Friday, February 1, 2008
Thursday, March 1, 2007
15 Most Common Errors in an AdWords Campaign
15 Most Common Errors in an AdWords Campaign
By Adriana Iordan (c) 2007
Don't assume that this is an easy task. It's not. Remember that Google is a tough nut to crack, but with the right set of tools and a lot of hard work and dedication, it can be done. Therefore, it is good that before creating a pay per clíck campaign, you have a clearly established goal. According to this goal, begin creating your AdWords campaign.
As with Search Engine Optimization, AdWords campaign management is a must and must be done properly. There are many aspects that can be overlooked. Some of the most common AdWords campaign mistakes come from superficiality or insufficient knowledge about the targeted market and the way the Web works.
Among the worst mistakes being made in such cases are:
1. Bidding too much in order to be placed on the top positionEven if this seems like the best choice, being "Number One" in this case is not necessarily the best. Keep in mind that Web users are accustomed to searching, and they usually don't stop at the first ad. And, since they are first prospecting the market, it is highly possible that you only get an unqualified clíck. It seems that being no. 3 in paid search is one of the best (i.e. profitable) positions.
2. No geo-targetingTry to relate to the potential customers in your area first. They are more likely to take their business to a local company. Add, for example, the name of the town or of the area where your company is in your ad and the effects will be noticeable.
3. Bidding on broad keywordsBroad keywords are very likely to take your CPC (cost-per-click) to a very high level. Therefore, try to brush the keyword líst that you wish to use for your PPC campaign and retain only highly searched-for keywords. Those are worth bidding for.
4. Boring contentDon't say what others have already said. Be creative. Be fresh.
5. Non-relevant landing pagesMake sure that when the Web user clicks on the URL in the ad, it will take him/her to a relevant page. You don't want the user to get frustrated by not finding the desired product/service advertised in the ad.
6. Directing users only to the home pageUnless you have a really cool Web site that captivates users and makes them browse through it for endless minutes, they will get frustrated if they have to search throughout the site for what they need. You should send them directly to where they will find what was advertised.
7. No keywords in the ad textDo insert your keywords in the title and description of the ad. Nevertheless, remember to keep an eye on the clarity and relevance of the ad. Visitors must understand exactly what they will get when clicking on it.
8. Not tracking the resultsYou should monitor the keywords that you use in your Google AdWords marketing campaigns. The most at-hand tool is Google Analytics, built into the AdWords interface. You should be able to see and rule out the keywords that are not helping you get the desired ROI (return on investment).
9. Same bids for the content networkAdWords gives you the possibility to have two separate campaigns, one for the content network and the other for the search network. You should set different bids for the content network. Otherwise, the CPC will be much higher than anticipated.
10. Suggesting that what you offër is frëeDon't try to lure visitors with false statements. All you'll get is irrelevant traffíc and no conversion (or not significant enough).
11. Not identifying the uniqueness of your product/serviceIdentify what makes you and your product/service unique, what makes you stand out from the large crowd of competitors. Find the keyword(s) that supports this uniqueness.
12. Failure to create multiple ad groups and ad campaignsDon't fall into that trap. Unorganized campaigns will fail to produce the expected results. Group all the single ads that target related keywords. If you're advertising more than one product/service, it's best to have the ads grouped by category.Also, don't use just one campaign. Split your ads into separate campaigns. You will be able to see which of them gives you more satisfaction in terms of conversion rate.
13. Failure to test with more that one adDon't limit your advertising campaign to just one ad. It may not contain the best keywords. Create more ads and see which one works best.
14. Not using targeting options for keywordsBroad matches may or may not improve your conversion rate. But if you use the keyword targeting options, you may notice significant improvements. The targeting options are the square brackets - [blue tulip] - and the quotation marks - "blue tulip".Also, you can use the negative character (minus sign) in order to specify certain keywords for which you don't want your ads to be shown: -tulip. This will also prevent you from paying for such words. A penny saved is a penny earned, they say.
15. Not using company/brand name keywords Don't leave out the name of your company or of a brand you've created. You wouldn't want the competition to make profitable use of it, would you?
So, when you plan on creating an AdWords campaign, try to keep an eye on the aspects mentioned above. There is too much at stake to afford bad internet marketing campaigns.
What's In It For You?
