AdWords Select Results

[BidRank]

We've been experimenting with AdWords for a while and have found that the results are rather disappointing. 98 clicks in 25542 impressions. This includes about 450 keywords from a retail business that gets an excellent ROI on Overture. Perhaps it just needs time, but the fact is, people don't go to Google to shop. They go there to search for relevant information.

[sodak]

That's interesting.

I had to wonder about the effectiveness of the Adwords targeting this morning when I did a Google search for information on the Needles Highway, a scenic route in the Black Hills. The search, in typical Google fashion, gave me lots of relevant search results. However, I had to laugh when I saw that there was also a Google Adwords ad for a medical supply company that sells NEEDLES and syringes.

I thought that was kind of funny, but I suppose the advertiser who gets an e-mail from Google Adwords saying that the ad isn't generating enough clickthroughs probably wouldn't find it quite as amusing as I did.

[BidRank]

The problem seems to be a kind of catch-22. If you leave the keyword phrases open to be included in broader searches such as the "needles" example you will not get enough clickthroughs to keep your ad active, however, if you use quotes to make the ads show only when the specific phrase is shown you will hardly get any traffic because it seems Google searches use larger phrases. Like I said, it doesn;t seem that anyone goes to Google to shop. In fact, the last statistics I saw showed that Yahoo owned that crown.

[BidRank]

Well, I am down to 24 keywords when I had around 400 entered. I'm going to get more traffic from third tier PPCs than Google AdWords Select. One other note - For all the effort and expense, our 139 clicks (out of 37810 impressions) has netted zero sales.

[Advisor]

I was having a lot of problems with Google AdWords - paying high clickthroughs, not enough clickthroughs, etc., when I first started using it also. And of course, their new relevancy and editorial guidelines can be pretty tough to work with a lot of times.

One thing that helped me, which I heartily recommend, is Andrew Goodman's special report on it called: "21 Techniques to Maximize your Profits on Google AdWords Select."

You can read my review of it here. (http://www.highrankings.Com/issue006.htm#seonews2) It is a paid report, but it's well worth the money, imo.

Jill

[AbeSpain]

I dont really think google are to blame that you have a low click rate. The broader the keywords the more impressions but a lower clikc rate. What you have to say to yourself is if no one is clicking then maybe its time to review the advertising strat?

[BidRank]

The problem is that no one goes to Google to shop. Also, with the listing on the right instead of in the same format as regular results like Overture partners you can expect a lower click through. I would rather have my ads appear on AOL only and not Google.

[Big Al]

I know you can omit affiliates of Ad words but can you select not to show up in Google and just show results in AOL?

Al

[Advisor]

Originally posted by Big Al
I know you can omit affiliates of Ad words but can you select not to show up in Google and just show results in AOL?

Al I don't think you can do that at this time. Would be a good option though.

J

[ihelpyou]

Welcome to the forums Big Al! :hi:

I think you can specify no Google but yes to AOL.



For that matter, the question is click-thrus? Well, certainly click-thrus might be higher with Overture as the partners do NOT separate the "PAID ADS" from the regular results. That's why the FTC is looking into the deceptive advertising practices as we speak with those partners and the 'paid ads'.

Google plays very fair with this and keeps them separated, AS THEY SHOULD be. A big difference, don't ya all think?