Google Adwords

Google has recently updated its index, something it does every few weeks. A number of my pages have been removed - I suspect it's because they have no inbound links and haven't been updated for months. Unfortunately the pages that have been dropped were earning me around £150 a month. I've resubmitted them but it will probably take about two months before they reappear.

So in an effort to make up for this, I've started advertising on Google adwords, which is keyword based advertising that appears alongside Google search results.

Adwords is nowhere near as good as it could be though.
Firstly the adverts don't appear with the search results, but in a 'sponsored link' box on the right of the search results. Most people are used to looking at just the search results, so they probably don't even notice the sponsored links.
Secondly, you pay per impression, not per click, which makes it very expensive - around 1p per impression. I don't know what their average click through rate is, but if it's 1% you'll end up paying around £1 a click!

I've decided to spend $10 just to trial it and see what sort of response I get. I need a 2% click through rate to stand any chance of making a profit, and I think I'll be very lucky if I achieve this.

Although there are some good features, like the ability to only show your adverts in specific countries, I think it's far too expensive for most sites, and normal pay per click search engines will be much more cost effective.

I'd be very interested to hear the experiences of other people who have used Adwords, specially those who've made money as a result!

I think that your assesment of google adwords is pretty much spot on from my experience.

Basically it not being a cpc and the ads being seperate from the results make it not worthwhile.

The PPC's offer better value for money. Besides Google is so easy to get into for free there really is no point paying. Just make sure someone is linking to you, even if it is another of your own domains.

What I am pulling my hair out over is Inktomi.

I reckon it should be a good one, as it makes up the numbers for so many search engines. I have bought a yearly submit at network solutions, but I cannot get good rankings.

If anyone has any tips or advice for inktomi, I would be very grateful to hear them.

I know a fair amount about submission, most of my pages appear top five places on Lycos and Google (very busy search terms too), but inktomi is a mystery to me!

Hi Guys,

I just love it when people slag off Google Adwords, because it means that the higher positions are left for me !!. Seriously, if you're aiming your ads at a UK audience, Adwords is the best value instant listing out there. Without letting too many cats out of bags, here's a few stats from my adwords ads :
# Impressions | # Clicks | Click Thru Rate
162188 | 10519 | 6.49%
95521 | 3980 | 4.17%
30180 | 2145 | 7.11%
20888 | 1686 | 8.07%

and so on. To save you doing the maths, those 162,188 impressions cost just over $2,000......and yes we did make a nice profit thank you very much !!.

Of the 18 ads that are either currently running, or have run in the past, here are the click through ratios attained :
Under 1% - 1
1% - 2% - 1
2% - 3% - 0
3% - 4% - 3
4% - 5% - 1
5% - 6% - 2
6% - 7% - 2
7% - 8% - 5
Over 8% - 3

You should give it a try. Keep a close eye on stats, and keep playing with the wording of the ads. The smallest change can make a huge difference to the number of clicks.

Ross

Nice statistics Ross.. Thanks.

Adwords is something I was thinking of using when Google changed its algo, but since they have reverted back I'm now on top at No.1 again. (for this site anyhow)

I've been quite lucky with Google for some of my sites, but for others I'm down on about the 3rd 4th page!

So I might spend a few bob on giving it a trail.... I'll let you all know how I get on.

Cheers,
Matt.
ps. any tips on wording for the ads which you have found increases the CT Ross?

I am not using Google Ad Words to promote any of my sites
at the moment (*), however - speaking as an avid user of
Google now - I know that I look at and click these links when
I do a Google search.

I prefer the paid-for listings to be separated from the main
listings and Google lists them on the right. I catch myself
looking at the main list of results and then quickly scanning
the right-hand column - I then click on what I think is the
best link. As a Google-user, Google Ad Words work!

(*)

Sign up to the <a href="http://www.roibot.com/w.cgi?R4505_ology" target="_blank">Trafficology</a> newsletter - also mentioned elsewhere
in this forum - and as a bonus for signing up, Wayne Yeager
(Trafficology editor) reveals an excellent tip related to
Google Ad words.

[I now use Google Ad words but bid small!?]

Steve

Bid Small??

Do you know what you are talking about?

or was your post an excuse to get us to click on that link for junk email.

