Very Strange - "American Keywords"

[SEOchica]

Has anyone heard of the company called "American Keywords"?

They called on one of my clients and had them download software... I think it's a fraud company...

Anyone know?? I had them uninstall the software because I don't trust companies who's site has only been live 2 months and are asking people to download software...

[Avalon]

They are very slick with answers to everything. With my knowledge of analytics he totally changed his spiel around after asking him some key questions that no normal client would ask. Their search numbers seem bloated.

I'm very skeptical with this type of advertising - Search on webproworld and you'll find some responses to these guys also. Sounds like they have been aggressively calling all the clients listed on Yahoo's PPC search.

I don't believe for one minute their deal with Microsoft - seems far-fetched to me.

[cwright]

American Keywords did not generate the guaraunteed results they promised. We have asked them for a refund and they do not return our phone calls and once actually hung up on me when i told them who I was. We are pursuing legal action to get our refund.

Don't trust them!

[etechsupport]

New strategy in keywords upcoming through "spoken words", the keywords can be drived from spoken words through videotaping and podcast.

[MrScott]

I joined Search Engine watch just to post to this. I got a very slick sales call from a pretty knowlegable sales person from American Keywords, (edited). I always hang up on those people, but they had me going. It was slick - I should hire that guy.

I had a really hard time finding anything about them online and then I stumbled into this thread.

"if it's too good to be true..... then it probably is."

http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=4026535713819&lang=en-US&mkt=en-US&FORM=CVRE5

[trucky69]

Maybe their related to AmericanAirlines. They have a really similar wordmark.

WHOIS on AmericanKeywords.com - says GoDaddy

But Googling the fax # from their Contact Us page (818.707.0931) shows Tier3 Technology.

[MrScott]

It's a private Whois Registration:

Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States

Go Daddy is "where" they registered it. I don't think Amercan Airlines has the capital to be venturing into other business - although steeling would probably be more profitable than flying these days.

[RYAN88]

I have read your posts on this thread, and totally disagree!
I have purchased 6 of my major google adwords thru American Keywords and have monitored all the traffic. Within one week I recaptured my initial investment, and have a conversion factor of 4.5% which is about what I recieve from my adwords campaign. I too was skeptical, but our company spends a fair amount on advertising. We are now purchasing three more phrases.These people offered us a product that works for us, and I hate to see a company slandered by people who presumably never even tried it!!
they promised us traffic and delivered!

[SEOchica]

I found an older version of their site that has their old company name in the content. Very smart of them, huh? It seems they keep changing their company name as people catch on or file suits against them.

http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?p=66278

Google "CyberPhrase", "Keywords LLC", "iGetNet" it's all the same scam. If you research the owner of the company, you'll see he's a shady character.

I have a feeling Ryan88 is actually the owner or something. Every other post I've seen are angry people that fell for the scam.

[RYAN88]

SEOchica: you are assuming we have anything to do with this company.
Very simply, we do not!
This product worked for us. Now you are trying to smear me as well.
We have at least 12 campaigns running and spend a lot on advertising.
I always try new ideas and see what works for us. Your posts are negative, and demeaning to me!-Very simply this campaign is successful for us-
Enough said!

[SEOchica]

Not my intention to smear you. My apologies. It's a bit odd that you've only posted in relationship to this one company. I'm sure you can see my point of view.

As a whole, my goal is to simply protect my client and to inform others of scams. Companies who scam give true SEO firms a bad reputation. Of all the information I've ever seen on this company or others like it, it's extremely unhappy people and has an owner of ill reputation. If I was personally attacking anyone, I would have mentioned the owner by name. But I have nothing to gain by doing so.

If you have great success by paying $1000 a year for one keyword - that's great. My understanding is that you are reaching a tiny fraction of the population and paying a great deal of money for that. But it's your cash.

[helpmeoutguys]

Truthsayer, do you know if Portal Response Technology is the same company as all these other scammers?

[truthsayer]

I would admonish anyone from doing business with any firm that is not doing traditional methods of online SEM, however, I can't say I've heard of that firm. I'm going to stick with what I know when it comes to marketing.

[Elisabeth]

I'd just like to note that a post from this thread has been removed, per violation of our Member Code of Conduct (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_code_of_conduct)
- another company was mentioned in relation to the one currently being discussed here. it's best if we keep each of these threads limited to particular company references.
- an individual was mentioned by name, and it was considered a personal attack/defamatory information. - again, violation of TOS.

It is a slippery slope when we discuss these types of companies on the forums.

However, the editorial staff still feels as though it's a valuable topic, and we have an obligation to allow members to seek out information or experiences of other members in this area.