To make it short (taking into account that your Google AdWords campaign is a good one): an improved conversion rate. After all, this is what you were aiming for. If you only take a look at the possible AdWords campaign mistakes mentioned above, it is easy to figure out the disastrous consequences of a poorly managed advertising campaign.
Ultimately, it can put you out of business. On the other hand, a well-directed and properly instrumented pay-per-click campaign can go a long way. You gain notoriety and make a profit.
There are so many ways in which you can save monëy when creating an AdWords campaign. If you manage to avoid the above-mentioned mistakes, you will surely notice an íncrease in your salës or amount of contracts for your services.
By Adriana Iordan (c) 2007
Don't assume that this is an easy task. It's not. Remember that Google is a tough nut to crack, but with the right set of tools and a lot of hard work and dedication, it can be done. Therefore, it is good that before creating a pay per clíck campaign, you have a clearly established goal. According to this goal, begin creating your AdWords campaign.
As with Search Engine Optimization, AdWords campaign management is a must and must be done properly. There are many aspects that can be overlooked. Some of the most common AdWords campaign mistakes come from superficiality or insufficient knowledge about the targeted market and the way the Web works.
Among the worst mistakes being made in such cases are:
1. Bidding too much in order to be placed on the top positionEven if this seems like the best choice, being "Number One" in this case is not necessarily the best. Keep in mind that Web users are accustomed to searching, and they usually don't stop at the first ad. And, since they are first prospecting the market, it is highly possible that you only get an unqualified clíck. It seems that being no. 3 in paid search is one of the best (i.e. profitable) positions.
2. No geo-targetingTry to relate to the potential customers in your area first. They are more likely to take their business to a local company. Add, for example, the name of the town or of the area where your company is in your ad and the effects will be noticeable.
3. Bidding on broad keywordsBroad keywords are very likely to take your CPC (cost-per-click) to a very high level. Therefore, try to brush the keyword líst that you wish to use for your PPC campaign and retain only highly searched-for keywords. Those are worth bidding for.
4. Boring contentDon't say what others have already said. Be creative. Be fresh.
5. Non-relevant landing pagesMake sure that when the Web user clicks on the URL in the ad, it will take him/her to a relevant page. You don't want the user to get frustrated by not finding the desired product/service advertised in the ad.
6. Directing users only to the home pageUnless you have a really cool Web site that captivates users and makes them browse through it for endless minutes, they will get frustrated if they have to search throughout the site for what they need. You should send them directly to where they will find what was advertised.
7. No keywords in the ad textDo insert your keywords in the title and description of the ad. Nevertheless, remember to keep an eye on the clarity and relevance of the ad. Visitors must understand exactly what they will get when clicking on it.
8. Not tracking the resultsYou should monitor the keywords that you use in your Google AdWords marketing campaigns. The most at-hand tool is Google Analytics, built into the AdWords interface. You should be able to see and rule out the keywords that are not helping you get the desired ROI (return on investment).
9. Same bids for the content networkAdWords gives you the possibility to have two separate campaigns, one for the content network and the other for the search network. You should set different bids for the content network. Otherwise, the CPC will be much higher than anticipated.
10. Suggesting that what you offër is frëeDon't try to lure visitors with false statements. All you'll get is irrelevant traffíc and no conversion (or not significant enough).
11. Not identifying the uniqueness of your product/serviceIdentify what makes you and your product/service unique, what makes you stand out from the large crowd of competitors. Find the keyword(s) that supports this uniqueness.
12. Failure to create multiple ad groups and ad campaignsDon't fall into that trap. Unorganized campaigns will fail to produce the expected results. Group all the single ads that target related keywords. If you're advertising more than one product/service, it's best to have the ads grouped by category.Also, don't use just one campaign. Split your ads into separate campaigns. You will be able to see which of them gives you more satisfaction in terms of conversion rate.
13. Failure to test with more that one adDon't limit your advertising campaign to just one ad. It may not contain the best keywords. Create more ads and see which one works best.
14. Not using targeting options for keywordsBroad matches may or may not improve your conversion rate. But if you use the keyword targeting options, you may notice significant improvements. The targeting options are the square brackets - [blue tulip] - and the quotation marks - "blue tulip".Also, you can use the negative character (minus sign) in order to specify certain keywords for which you don't want your ads to be shown: -tulip. This will also prevent you from paying for such words. A penny saved is a penny earned, they say.