Yes, bid small and no I am not trying to get you
to click on the Trafficology newsletter link
(NOT junk mail!).

As a bonus for those that sign up to the Trafficology
newsletter, Wayne Yeager presents a tip on how
you can use Google Ad Words, by bidding small,
to boost your normal Google ranking (it's all about
the way Google determines relevancy by
the types of site that link to your site. By setting
up Ad Words, it seems that you are in effect
getting a link to your site from Google, which
Google unsurprisingly values).

[ I have not explained this very well ]

If this sounds like I'm just trying to get you to
sign-up to Trafficology - a free monthly newsletter,
where you learn some great new ways to promote
your website, and get a small chance to earn
money by having your website promotion idea
selected - then I apologise.

I really recommend people sign-up to Trafficolgy
if they're at all interested in learning new (and
inventive) ways to promote their website. The
Google Ad Words tip, which I found intriguing
and am now putting to the test, was relevant
to this thread and is a bonus for signing up to
Trafficology.

Phew!

If you still think I'm wasting your time, fine!
I'll say no more.

I already get the Trafficology newsletter, so I know what smnash is talking about. Not sure if the tip really works, but it's worth a try.

smnash, OK I apologies if I seemed a little harsh.

I was under the impression that you meant that you bid small amounts to advertise on google, and as we all know it is not a bidding system in the same way something like Goto is.

And as for "marketing advice" emails my inbox is overstuffed with that cr*p anyway.

It is an interesting idea about the google link, though, although I get top rankings for many keywords without employing it, and it seems a bit unnecessary paying for adwords to increase your free link.

Although I don't think you can underestiamte links to your site from other relevant sites.

The best way to do this is search in google for one of your keywords and the terms "add url" or "submit site".

Any chnce you can paste the tip here from the newsletter?
I need to set myself up a new email account to receive some of these now.

Wardy, why not just sign up to Trafficology newsletter?
(Wayne Yeager uses it as a bonus to get new
subscribers so it would be unfair to publish it here.)

And Nick

>And as for "marketing advice" emails my inbox is overstuffed with that cr*p anyway.

Get rid of the cr*p and just sign-up to Trafficology. It only
comes once a month, and because of the current scheme of
rewarding the best tips with $$$, what you end up with is a
digest of all the other newsletters.

All I would say against it, is that it may not be that suitable
for beginners. And I don't find all of the tips useful, but I
do find something useful each issue.

At the moment Trafficology is well worth reading, simple
as that. Sign-up at Trafficology just by visiting
<a href="http://www.trafficology.com" target="_blank">http://www.trafficology.com</a>
or via <a href="http://www.roibot.com/w.cgi?R4505_ology" target="_blank">my affiliate link</a> - it really does not
matter to me.

(More Nick...)
<<
It is an interesting idea about the google link, though, although I get top rankings for many keywords without employing it, and it seems a bit unnecessary paying for adwords to increase your free link.

Although I don't think you can underestiamte links to your site from other relevant sites.
>>

I agree with you, and I'd prefer to rank well on Google
because my site is a good site with good content, good keywords
and with lots of relevant links pointing to it. The AdWords thing
is just something to try.

<<
The best way to do this is search in google for one of your keywords and the terms "add url" or "submit site".
>>

A good idea that I have not tried. (Instead, I've used
the excellent <a href="http://www.marketleap.com/publinkpop/" targe="_blank">Marketleap</a> to see who is linking to my
competitors, and then I've tried to get a link from
them too!)

Enough.

Steve

The truth is Ad words will get you into the main rankings through "the back door" due to a number of factors, and yes, one of those is your Google Page Rank Score.

This DYNAMITE report explains page rank stuff in more detail:

www.marketing-web-site.com/ebooks/google_pr_report.pdf

Also, I think the success of CTR's on Ad words depends on the product, phrase type and the user group...I've tested this theory with several of my clients.

For example:

If i (or you) were searching for "search engine optimization" would you click on the Ad Word box? Probably not...

However, if you're looking for a "family vacation scotland" would even you be more inclined to click on the Word Ad? Perhaps so...

I think you catch my drift...

There's my 2 cents worth.

Hope you find the report useful.

Enjoy and profit