[caugas]

I am glad that I read through all these posts, SEW provides true value.

[helpmeoutguys]

I'd just like to note that a post from this thread has been removed, per violation of our Member Code of Conduct (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_code_of_conduct)


ELisabeth, can you share if the staff came across this on its own, or if it was reported to you by another party?

[Marcia]

ELisabeth, can you share if the staff came across this on its own, or if it was reported to you by another party?helpmeoutguys, it makes absolutely no difference - six of one half dozen of the other, editorial decisions are made based on policy and always for good reason.

The common element that runs through all the different sites, different company names and different resellers is that something called Webmenu Search or WebMenu Software is involved. Here's how Sunbelt Software describes it

http://research.sunbelt-software.com/threatdisplay.aspx?name=WebMenu%20Toolbar&threatid=129023

Elevated risks are typically installed without adequate notice and consent, and may make unwanted changes to your system, such as reconfiguring your browser's homepage and search settings. These risks may install advertising-related add-ons, including toolbars and search bars, or insert advertising-related components into the Winsock Layered Service Provider chain. These new add-ons and components may block or redirect your preferred network connections, and can negatively impact your computer's performance and stability. Elevated risks may also collect, transmit, and share potentially sensitive data without adequate notice and consent.

Advice Type Remove It's also been bundled with "utilities" software without disclosure. But I guess it's all fine with some folks, as long as they get sent traffic.

RYAN88, tell you what. Virtual Bouncer also delivers a lot of hits, you might want to try that on your computer if you like such things. I know for a fact that it "sends" a lot of traffic to sites, because I just threw out the computer a few months ago that it turned into an expensive paperweight.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-41,GGLJ:en&q=%22virtual+bouncer%22

Everyone is free to choose (and love) what they decide to, but some people would rather stay away from subsidizing the distribution of such fancy BHOs.

[helpmeoutguys]

helpmeoutguys, it makes absolutely no difference - six of one half dozen of the other, editorial decisions are made based on policy and always for good reason.

I think it does make a difference. If the allegedly defamed poster asked to have it removed, I think the readers of the forum should know this. It gives them information -- which is what all people need to make informed decisions.

[Marcia]

No, it does not make any difference either way, with it being removed, so it's a moot point. It's completely irrelevant and is a different issue entirely.

The issue is editorial policy and having the authority to make the decision. A moderating/editorial action was taken regarding a post based on TOS and making a judgment call based upon forum policies.

Sorry if you disagree with Elisabeth, but she's the Editor and if you have an issue with editorial policy or with her decision, then you need to contact her directly.

It's off topic in this thread and isn't open to further debate or discussion.

[beu]

Totally, Marica is 100% on the money!

[Chris Boggs]

I think it does make a difference. If the allegedly defamed poster asked to have it removed, I think the readers of the forum should know this. It gives them information -- which is what all people need to make informed decisions.
hey we have to focus on the other part of Marcia’s post, now. I couldn't believe I missed this fun thread last year until I saw I had edited a post. :p

We are dealing with a very serious issue here. The practice by some shady companies to download software that confuses or outright affects the output of any searches or web analytics should be illuminated to "the masses." The less SEO-related companies that get away with pissing off 90% (based on a rough percentage in this thread) of its users, the better. In my opinion this rings quite similar to the whole Jason Calcanis video guy (http://www.calacanis.com/2007/02/07/why-people-hate-seo-and-why-smo-is-bulls-t/), and is more shady underground stuff deserving of a public slapping (http://chrisboggs.blogspot.com/2007/02/time-to-bring-out-seo-slapping-glove.html).

helpmeoutguys, have you written anything more specific about this subject elsewhere?

Curious, too, why no one from this company has ever bothered to reply to these accusations. I am curious, but not surprised, since many organizations choose to simply not reply to any cyber noise such as this probably ranking thread.

[evilgreenmonkey]

They could always clean up their act and just use the toolbar/plugin to redirect any Google searches to an AdSense for Search (https://www.google.com/adsense/static/en_US/WsOverview.html) results page. :D

[Marcia]

Here's as good and simple an explanation as can be found:

How Adware Works (http://forum.abestweb.com/showthread.php?t=89073)

Whether or not installation is consensual is a different matter and has been addressed by some landmark FTC decisions in the recent past.

[Marcia]

Incidentally, several additional posts have had to be removed. To reiterate:

off topic in this thread and isn't open to further debate or discussion
So to save further time and effort, this is just a simple reminder that we'll not be getting into off-topic issues, but will be staying on topic in this thread.