15. Not using company/brand name keywords Don't leave out the name of your company or of a brand you've created. You wouldn't want the competition to make profitable use of it, would you?
So, when you plan on creating an AdWords campaign, try to keep an eye on the aspects mentioned above. There is too much at stake to afford bad internet marketing campaigns.
What's In It For You?
To make it short (taking into account that your Google AdWords campaign is a good one): an improved conversion rate. After all, this is what you were aiming for. If you only take a look at the possible AdWords campaign mistakes mentioned above, it is easy to figure out the disastrous consequences of a poorly managed advertising campaign.
Ultimately, it can put you out of business. On the other hand, a well-directed and properly instrumented pay-per-click campaign can go a long way. You gain notoriety and make a profit.
There are so many ways in which you can save monëy when creating an AdWords campaign. If you manage to avoid the above-mentioned mistakes, you will surely notice an íncrease in your salës or amount of contracts for your services.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Who's Afraid of Google? Everyone.
Of course, Google has always wanted to be more than a search engine. Even in the early days, its ultimate goal was extravagant: to organize the world's information. High-minded as that sounds, Google's ever-expanding agenda has put it on a collision course with nearly every company in the information technology industry: Amazon.com, Comcast, eBay, Yahoo!, even Microsoft.
In less than a decade, Google has gone from guerrilla startup to 800-pound gorilla. In some ways, the company is a gentle giant. Whereas Microsoft infamously smothered new and open standards, Google is famous for supporting them. And the firm is softening its image, launching a philanthropic arm, Google.org, with nearly $1 billion earmarked for social causes. But that doesn't reduce the fear factor, and Google knows it. Omid Kordestani, the company's global sales guru, said at a recent conference, "We're trying to find ways so we are not viewed as a gorilla." Given its outsize ambitions, that's one search Google might not be able to handle.
Is the sky falling? That's how it looks to panicked tech companies across the Valley as they contend with Google's ever-expanding power and ambition.
VIDEOToday, Google Video is a motley mix: clips of monkeys performing karate and robot dogs attacking iguanas. Tomorrow? No one knows, but everyone is worried.Who's threatened: Comcast and other cable providers, Yahoo!, TV networks that still shun the NetSigns of panic: Comcast wants to be the Google of television. Yahoo! bristles at any mention of Google Video. Networks were stunned to find Google compiling a database of their programs.Reality check: Google Video is up and running. The question is, How much content can it attract - or pay for - to fill the database. Watch for a strategic acquisition, even something big. TiVo?
CLASSIFIEDSWhen secrecy-obsessed Google let news of "Google Base" slip, it looked like an aggressive entr�e into online classifieds. The test service can search ads like used-car and personals listings, which would mesh with Google Local and might even kick-start Orkut, Google's social network.Who's threatened: craigslist, eBay, Monster, Tribe.net Signs of panic: Within hours of the Base bombshell, eBay's market value dropped by almost $2 billion. And even before that, the classified sites were nervous. CareerBuilder and others fretted about letting Google host their feeds. Reality check: This may be an extension of Froogle rather than a stand-alone product. But it could expand to everything from travel to eBay-like offerings.
TELECOMFree Wi-Fi in San Francisco, instant-messaging software, a widely anticipated VoIP foray - Google's telecom initiatives seem designed to make life radically easier for users.Who's threatened: Comcast, SBC, Verizon, Vonage, what's left of AOLSigns of panic: Surprisingly few so far, partially because Google says it has no plans to offer Wi-Fi beyond San Francisco. Still, Comcast coined the word Comcastic - is that its answer to Googlicious?Reality check: Something's clearly afoot, and it could be big. With great power comes great regulation - so Google recently opened a DC lobbying shop to combat "centralized control by network operators."
OPERATING SYSTEMSIf anyone can fulfill the dream of turning the Internet into the operating system, it's Google. If the company chooses to develop an OS, the move will cement Google's other initiatives into a powerful whole.Who's threatened: Apple, MicrosoftSigns of panic: When one of Microsoft's key operating system engineers defected to Google last year, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer threw a chair across an office and vowed to kill Google.Reality check: The migration of applications from PCs to the Net is already happening - and it's key to Google's future. But the likelihood of a Google OS depends on what Microsoft accomplishes with its new OS, Vista.
