Don’t Be Evil: A Campaign to Stop Google’s
Interference with Agencies
“I’ve had Google reps tell clients that they will manage their accounts for free and that they shouldn’t pay an agency to help them. Very frustrating.”
Bryan Coe, Founder of Blackbird e-Solutions LLC
“I’ve been actively told I’m ‘stupid’ by a Google rep before by not agreeing to meetings with them and had numerous threats to go behind our back and speak to the client. Totally agree that you feel powerless when pushing back against such a behemoth.”
Daniel Farrell, Managing Director at AAI Media
For years, agencies have partnered with Google to deliver results for clients through carefully crafted advertising campaigns. But lately, that relationship has turned sour.
Google sales reps are relentlessly contacting agency’s clients directly – pushing questionable advice that often contradicts the agency’s expert strategy. It can undo months of hard work, and it sows confusion.
From aggressive sales tactics to misrepresentation of agency efforts, this behaviour is damaging trust, tanking campaigns, and making it harder for agencies to do their jobs. The last thing they need in a difficult economic climate.
That’s why Agency Hackers is launching the Don’t Be Evil campaign to hold Google accountable.
We’re calling on Google to stop contacting agency clients without consent and to end the flood of misleading “recommendations” that seem to prioritise Google’s profits over client success.
Agency Hackers will be running this campaign across our community events until we see meaningful results
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“I had a Google rep sending my team an email that felt threatening this week 😡. ‘We haven’t heard from you after multiple ways of contacting you, this is our last resort, we’ll now contact your client if you do not get in touch with us’. I wrote back saying this is not acceptable and asked for a manager to file a formal complaint. And this is not the first time it happened.”
Maggie Carroll, Founder @ Vixen Digital
“Every day I’m fielding calls from pushy reps who ‘desperately need to speak to XYZ about XYZ account’ – and if I don’t put them through, they’re contacting our clients directly! It’s mental”
Faye Collings, Statuo
✊ What do we want?
The objectives of the Don’t Be Evil campaign are:
1. To get Google to stop contacting agency’s clients without explicit consent.
2. To end the misrepresentation and interference that harms agencies client relationships.
3. To raise awareness of the damage caused by Google’s current practices and demand they change.
🧑💻 Notes for editors
What is Agency Hackers?
Agency Hackers is the UK’s biggest community and support network for agency owners and leaders, founded by Ian Harris in 2017. Established to foster collaboration and growth within the agency ecosystem, it brings together professionals from digital marketing, PPC, SEO, creative, and other agency sectors to share insights, solve challenges, and build stronger businesses.
With an audience of thousands of agencies worldwide, Agency Hackers hosts monthly events, workshops, and online forums designed to empower its community with practical knowledge and peer-to-peer support.
Mission and Activities:
Agency Hackers is dedicated to helping agency leaders navigate the complexities of running a successful agency. Its mission is to “connect agency leaders with the people, ideas, and resources they need to thrive.” This includes organising in-person meet-ups – like the recent gathering of PPC agency leaders that sparked the “Don’t Be Evil” campaign – as well as virtual sessions and a private community platform. The group addresses industry-wide issues, from client management to platform relationships, making it a trusted voice for agencies of all sizes.
Relevance to the “Don’t Be Evil” Campaign:
Agency Hackers launched the “Don’t Be Evil” campaign in response to widespread frustration among its members about Google’s interference in agency-client relationships. Drawing on its deep ties to the PPC and digital marketing community, the organisation is leveraging its platform to advocate for change, uniting agency leaders to demand that Google stop contacting clients directly and providing misleading advice. Ian Harris, Agency Hackers’ founder, has been vocal about the issue, reflecting the group’s commitment to protecting its members’ interests and fostering a healthier agency ecosystem.
Contact Information:
For more details, visit www.agencyhackers.com or contact Ian Harris at [email protected]
Follow Agency Hackers on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ianharrisuk