Invite colleagues
China Business News reported (January 29) that Google China's customers are becoming apprehensive because Google has not clarified its stance on leaving China, and new ad orders have decreased by around 30% year-on-year.
Further, JLM Pacific Epoch stated on their website that many Google China agents said in a January 25 meeting that their January sales had declined by around 50%. "We understand Google China's plight, but its impact on our current business is very large," said the agent.
Google currently has 26 agents in China, with its six largest agents in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, said the report quoting a senior employee at one Google China agency. The two agents in charge of the Guangdong area have about 8,000-9,000 active clients, with each client spending about RMB 30,000 on Google advertising each year, said the report. The six major agents represent about 70% of Google China's agent revenue and about 30% of Google China's total revenue, said the senior employee.
So with all this uncertainty it is not unexpected to see this dramatic downturn and I guess only a statement clarifying the Google position will change this... for the better or the worse regards ad sales.
Google Vice President Alan Eustace said on January 19 that Google plans to retain its China research and development center and may continue some of its Chinese business, even if its negotiations with the Chinese government over censoring search results turn out for the worst.
Written on Friday, 29 January 2010 22:51 by Matt McDougall