Google Enters the Lead Business

***Melmunch3*** · 11-03-2009, 12:52 PM

Google has just entered the US lead business a short while ago, with their Comparison Ads for Mortgages. They have done an amazing job with the user experience and this will be quite disruptive.

Certainly, insurance is also top of their mind, while they test this. Jay Weintraub wrote a great review of Google's entry into the market. Lead Confidential Google Comparison Ads – What It Really Means I highly recommend subscribing to his blog.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 11-03-2009, 01:16 PM

The last thing I want to do is to compete against Google.

HealthGuy · 11-03-2009, 01:24 PM

What does this mean to people who have been doing their own SEO generating their own health and life leads? Potentially even worth it now? Certain doom? Google used to be so non proprietary, maybe things are changing for them as they seek to take over the world.

healthagent · 11-03-2009, 01:31 PM

Very insightful.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Originally Posted by HealthGuy

What does this mean to people who have been doing their own SEO generating their own health and life leads? Potentially even worth it now? Certain doom? Google used to be so non proprietary, maybe things are changing for them as they seek to take over the world.

I see an anti-trust suit in Google's future.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 11-03-2009, 02:01 PM

Really. I have worked hard to get to to the top of Page 1 in two states. I would hope Google doesn't take that all away.

I would think bigger fish would have a say in this.

ABC · 11-03-2009, 03:05 PM

It makes sense. Google has to continue to find streams of revenue. Lead generation make sense to me.
I would buy leads from them and abandon my own SEO campaign.
If google does it at least you know it will be done with a high level of professionalism.

healthagent · 11-03-2009, 03:06 PM

The saying is "tomorrow is promised to no one." Continue what you're doing and prepare to be flexible.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 11-03-2009, 04:35 PM

Ok...I tried to read as much as possible. I still think you will continue to get quality leads if you have a relevant website. Of course, time will tell...

While Comparison Ads is still an early-stage feature, we've focused on a number of ways to enhance the user experience:

<LI Fw6BS="0" BR5gM="0">Speed -- Comparison Ads shows targeted offers in less than a second. There are no long forms for users to fill out - Users see specific offers immediately and only need to fill in additional information if they wish to further refine their results. <LI Fw6BS="0" BR5gM="0">Transparency -- Comparison Ads only shows real products. There are no teaser rates, or bait and switch offers. Comparison Ads also standardizes the information presented to users, making it easy for them to sort and compare offers on a side by side basis.
Privacy -- Comparison Ads won't send advertisers any user information, including anonymized phone numbers, unless the user explicitly requests more information about an advertiser's offer.

At this time, Comparison Ads will only show to a small number of users in select U.S. states and is only available to a limited number of advertisers in the mortgage/refinance space. Over time, we'll increase the number of users who see Comparison Ads offers as well as the number of advertisers able to participate