WHATSWHAT.ie

AN UPDATE ON OUR PREVIOUS MAILSHOT - AGAIN IT'S IMPORTANT AND ONLY SHORT SO PLEASE READ
 
This is further to our last mailshot regarding a UK company inferring they are Google and targeting our directory promising first page listings on Google.
 

We have had a huge response to our previous mailshot - over 100 companies have contacted us already saying they have been called by this company and a few others.  Thank you so much for taking the time to email or phone us with the information.
 

Whatswhat.ie are very frustrated with this situation as we feel it is a misrepresentation to Irish businesses
 

Google are investigating this further and we have received the following response which they have allowed us to copy here:-
 

Hi Barbara & Sian,

Thanks for the complaint and we can understand your frustration.  It's been forwarded to the appropriate team, which will investigate.

Essentially, it's up to advertisers to work with agencies they trust. MatchMaker Marketing and Sphere Marketing have no affiliation with Google.

Advertisers can buy AdWords directly at adwords.google.ie, or they can buy a fully-managed fixed-price AdWords package from Yodel.ie who are an authorised Google reseller.

Kind Regards,

Google Europe
 
 
Whatswhat.ie will not let this matter drop until it is stopped.  We do not condone this type of business behaviour.
 

Any more information would be much appreciated. 
 
Regards
 
Barbara & Sian
01 286 5787 & 024 86934

Online directory issues ‘Google rogues’ warning to Irish small businesses

It has recently come to the attention of Irish online business directory, www.whatswhat.ie, that a UK company is aggressively targeting Irish SMEs by falsely offering them improved Google search results.

Over the past week, hundreds of customers of the online directory www.whatswhat.ie have been contacted by this company claiming to be working on Google’s behalf.

They are claiming that by handing over their credit card details, Irish companies can jump ahead in Google search results within 48 hours.

Having been alerted to the situation by www.whatswhat.ie, Google have confirmed this company’s claims are completely false.  Google Uk and Ireland have responded with the following statement “We’re extremely concerned to learn of companies without affiliation to Google using our name to mislead or mistreat small businesses who want to advertise online.  Our legal team investigates such abuses and we continue to work with the relevant authorities to combat the problems caused. We always urge businesses in the UK and Ireland to work only with agencies they know and trust. We have established a programme of Authorised Google AdWords Resellers whom businesses can trust to manage their advertising on Google. Alternatively, they can do this directly with us at adwords.google.com." 

Barbara Gordon, Managing Director of www.whatswhat.ie is warning Irish businesses to be vigilant “we are currently inundated with emails and calls from small Irish businesses who have paid this company over the odds to increase their websites visibility and ranking on Google.  Along with misleading consumers into to thinking they are working on behalf of a Google division, we believe they are also claiming to be affiliated to www.whatswhat.ie.  We would like to confirm that www.whatswhat.ie have no connection with this or any other UK marketing company.”