PRINTWhat if a search engine trolled not just every page on the Web, but every page in every book? Amazon.com tried it first, then Google said it would "make the full text of all the world's books searchable by anyone."Who's threatened: Amazon, Microsoft, book publishersSigns of panic: Against the interests of a legion of obscure writers, the Authors Guild sued Google. The Association of American Publishers, with more to fear, did the same. Microsoft and Yahoo! have joined a group that's creating its own book search service.Reality check: Making every book searchable sends a clear signal that Google has the brawn to organize the world's information. But a vicious backlash could drown out that message.
PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAMSGoogle joined with Sun Microsystems in October to jointly promote and distribute apps like the Google Toolbar and Sun's free OpenOffice software. Wider distribution of the toolbar, Google's most potent Trojan horse, gives the search engine access to a world of desktops.Who's threatened: Apple, Corel, MicrosoftSigns of panic: Microsoft launched its own toolbar and protested the decision of the Massachusetts Information Technology Department to dump Office for open source alternatives.Reality check: It may be a fiendishly clever way to attack one of Microsoft's highest-margin products, but this tactic can't be a top priority. Google Toolbar will thrive without Sun.
ECOMMERCEFroogle threatens no one yet. But what if, as the development of Google Wallet suggests, Google handled your every online transaction? The potential revenue from Google's cut of each purchase would make AdSense look like AdCents. Who's threatened: Amazon, Buy.com, eBaySigns of panic: After reports speculated that Google might take on PayPal, eBay said it would pay up to $4.1 billion for VoIP rebel Skype. Wall Street's read: With PayPal under fire, eBay needed a new growth area.Reality check: Rather than take on PayPal directly, the company may start with something less ambitious, like handling payments for premium video content. But after that? Watch out.
In less than a decade, Google has gone from guerrilla startup to 800-pound gorilla. In some ways, the company is a gentle giant. Whereas Microsoft infamously smothered new and open standards, Google is famous for supporting them. And the firm is softening its image, launching a philanthropic arm, Google.org, with nearly $1 billion earmarked for social causes. But that doesn't reduce the fear factor, and Google knows it. Omid Kordestani, the company's global sales guru, said at a recent conference, "We're trying to find ways so we are not viewed as a gorilla." Given its outsize ambitions, that's one search Google might not be able to handle.
Is the sky falling? That's how it looks to panicked tech companies across the Valley as they contend with Google's ever-expanding power and ambition.
VIDEOToday, Google Video is a motley mix: clips of monkeys performing karate and robot dogs attacking iguanas. Tomorrow? No one knows, but everyone is worried.Who's threatened: Comcast and other cable providers, Yahoo!, TV networks that still shun the NetSigns of panic: Comcast wants to be the Google of television. Yahoo! bristles at any mention of Google Video. Networks were stunned to find Google compiling a database of their programs.Reality check: Google Video is up and running. The question is, How much content can it attract - or pay for - to fill the database. Watch for a strategic acquisition, even something big. TiVo?
CLASSIFIEDSWhen secrecy-obsessed Google let news of "Google Base" slip, it looked like an aggressive entr�e into online classifieds. The test service can search ads like used-car and personals listings, which would mesh with Google Local and might even kick-start Orkut, Google's social network.Who's threatened: craigslist, eBay, Monster, Tribe.net Signs of panic: Within hours of the Base bombshell, eBay's market value dropped by almost $2 billion. And even before that, the classified sites were nervous. CareerBuilder and others fretted about letting Google host their feeds. Reality check: This may be an extension of Froogle rather than a stand-alone product. But it could expand to everything from travel to eBay-like offerings.
TELECOMFree Wi-Fi in San Francisco, instant-messaging software, a widely anticipated VoIP foray - Google's telecom initiatives seem designed to make life radically easier for users.Who's threatened: Comcast, SBC, Verizon, Vonage, what's left of AOLSigns of panic: Surprisingly few so far, partially because Google says it has no plans to offer Wi-Fi beyond San Francisco. Still, Comcast coined the word Comcastic - is that its answer to Googlicious?Reality check: Something's clearly afoot, and it could be big. With great power comes great regulation - so Google recently opened a DC lobbying shop to combat "centralized control by network operators."
