed me, but If I type in my full name in google, service magic gets listed. Ain't that special...

I don't care, I doubt they are gonna steal my customers. But, if I was paying these dirt bags money for their leads. I'd be seriously rumpled.

I have never brought anyone to court, came close once, but as of yet, haven't done it. But, I cannot believe no one has gone after SM yet.

Question Handy... are you still paying for your leads?

handyhands

Hi Norm~

To be honest (and I truthfully hate admitting it)-We do currently obtain SOME leads from service magic.

If we weren't selling any of those leads, obviously we wouldn't continue to utilize there service...but to be honest, sure--we get some crap leads, but after weeding through the garbage we in all seriousness have a decent roi. Keep in mind, if we sell one $25,000-$30,000 sunroom, and even though it costs us $500.00 to obtain 10 leads in order to get this one sale--it still ends up worth it.

Bottom line though, it still feels disgusting to be "sleeping with the enemy."

***Also though, Norm-I understand as you stated that you are not buying leads from them,...However-being that you DON'T buy leads from them, and they STILL are linking your company name to their website, they in all seriousness could potentially be "hi-jacking" some leads that would have otherwise organically gone to your website, but are instead now going straight to them and being sold to your competitors!

NormW

SM support pm'd me about my above post. heh, at least there is one person at SM who I have some respect for... ty Shawn.

Actually I'm not plugged into the Web, as I should be, so the fact that they have me linked to their site, doesn't bother me much. If I was advertising a web site, or relying on the web for leads. I would be concerned.

To be honest, I know my competition pretty well, they don't use SM either. Maybe for some it works out. For the market I'm in, I don't think SM would be a benefit for anyone in it.

Eventually I want to get a web site going, not so much for lead generation (although that would be a bonus). More to put info out on how I like to run things. Figure I can list some "policies" there, that would be less awkward (spelling?) then having to cover it personally with some new customers.

leoacrh

Handy

Thanks for the post I googled my company and they changed one number on the phone number when I called the number it was disconnected which makes my company look like we are out of business I had a bad experience with SM too with the bogus leads now what they are doing now with my company should be against the law I am going to look into that thanks again Handy

PSMW

I have no respect for a company who claims to want to help you out, then sneaks behind your back and hijacks your google page with links and phone numbers to there bid page, misguiding and stealing potential customers. You need to have a user name and verification to edit the Google page, so it makes me wonder at what lengths SM went to, to hack into a protected home page to input their information. I canceled SM and all of a sudden my site no longer appears on google maps, which it always has. Now I can even find my company using keyword searches because I found out I was hacked and my keywords were changed.... Hmmm Coincidence? If there is a class action lawsuit against Service Magic I'd be happy to join.

Plaster Ayn

Service Majic sucks. I spent $300 on unqualified leads before I quit.

JumboJack

I used to use a really good demo/hauling contractor.I had lost his phone number so I googled his company name.Just about everything that came up was an 800 number.
It seemed odd but I called the number anyways...."Service Magic,how can I help you?"...I knew enough to not ask for him as he would have been charged for a lead.

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

BKFranks

Go to the Google local business center and add your business there yourself. It will appear on Google Maps and it's free.
https://www.google.com/accounts/Serv...in?service=lbc

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Duck042

If you've registered your company name as a federal trademark, you can complain to Google and they (should) take it down:

See their trademark policy:
adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=6118

In the U.S., we allow some ads to show with a trademark in ad text if the ad is from a reseller or from an informational site. However, if our investigation finds that the advertiser is using the trademark in the ad text in a manner which is competitive, critical, or negative, we will require the advertiser to remove the trademark and prevent them from using it in similar ad text in the future. Learn more about our

In the OP's situation, ServiceMagic is agruably competing with him. It's cheaper than hiring an attorney to send a cease & desist letter, so worth a shot in any event. If you try this, let us know how it works out.

-Duck042

Duck042

You can buy Google Adwords yourself and supplant the ServiceMagic ad. Besides, paying for Google placement is probably one of the better uses of marketing $ if you're big enough to handle the business to justify the expense.

Otherwise, there are also a lot free ways you can promote yourself so that you show up on someone's google search, Craigslist probably being one of the worst in terms of clientele.

Bottom line though, I would run the other direction screaming if any salesperson calls you to "help you market" your business for a "nominal fee."

jhutch

ServiceMagic is a great company-Just like Enron was!

If you're using them, fire them. If you are thinking about using them-STEER CLEAR

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John Hutchins/SealMasters of KC
Wood & Concrete Sealing
Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings

jhutch

I've even found directory listing around the web of my business, and a toll free number to call. I called the number a few months ago, and asked who this was, as they answered the phone like it was my business. They told me they were really ServiceMagic!

I've found more of these listings and changed the toll free number to my own number. I guess they did some work for me.

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John Hutchins/SealMasters of KC
Wood & Concrete Sealing
Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings

PSMW

Thanks for the suggestions! I will contact Google, also is it a good idea to call and harass the number under my business listing every 2 minutes until they take it off?

Duck042

Hehe! No, just take the high road and use the proper channels. I believe it would suck to have the cops show up at your door for harrassing some guy who's just subscribing to SM and didn't do the phone number redirection himself.

If they're truly making a practice out of this, eventually someone will sue them for unfair competition.

I haven't heard too many good things about SM and don't use them myself. Perhaps they're just on their way to the graveyard of failed Internet businesses like pets.com in 2000.

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"Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do." -- Ronald Reagan, 1981

Baron

You can also go to the FCC page and file a complaint to start a time line as they are bordering on fraud when they take your name and install their phone number without your permission.

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We do everything with quality and care

www.ronhoehn.com

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This is what I got in my email this morning.

Just what I want--a chance for service magic to link my company name some MORE with theirs, thus taking what should be organically coming to my own website, and then they think they're going to sell the info. back to me--as well as all of my competitors?

NO THANKS

TimberTom

This CAN'T be legal...

HomeSealed

What a joke!

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