“Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords” – More Like “Ultimate Guide to Buy More Ultimate Guides from Perry Marshall”

If you’re getting into affiliate marketing you’re no doubt looking for a good book.  You’re wanting a book that explains the ins and outs of Google Adwords, how to write compelling ad copy, how to create well-crafted landing pages as well as how to do market research before you sink hundreds of dollars into a useless campaign. (If not, you should be)

Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords should not be one of those books.  Don’t get me wrong: the book has some good points.  I thought it was laid out pretty well.  It goes over the basics of creating a campaign, organizing ad groups, finding keywords and looking at quality score.  Of course, it talks about split testing and how to constantly refine your advertisements so that you can increase your click-through rate (CTR). I even liked the idea of using Cosmopolitan Magazine as a reference to writing compelling headlines (I didn’t say it worked – I just said I liked it).

This is what I didn’t like about the book: the $110 in free bonuses you get – forget about it.  Here’s how this BS works: go to the URL www.perrymarshall.com/bookbonus and fill in the form field.  After answering the question to make sure you bought the book, you are directed to this page:

Perry Marshall Book Bonus

Now, amongst the “free bonuses” you get are:

• a $25 AdWords coupon (which I knew I wasn’t elligible for as I’ve already been using my AdWords account);
• “a ’swipe file’ of winning Google AdWords ads”;
• “Personality Marketing” PDF;
• links to get register domains, shopping carts, blah blah blah;
• “Scientific Advertising” by Claude Hopkins;
• MP3 seminars;
• Full contents of John Carlton interview;
• FREE keyword research tools;
• roundup of paid keyword research tools with pros and cons;
• special report on using AdWords to get clients.

Now, let me tell you what you actually get:

• “Personality Marketing” PDF;
• links;
• “Scientific Advertising”;
• MP3 seminars (which, from what I’ve heard so far are – eh – ok);
• John Carlton Interview which is nothing but an hour-long sales pitch into another product they’re selling;

If you’re really excited about getting the AdWords voucher, forget it.  The “swipe file”? Someone must’ve swiped it from his website.  Links to domain registrants and resources for all of this?  Just not there.

Let me tell you what is there: the “roundup” of paid keyword research tools with pros and cons.  Perry Marshall lists the following conversion and tracking-tool software:

• Hypertrack.net
• 1shoppingcart
• Visitorville

All the “software” he gives pretty good reviews.  And, frankly, I’d sure as hell hope so: he owns the domains!

What about the “Free” keyword research tools?  Well, good luck finding that, either.  Instead there are two frequent messages that you will see inside Perry Marshall’s website.  The first and, by far, most frequent is:

You do not have access to this product, but you can upgrade right away!

The other is to some landing page on some new AdWords tool he’s selling.

This book is nothing but one giant sales pitch that is clearly designed to funnel customers into his service.  You know what, Mr. Marshall?  I shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get the info you promised me when I bought the freaking book.  If you had any common sense you would understand by misleading customers and making them bounce from one place to the next to find what they’re looking for will only piss them off.

Let me tell you the #1 rule in online advertising: don’t make the customer wait.  When you write an advertisement, you take them to the most relevant page.   Four percent of your incoming traffic, at best, will read through all the crap you load onto landing pages.  If you make them have to click another link to buy your product, what makes you think they will?  You think your stuff is that good?  I got news for you (and this is common sense throughout most of the advertising community): only 3 or 4% of those original 4% will click a second link.

But, that is precisely what Perry Marshall does.  Make no mistake, this book is being returned to Barnes and Noble.  Honestly, I did not learn a single damn thing from his book that I haven’t already read hundreds of times through various blogs.  And, why in the hell do I want to contribute to this idiot’s ego by giving him even a tenth of a percent of revenue from me buying this book?

One more thing: who else’s name is slapped on this book?  Entrepreneur Magazine – right there in the top right.  So, Entrepreneur Magazine, how much is your cut for promoting this crap?

NOTE: I emailed Perry Marshall’s website support Wednesday and have yet to hear back in regards to my complaints as of Saturday AM (7AM CST).  Unfortunately, the “Help” link on his site, visible in the screenshot, is under construction.  Way to be prepared, Perry!

NOTE 2: I’ll share this, if you want to see what I’m referring to, visit the book bonus site I link to above.  Go to Google’s Book Search and look up the book and you’ll have your answer to the question.  Then you can see what I’m referring to.  You will have to register.  And, be forewarned, I get nothing but commercial crap from Perry because of this.