OPERATING SYSTEMSIf anyone can fulfill the dream of turning the Internet into the operating system, it's Google. If the company chooses to develop an OS, the move will cement Google's other initiatives into a powerful whole.Who's threatened: Apple, MicrosoftSigns of panic: When one of Microsoft's key operating system engineers defected to Google last year, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer threw a chair across an office and vowed to kill Google.Reality check: The migration of applications from PCs to the Net is already happening - and it's key to Google's future. But the likelihood of a Google OS depends on what Microsoft accomplishes with its new OS, Vista.
PRINTWhat if a search engine trolled not just every page on the Web, but every page in every book? Amazon.com tried it first, then Google said it would "make the full text of all the world's books searchable by anyone."Who's threatened: Amazon, Microsoft, book publishersSigns of panic: Against the interests of a legion of obscure writers, the Authors Guild sued Google. The Association of American Publishers, with more to fear, did the same. Microsoft and Yahoo! have joined a group that's creating its own book search service.Reality check: Making every book searchable sends a clear signal that Google has the brawn to organize the world's information. But a vicious backlash could drown out that message.
PRODUCTIVITY PROGRAMSGoogle joined with Sun Microsystems in October to jointly promote and distribute apps like the Google Toolbar and Sun's free OpenOffice software. Wider distribution of the toolbar, Google's most potent Trojan horse, gives the search engine access to a world of desktops.Who's threatened: Apple, Corel, MicrosoftSigns of panic: Microsoft launched its own toolbar and protested the decision of the Massachusetts Information Technology Department to dump Office for open source alternatives.Reality check: It may be a fiendishly clever way to attack one of Microsoft's highest-margin products, but this tactic can't be a top priority. Google Toolbar will thrive without Sun.
ECOMMERCEFroogle threatens no one yet. But what if, as the development of Google Wallet suggests, Google handled your every online transaction? The potential revenue from Google's cut of each purchase would make AdSense look like AdCents. Who's threatened: Amazon, Buy.com, eBaySigns of panic: After reports speculated that Google might take on PayPal, eBay said it would pay up to $4.1 billion for VoIP rebel Skype. Wall Street's read: With PayPal under fire, eBay needed a new growth area.Reality check: Rather than take on PayPal directly, the company may start with something less ambitious, like handling payments for premium video content. But after that? Watch out.
Google's new web-based office software suite
Google's new web-based office software suite, which the company announced Thursday, is a swift kick to the teeth delivered squarely in the direction of Microsoft. Or is it?
Google Apps Premier Edition is a collection of office tools for businesses -- word processor, spreadsheet, e-mail, calendar and web page creator -- all of which are accessible through a web browser. Pricing is set at $50 per user per year, less expensive than Microsoft Office but with much the same functionality. Microsoft has its own web-based suite of tools in Office Live, but the company's offering doesn't match Google's. And Google isn't going after Office Live, it's going after Office.
The suite and others like it are visions of a possible future when all software will be delivered over the internet. Does the arrival of Google Apps Premier Edition signal the death of desktop software dinosaurs like Microsoft Office?
While the idea is compelling, the answer is no. Not yet, at least. There are many reasons to get excited about Google's new plan, but there are just as many reasons to stick with the status quo.
Reasons to switch to Google's web-based office suite:
Cost. Compared to the $500 list price for the full version of Microsoft Office Professional 2007, Google's $50-per-year price tag is cheap. Telephone, e-mail and web support are included in that price, so organizations could see a drop in IT support costs as well. Companies may be faced with a bump in training costs when the switch first happens, but Google offers some interactive training presentations that could help tilt the learning curve. Centralized data storage. Documents are available from any web browser, upping the convenience ante for remote workers. Plus, 10 GB is plenty of room. For most users, that's more than they'll ever need. Security. Data is accessed through secure connections and stored redundantly, and Gmail uses SSL for mail connections. On paper, that's just as secure as Microsoft's desktop solutions. Google also offers enterprise customers the ability to push all mail traffic through a self-hosted gateway. Users get Gmail's slick interface and corporations get to fold in existing procedures like traffic monitoring and archiving. A bonus: Gmail arguably has the best spam and virus filters of all the web-based e-mail services. Gmail automatically bounces executable files (even if they are wrapped in an archive) and employs platform-wide spam filters kept current by the user community. 24/7 access to the work space. The beauty of web-based applications is that they are accessible from any computer with an internet connection, anywhere in the world. Also, every worker in the company gets the same tool set -- like a standard corporate software install without the production and installation costs. Cut the Microsoft leash. Any company switching to Google Apps will be free of Microsoft's sluggish upgrade cycle and confusing, restrictive licensing requirements.
