PPC, Sponsored sites

[alana138]

Who does the pay per click and sponsored sites on msn and lycos:?: :shocked:

[MsSearch]

MSN:
PPC = Looksmart
Sponsored Sites = Overture

Lycos:
Sponsored Sites = Overture
Web Results = FAST

[alana138]

Thank you very much, the Search Engine "Mofia" is hard to unravel.
:ladysman: :kisses: :kisses: :kisses: :ladysman:

[wbdollar]

Why do some MSN searches include sponsored sites and others not?

I do Overture PPC and get predictable Overture exposure on Yahoo but very unpredictable on MSN.

[Advisor]

Also on Lycos are FindWhat PPC ads, but they're different than regular FindWhat PPC. You sign up directly through Lycos. Not sure if this is live yet, but if not, it should be soon.

Jill

[windybanks]

Why do some MSN searches include sponsored sites and others not?

As with wbdollar, I am also interested in the answer to this question and have not been able to find it. There are terms that I am bidding on that are in the top three at overture, but when searched on at msn, there is no mention of sponsored links. With other terms there are. For example, "outer banks" does not have any and "outer banks rentals" does, and we are bidding on both. Anybody know?

Thanks.

[alana138]

I think that it may have to do with you placement. I bid on key words that are #1 and they always show on MSN, whereas if i have a lower ranking on my bid it doesn't show. I think if your bids are in the top 3 on overture they will show on msn.

[windybanks]

My bids are in the top three in Overture, and show on Yahoo's sponsored matches, but nothing in MSN with certain search terms. None of the bidders are there. Kinda odd that they don't show sponsored results when the terms are being bid on.

[SusyQ]

I've lately noticed this too with top 3 placement listings in overture... wonder what's going on? Has it always been like this or is this recent?

[MakeMeTop]

>Has it always been like this or is this recent?

It has been like this for since the L$ PPC deal came out and MSN decided that it wanted a minimum amount for a click-through/term. MSN filter the Overture search terms for number of searches and/or bid price. If it falls below a certain threshold, they don't list the term and hope they pick up the click through on L$ or INK paid inclusions where they may make more money.

[windybanks]

Ah, gotcha. Thanks, MakeMeTop.

[SusyQ]

MSN decided that it wanted a minimum amount for a click-through/term

Most of my listing terms are quite high though, at least $3.00 a click, sometimes up to $8.00 (yes, I pay waaaayyyyy too much :D ) . I pay for Looksmart too (unfortunately), so I guess I'm covered either way... at a huge cost though.

[MakeMeTop]

MSN also just don't list terms in certain areas. I remember a couple of years ago, I couldn't get software terms listed. Now that's changed.

Whatever they do, there is a reason - and money is probably behind it somewhere!

[windybanks]

Interesting...I can't really determine method to their madness. Yes, I agree money must be involved somehow!

[kykex]

susy how can you spend 8$ per click??? are you selling yachts? mansions? Or do you have a 50% CR? :-/

[ophirc]

Basically, in order for a destination site (like MSN) to generate a valuable profit from PPC, they need (a) lots of clicks (b) reasonable CPC, since after the revenue sharing with the PPC provider they are left with a % of the CPC and the fixed/variable costs of managing traffic, taking and presenting content from PPC's and support and management costs money too and they need to be profitable.
That's why they only show "sponsored sites" for specific search terms only.

[SusyQ]

susy how can you spend 8$ per click???

fax broadcasting software... believe it or not very small industry but highly competitive. Lately the rates at overture have skyrocketed to sometimes $12 a click... I need to find something new I think. Just not willing to pay that kind of money for one click
:mad:

[ophirc]

Whenever you meet high competitive industries, with high CPC rates for top rankings - you have the following options:

1) There must be some niche phrases that are cheaper, and still generate traffic
2) Don't focus alays on top 3 bids - position 10 can sometimes generate nice traffic with low CPC and higher conversion and ROI.

[jadenusa]

Interesting...I just finished speaking with MSN about this program. The previous poster is correct. The minimum per year for this program is $50k. If you're keywords don't get enough searches you'll be declined for the program... That's the least of my worries...where to find $50k?

[Paco]

Our experience at Studio Elena Roche http://www.ElenaRoche.com
has been a complete bust with the mainline PPCs in terms of ROI.

Subsequently we adopted the tactic of 1. letting our deposits run out; 2. honestly and continuously optimising for position on all relevant keywords; 3. beat the bushes for relevant links; 4. listing about 750 keywords with every damn new PPC that will give a free balance to signup; 5. work on content; 6. chase the evolution of the net.

The results are that we are either #1 or on the first page in Google for vitually every search term we have targeted, we aren't throwing away money anymore and we don't have the "little stigma" of paying for a position in a regular search engine that we didn't "deserve".

During our brief time in the mainline PPCs I was always suspicious of click-thru fraud or at least affiliate hanky-panky: too many short visits with no action.

Three days in Search Cactus, before I understood all of this, was enough to wake me up.

Paco

[SusyQ]

Wow... thanks for the tips guys! Looks like I need to bury my head in some research and PPC...

:cheers: :cheers: