Is Google Getting into the Lead Gen business? Check this

[Linda Buquet]

SearchEngineLand just broke a story about a new service Google has is Beta. Google Merchant Search. It's a comparison shopping lead gen service that currently only features loans from financial services providers. "Participating providers pay Google when someone requests a quote through this system."

I wonder how affiliates doing PPC to loan lead gen programs or Google Adwords loan advertisers are going to feel when this Merchant Search page comes up triggered by the keywords they are paying to advertise on? Isn't Google competing with the advertisers? Wonder what mortgage lead gen companies think since they do largely the same thing - offer consumers quotes from different lenders. Competition from the big G can't be good news for them.


Click for larger image - Pic by Barry Schwartz AKA Rusty Brick

Currently the service is in Beta and only offered in the UK. However with a broad name like "Google Merchant Search" I wonder if this will eventually encompass lots of other types of products???
From the Google FAQ:

"What is Google Merchant Search? - Google Merchant Search is an easy new way for you to find products or services from providers who match your needs.
How do you choose which providers to show me? Our search results are based on the criteria you provided in your request; we compare your request with our list of participating providers, and show those that are most relevant for you. Participating providers pay Google when someone requests a quote through this system."

Here's the original story at SearchEngineLand with more comprehensive coverage and screenshots.

Outing Google Merchant Search "A reader sent us an example of the new Google Merchant Search live and in the wild. What's Google Merchant Search? After a little poking around, it appears to be a new but unannounced program in beta where people can comparison shop services like loans. More..."

[PosterManiac]

Thanks for that post- just shows how much google is taking over operations on the internet these days. I feel the merchant search feature will take some time to reach maturity though, the engine can't be too accurate when specifying diverse needs

[jcorkern]

Well, I am now in the lead gen business again, and it really does not worry me. It is just one more competetor on the totem pole. And if you look at "lending tree" you know, the ones that claim that the consumer wins when banks compete? Well, a few years back, before the mortgage crunch started, I done well by countering that. I used their own slogan against them.

I pitched that when lenders compete, the consumers lose.
--------------------------------
It went something like this: When lenders compete , you lose!

Read more to find out why.

When you submit your application online to companies promoting in this method, they are in fact selling leads to multiple lenders. This is not good for the consumers for may reasons. One major reason is every time your credit is pulled , your credit score drops from something called an "inquiry". So, just 4 different lenders pulling your credit could drop you from the top tier to the next lower one, therefore disqualifying you for the BEST rate, so you, as a consumer pay more when lenders compete.

Next is that you will be harassed for months from these companies selling leads to as many people as they can, Howe many calls do you want each day?...

---------------------

So, you see, you can still outsell even google if you are smart, think outside the box and use some common sense in your field. It worked well for me.

[Linda Buquet]

Great advice as usual Jim!

The other reason not to worry... It was a little scary when Google 1st got into CPA and some worried it would kill affiliate marketing as we know it. Didn't make a dent and you never even hear about it any more. So just goes to show that G is not always successful with every program it tries out.

[ganeshjacharya]

Well, google can actually take over the entire marketing in the world one day and then instead of charging for clicks it will probably charge for leads. Well that's how life is the stronger survives.

[James Spinosa]

Google is great for analytics, etc. but I've had enough issues with customer support for adsense that I'd never trust my business model on their affiliate programs.