Reasons to stay on the desktop:
Privacy. This is a big one. Persuading any company, large or small, to store sensitive intellectual property, financial documents and customer data on a server owned, sheltered and maintained by Google would take a truckload of trust. And even if company execs are OK with it, customers and investors might not be. Regulatory compliance. Certain industries are bound by regulations concerning storage, transfer and privacy of data. Even though Google has strategies in place for disaster recovery (all of its Apps data is stored redundantly in multiple data centers) and offers optional enhancements to e-mail security, it's unlikely that the financial and health care industries will be switching away from Microsoft Office soon. Google Apps is incomplete. Where's the PowerPoint killer? Also, anyone who keeps their entire contact list in Outlook is going to be seriously underwhelmed by Gmail's contact-management features. Working on the web is weird. Users who have grown accustomed to the smooth responsiveness of desktop applications will feel like a stranger in Web 2.0 land. Latency issues, Ajax-powered user interfaces and the absence of true drag-and-drop functionality will prove a turnoff for many. No offline access. Even in today's "always on, always connected" corporate environment, the tubes occasionally get clogged. Plus, there's no Wi-Fi on airplanes yet. Web-based applications are useless when the user isn't connected to the internet. Also, documents stored at Google can't be retrieved when Google can't be reached.
By Michael Calore Feb 22 2007 14:00 PM
Google Apps Premier Edition is a collection of office tools for businesses -- word processor, spreadsheet, e-mail, calendar and web page creator -- all of which are accessible through a web browser. Pricing is set at $50 per user per year, less expensive than Microsoft Office but with much the same functionality. Microsoft has its own web-based suite of tools in Office Live, but the company's offering doesn't match Google's. And Google isn't going after Office Live, it's going after Office.
The suite and others like it are visions of a possible future when all software will be delivered over the internet. Does the arrival of Google Apps Premier Edition signal the death of desktop software dinosaurs like Microsoft Office?
While the idea is compelling, the answer is no. Not yet, at least. There are many reasons to get excited about Google's new plan, but there are just as many reasons to stick with the status quo.
Reasons to switch to Google's web-based office suite:
Cost. Compared to the $500 list price for the full version of Microsoft Office Professional 2007, Google's $50-per-year price tag is cheap. Telephone, e-mail and web support are included in that price, so organizations could see a drop in IT support costs as well. Companies may be faced with a bump in training costs when the switch first happens, but Google offers some interactive training presentations that could help tilt the learning curve. Centralized data storage. Documents are available from any web browser, upping the convenience ante for remote workers. Plus, 10 GB is plenty of room. For most users, that's more than they'll ever need. Security. Data is accessed through secure connections and stored redundantly, and Gmail uses SSL for mail connections. On paper, that's just as secure as Microsoft's desktop solutions. Google also offers enterprise customers the ability to push all mail traffic through a self-hosted gateway. Users get Gmail's slick interface and corporations get to fold in existing procedures like traffic monitoring and archiving. A bonus: Gmail arguably has the best spam and virus filters of all the web-based e-mail services. Gmail automatically bounces executable files (even if they are wrapped in an archive) and employs platform-wide spam filters kept current by the user community. 24/7 access to the work space. The beauty of web-based applications is that they are accessible from any computer with an internet connection, anywhere in the world. Also, every worker in the company gets the same tool set -- like a standard corporate software install without the production and installation costs. Cut the Microsoft leash. Any company switching to Google Apps will be free of Microsoft's sluggish upgrade cycle and confusing, restrictive licensing requirements.
Reasons to stay on the desktop:
Privacy. This is a big one. Persuading any company, large or small, to store sensitive intellectual property, financial documents and customer data on a server owned, sheltered and maintained by Google would take a truckload of trust. And even if company execs are OK with it, customers and investors might not be. Regulatory compliance. Certain industries are bound by regulations concerning storage, transfer and privacy of data. Even though Google has strategies in place for disaster recovery (all of its Apps data is stored redundantly in multiple data centers) and offers optional enhancements to e-mail security, it's unlikely that the financial and health care industries will be switching away from Microsoft Office soon. Google Apps is incomplete. Where's the PowerPoint killer? Also, anyone who keeps their entire contact list in Outlook is going to be seriously underwhelmed by Gmail's contact-management features. Working on the web is weird. Users who have grown accustomed to the smooth responsiveness of desktop applications will feel like a stranger in Web 2.0 land. Latency issues, Ajax-powered user interfaces and the absence of true drag-and-drop functionality will prove a turnoff for many. No offline access. Even in today's "always on, always connected" corporate environment, the tubes occasionally get clogged. Plus, there's no Wi-Fi on airplanes yet. Web-based applications are useless when the user isn't connected to the internet. Also, documents stored at Google can't be retrieved when Google can't be reached.
