This perspective is from from a Local Ad Link representative and a business owner - and it's definitely NOT pro-LocalAdLink.
Local Ad Link has deplorable customer support. There is no phone number to reach anyone other than a computer . . . I have attempted to reach Local Ad Link multiple times through their support desk, and their phone system, regarding a billing error - their mistake, not mine. This error has already cost me $199.95 plus an additional $178 in bank charges. Do you think LocaL Ad Link has corrected their error? Of course not! So, their error is costing me money, but they're benefiting from the money they take from others to build their business and brag. They'll go to their fancy hoopla in Las Vegas this coming weekend and tell of all the money they're pulling in - my guess is that the money they're making is at the expense of many unsuspecting reps and business owners.
I became a representative for Local Ad Link because I know some businesses will purchase Local Ad Link for the convenience of it. Different strokes for different folks. It's not up to me decide what product is good for a business. A lot of people will pay a premium for convenience. Not everyone wants to manage their PPC campaigns, nor do they know how - or know of the other options available to them. So, Local Ad Link seemed to be a solution for a certain niche.
I say "seemed to be" because I tested the waters by running my own ad - and discovered that Local Ad Link doesn't always deliver the advertising a business owner purchases. In my case, they've charged me for an ad but I have yet to see it. And, we're past their 72 hour window - the time when the advertiser pays for their ad but Local Ad Link isn't contractually obligated to display the ad - well, apparently, Local Ad Link doesn't feel they need to display the ad after 72 hours, either! It's been 6 days since I ordered my ad. And my ad is still not on their website, or in my Back Office.
In other words, since I've paid Local Ad Link for an ad and it's not being displayed anywhere, that's the most expensive advertising I've ever seen! What kind of a product is that? They've taken my money, and I'm getting nothing in return. I may as well have thrown my money down the drain . . . and, yes, you guessed it . . . Local Ad Link support has not corrected the problem, although they've been contacted repeatedly about my concerns regarding this ad. Why should they fix their error? They have my money.
As far as the business opportunity goes - when you become a rep for Local Ad Link as a BB, you purchase approximately $1,000 in ad inventory that you are supposed to be able to use as a credit towards ads for yourself, or for other business owners, as an incentive to use Local Ad Link.
I wanted to test the system, so I used some of my ad inventory for the ad I referred to above - and I was charged $199.95 for the ad anyway! So, the claim of Local Ad Link ad inventory being available is also clearly bogus. Otherwise, why was I charged $199.95 for my ad?
When I contacted Local Ad Link for support, they actually told me that they didn't charge me! Yeah, right! My bank just made up the charge and somehow erroneously sent the $199.95 to Local Ad Link out of the goodness of their heart? They must think I believe in the Local Ad Link Tooth Fairy too! Gimme a break! How stupid does Local Ad Link think people are?
Local Ad Link also keeps plugging in additional income streams into their system that benefit the company, but not reps or business owners. Now, I have no problem with someone promoting affiliate products. We're all in business to make money. Local Ad Link selling vista products and cutting edge media leads is their prerogative but, get this . . . they're actually charging their reps $1 to view the salespage of cutting edge media! Amazing, but true. They don't even tell their reps. what cutting edge media is until after the reps pay Local Ad Link for the privilege of reading a salespage! Unbelievable!
I could go on and on, but I have to run for an appointment. I'll sum this up by saying this - I don't think most Local Ad Link representatives have a clue about what they're selling. And, from what I've seen, they're ONLY selling a business opportunity - and that business opportunity is built on sand - there's no product behind their claims that is worth what they're charging! In my case, I've spent almost $800 between charges, bank fees, and ad credits and have not seen any product at all. Their customer service is sub par, to say the least - for representatives and business owners alike.
Network marketing is a sound business model, but some companies sell hype and bad products - they bring in people to sell their opportunity - people who don't know how inferior their product is. The company keeps their money and, of course, the reps can't get a refund after they are in. Network marketing companies that treat others like this usually go out of business. I can only hope that Local Ad Link is exposed for what they are, and that others do not lose as much money as I did!
Oh, btw, I also brought 3 reps into the company - when I still trusted their hype - and was to be paid $130 for my efforts - and, guess what happened? No surprise here - they didn't pay me on time - I received payment nearly 2 weeks late - and I was sent a debit card with outrageous fees attached to it for future payments - like a $3.50 per month privilege fee, .50 per transaction fees - and a whole list of other charges for each withdrawal, etc. - guess who thinks that's a "convenient" way to pay their reps? Yep, Local Ad Link - who is undoubtedly making money on these fees while their reps are paying to help this company be profitable until they go public in a year or so.
And, of course, future payments to reps are based on continuous ad sales - you know, selling those ads that don't get placed, and then having the reps handle the complaints from their customers, since no one can reach customer support. How long do you think ethical reps will continue to sell for Local Ad Link? Not long . . .and we all know who will keep the money earned by those reps - yep, the company: Local Ad Link.
From my experience, all I can tell you is that Local Ad Link collects fees on everything, doesn't deliver their ads within their alloted timeframe, doesn't pay their reps according to their contracted agreement, doesn't investigate their support inquiries or answer them with reasonable solutions - and treats their reps and business advertisers like they're idiots.
I would certainly not recommend Local Ad Link ads OR business opportunity to anyone with a conscience!
Sara
Allison Park, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.