Advertising on Google

Have you ever wondered how IFAP and other IFAs get those "Sponsored Links" right at the top and down the right hand side of Google.

Well its simple - they use Google Adwords!

Anyone can apply and all IFAs certainly should. Imagine what just an extra hundred highly targetted visitors to your web-site might do for your earnings. Remember 8 out of 10 people looking for an IFA are looking on the Internet first (source IFAP). if you not getting any of them then your competitors are.

You can apply via the banner advert for Google Adwords at the top right hand side of this page.

If you need further help, there is a great e-book called Adsense Secrets. For further information on Adsense Secrets and how to boost your traffic from Google just Click Here!

Fantastic Marketing Resource for IFAs

Not necessarily Google related but I recently discovered a fantastic new marketing resource for IFAs. The IFA LIFE Business Development Forum for IFAs & Mortgage Brokers.

It offers lots of great discussions and information for IFAs interested in marketing and ideas in general.

Its easy to sign up for and makes a great read. Its far more than the "usual" IFA forums which I have always found to be full of moaners and (rather) silly "tit for tat" arguments.

The two guys running the forum seem to be making a great effort to genuinly encourage ideas and information exchange that will REALLY HELP its members as opposed to just pushing their own ideas and schemes.

I'm new there but its great and I will keep you posted.

Getting your Presence felt on Google

So - how exactly does an IFA get a presence on Google? Well the honest answer is with great difficulty.

The first thing to do is to ensure your own website is up to scratch and optimised for Google but the easiest way is to join the two main IFA "directories" www.searchifa.co.uk and www.unbiased.co.uk

BOTH give guaranteed TOP placements on Google for their members for a low fee.

The differences between the two are mainly:-

1. SearchIFA.co.uk gives top natural listings whereas Unbiased.co.uk relies on "paid for" or "sponsored" listings. Natural listings are preferable as they get more clicks and are not reliant upon competiton - a sponsored listing could easily lose its place if another bidder is prepared to pay more.
   
   
2. SearchIFA.co.uk limits its membership whereas Unbiased.co.uk will add as many IFAs as it can. As both get similar visitor numbers (often 60-70,000 a month) then clealry the former has a big advantage if you are lucky enough to get on of the slots.