By Michael Calore Feb 22 2007 14:00 PM
Thursday, February 15, 2007
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
AdWords is Google's flagship advertising product, and main source of revenue. AdWords offers pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and site-targeted advertising for both text and banner ads. The AdWords program includes local, national, and international distribution. Google's text advertisements are short, consisting of one title line and two content text lines. Image ads can be one of several different Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) standard sizes.
Contents[hide]
1 Pay-Per-Click advertisements (PPC)
2 Site targeted advertisements
3 AdWords distribution
4 Click-to-Call
5 History
6 Legal context
7 Ad blocking and Adwords
7.1 Search
7.2 Content network
7.3 Proxies
8 Technology
9 Competitors
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
Pay-Per-Click advertisements (PPC)
Advertisers specify the words that should trigger their ads and the maximum amount they are willing to pay per click. When a user searches Google's search engine on www.google.com, ads for relevant words are shown as "sponsored link" on the right side of the screen, and sometimes above the main search results.
The ordering of the paid listings depends on other advertisers' bids (thus the system is classified as P4P) and the "quality score" of all ads shown for a given search. The quality score is calculated by historical click-through rates and the relevance of an advertiser's ad text, keyword, and landing page to the search, as determined by Google. The quality score is also used by Google to set the minimum bids for an advertiser's keywords.[1]
The auction mechanism that determines the order of the ads has been called a "generalized second price" auction. It is a variation of the Vickrey auction.
Site targeted advertisements
In 2003 Google introduced site-targeted advertising. Using the AdWords control panel, advertisers can enter keywords of interest, and Google will recommend relevant sites within their content network. Advertisers then bid on a cost per mille (CPM) basis for placement.
AdWords distribution
All AdWords ads are eligible to be shown on www.google.com. Advertisers also have the option of enabling their ads to show on Google's partner networks. The "search network" includes AOL search, Ask.com, and Netscape. Like www.google.com, these search engines show AdWords ads in response to user searches.
The "content network" shows AdWords ads on sites that are not search engines. Google automatically determines the subject of the pages and displays ads for which the advertiser has specified an interest in that subject. The ads show in boxes resembling banner ads, with the designation "Ads By Gooooooooooogle." These content network sites are those that use AdSense, the other side of the Google advertising model. Click through rates on the content network are typically much lower than those on the search network and are therefore ignored when calculating an advertiser's quality score.
AdWords is used by publishers who wish to bring traffic to their websites. The biggest competitors are Yahoo! Search Marketing (following Yahoo!'s acquisition of Overture Services, Inc.) and Microsoft adCenter.
Click-to-Call
Google Click-to-Call[1] is a service provided by Google which allows users to call advertisers from Google search results pages.
All calls are free at Google's expense. However, if the call is made to a mobile phone, the caller may incur fees depending on the mobile phone plan and the location of the caller and the advertiser (if they are in different countries at the time of the call, the call will probably cost more).
Abuse of the service is easily achieved, making it questionable about how long it will continue to exist. As some individuals have pointed out in technology blogs, you can easily connect two different numbers who have no intention of talking to each other. This is easily accomplished by typing in the phone number of a company or other individual, which will then connect them to the directory listing selected.
History
The AdWords product was launched in 2000.[2] At first advertisers would pay a monthly amount, and Google would set up and manage their campaign. To accommodate small businesses and those who wanted to manage their own campaigns, Google soon introduced the AdWords self-service portal. As of 2005, Google provides a campaign management service called Jumpstart [3] to assist advertisers in setting up their campaigns.
In 2005, Google launched a program to certify individuals and companies who have completed AdWords training and passed an exam. Due to the complexity of AdWords and the amount of money at stake, many advertisers choose to hire a consultant to manage their campaigns.
