May 2010 - Google announces new Certification Exam

 Google has increased its cost of becoming Google certified from $25 per annum to $200 per annum - an eightfold increase in business with one easy gesture.  We are one of the biggest fans of Google but also can't help feeling that their powerful position monopolising the search business means that they can do virtually anything to boost their coffers.  Whilst this cost does not affect clients it does affect the PPC managers and agencies such as ours.  Perhaps we should set up in competition to Google and offer a cheaper qualificiation that does much the same job?

What is really worrying is that having offered free web analytics for many years Google may well one day start charging its millions of customers for a service that is no doubt costing Google millions of dollars.  Don't say you havent been warned!