[helpmeoutguys]

We are dealing with a very serious issue here. The practice by some shady companies to download software that confuses or outright affects the output of any searches or web analytics should be illuminated to "the masses." Curious, too, why no one from this company has ever bothered to reply to these accusations. I am curious, but not surprised, since many organizations choose to simply not reply to any cyber noise such as this probably ranking thread.

Chris, this is my point. For many years, there have been scams directly related to the sale of keywords to companies, while telling them that they have some plug-in that has been download millions of times. These are well-documented on the 'net.

The latest possible incarnation, PRT, has links that can be definitively traced back to companies with F ratings from the Better Business Bureau. The individual previously mentioned in this forum appears to be the same person busted by the FTC for a medical billing scam.

The only defense against scams is information. The more people have, the better they are protected.

This particular company does respond forcefully to posts on the internet -- a little TOO forcefully. When asked specifics about the accusations, they curiously vanish.

[Marcia]

The only defense against scams is information.Agreed, and knowledge. That's why there are watch-dog consumer organizations out there. And that's why the FTC, slow as it can be for government to wade through to conclusions to take action, is constantly on all things internet, more and more each year.

Scams come in many different sizes, types and forms and the best way for "consumers" to get understanding is by learning how things work so they can be able to make judgments for themselves.

Pull up a chair and start with Ben Edelman (http://www.benedelman.org/).

=================================

Added:

particular companyLet me add yet another admonishment here that we'll not be dealing with a "company" here in this thread, we'll be dealing with knowledge about a process.

[helpmeoutguys]

Agreed, and knowledge. That's why there are watch-dog consumer organizations out there. And that's why the FTC, slow as it can be for government to wade through to conclusions to take action, is constantly on all things internet, more and more each year.

Scams come in many different sizes, types and forms and the best way for "consumers" to get understanding is by learning how things work so they can be able to make judgments for themselves.

Pull up a chair and start with Ben Edelman (http://www.benedelman.org/).

=================================

Added:

Let me add yet another admonishment here that we'll not be dealing with a "company" here in this thread, we'll be dealing with knowledge about a process.Relying on the FTC is like relying on Neville Chamberlain. They arrive to the party far too late and do little of substance. The last thing we should do is rely on the government to tell us about scams.

The internet is about the dissemination of information.

<snip>

================================

Mod note:

Let's play it again just one last time: Moderating and editorial issues are off-topic for this thread.

Let me add yet another admonishment here that we'll not be dealing with a "company" here in this thread, we'll be dealing with knowledge about a process.

[Chris Boggs]

Let it be known that the Moderators faced a tough decision here but helpmeoutguys' rudeness turned out to be the deciding factor in banning him, as well as the next alias he created. Moderators have a thankless job, and once childish and immature people with an agenda start making vile remarks towards them, they have to make potentially unpopular decisions. This poster crossed the line with some posts that were removed, and in the form of instant messages. In fact, should I know who this person was I may even choose to “out” him/her in the same way they are outing the company in question.

At first, I was more likely to empathize with the poster, and now I am thinking maybe this company wasn't as bad as he claimed, simply because of his boorish behavior.

Sad really, but let's move on?

[OnTheLookout]

Getting back to the topic at hand, I for one am grateful these forums exist, because otherwise I would have been a victim of this scam. That's right, I got a telemarketer call a couple of days ago. It sounded too good to be true. I did my research, including here.

I think I figured the whole thing out. I guess I'm not allowed to mention specifics, so I'll just refer folks to some other threads at different places on the internet, if that's allowed.

Basically, it looks as if one guy got the idea for this iframe-appearing-above-search-engine results and then licensed it to a lot of other people/companies/entities. So the reason we've heard this talked about so much is that it is propagating through the, shall we say, "less ethical" sales community.

Does it work? Can it bring you real customers? I have no idea. But I really really doubt it.

If the Admins don't mind a few links, interested parties can learn the whole story piece by piece by checking these out. These are also kind of funny, because somebody (a shill) invariably tries to defend the company and gets totally busssssssssted.

http://www.seorefugee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1677&page=5
http://blog.retailblogmarketing.com/122/myspace-guardian-toolbar/
http://www.webproworld.com/showthread.php?t=59100

And yes, if you enter some or all of the various names they operate under at the Better Business Bureau, you do see the same addresses for them.

Funny how they all have the same looking websites and/or service, too!
(Admins: not trying to direct traffic to them, because I think they are shady. It's just to prove me point. I understand if you want to redact these, but it does help show what's going on.)

www.toppg1.com
www.onetopfirm.com
www.s4tn.com
www.starposition.com
www.webmenu.com

Peace,
Jackie C.