Legal context
AdWords has generated lawsuits in the area of trademark law and click fraud. Google recently settled a click fraud lawsuit for US$90 million. [4]
Overture Services, Inc. sued Google for patent infringement in April 2002 in relation to the AdWords service. Following Yahoo!'s acquisition of Overture, the suit was settled in 2004 with Google agreeing to issue 2.7 million shares of common stock to Yahoo! in exchange for a perpetual license under the patent. [5]
Search
The ads are displayed on the top or right hand side of the natural search results. The ads are pure text, and thus difficult to block for normal ad-blocking software. However, the Mozilla Firefox extension CustomizeGoogle can remove them.
Content network
Advertisements on content websites are displayed via JavaScript-generated iframes and can be easily blocked, either by turning off JavaScript or using ad-blocking software such as Adblock.
Proxies
The search proxy Scroogle allows users to perform Google searches without receiving Google advertisements.
Technology
The AdWords system was initially implemented on top of the MySQL database engine. After the system had been launched, management decided to use a commercial database (Oracle) instead. As is typical of applications simultaneously written and tuned for one database, and ported to another, the system became much slower, so eventually it was returned to MySQL ([2])
[edit] Competitors
Yahoo! Search Marketing
Microsoft adCenter
[edit] See also
List of Google tools and services
Click fraud
Central ad server
AdWords is Google's flagship advertising product, and main source of revenue. AdWords offers pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and site-targeted advertising for both text and banner ads. The AdWords program includes local, national, and international distribution. Google's text advertisements are short, consisting of one title line and two content text lines. Image ads can be one of several different Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) standard sizes.
Contents[hide]
1 Pay-Per-Click advertisements (PPC)
2 Site targeted advertisements
3 AdWords distribution
4 Click-to-Call
5 History
6 Legal context
7 Ad blocking and Adwords
7.1 Search
7.2 Content network
7.3 Proxies
8 Technology
9 Competitors
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
Pay-Per-Click advertisements (PPC)
Advertisers specify the words that should trigger their ads and the maximum amount they are willing to pay per click. When a user searches Google's search engine on www.google.com, ads for relevant words are shown as "sponsored link" on the right side of the screen, and sometimes above the main search results.
The ordering of the paid listings depends on other advertisers' bids (thus the system is classified as P4P) and the "quality score" of all ads shown for a given search. The quality score is calculated by historical click-through rates and the relevance of an advertiser's ad text, keyword, and landing page to the search, as determined by Google. The quality score is also used by Google to set the minimum bids for an advertiser's keywords.[1]
The auction mechanism that determines the order of the ads has been called a "generalized second price" auction. It is a variation of the Vickrey auction.
Site targeted advertisements
In 2003 Google introduced site-targeted advertising. Using the AdWords control panel, advertisers can enter keywords of interest, and Google will recommend relevant sites within their content network. Advertisers then bid on a cost per mille (CPM) basis for placement.
AdWords distribution
All AdWords ads are eligible to be shown on www.google.com. Advertisers also have the option of enabling their ads to show on Google's partner networks. The "search network" includes AOL search, Ask.com, and Netscape. Like www.google.com, these search engines show AdWords ads in response to user searches.
The "content network" shows AdWords ads on sites that are not search engines. Google automatically determines the subject of the pages and displays ads for which the advertiser has specified an interest in that subject. The ads show in boxes resembling banner ads, with the designation "Ads By Gooooooooooogle." These content network sites are those that use AdSense, the other side of the Google advertising model. Click through rates on the content network are typically much lower than those on the search network and are therefore ignored when calculating an advertiser's quality score.
AdWords is used by publishers who wish to bring traffic to their websites. The biggest competitors are Yahoo! Search Marketing (following Yahoo!'s acquisition of Overture Services, Inc.) and Microsoft adCenter.
Click-to-Call
Google Click-to-Call[1] is a service provided by Google which allows users to call advertisers from Google search results pages.
All calls are free at Google's expense. However, if the call is made to a mobile phone, the caller may incur fees depending on the mobile phone plan and the location of the caller and the advertiser (if they are in different countries at the time of the call, the call will probably cost more).
Abuse of the service is easily achieved, making it questionable about how long it will continue to exist. As some individuals have pointed out in technology blogs, you can easily connect two different numbers who have no intention of talking to each other. This is easily accomplished by typing in the phone number of a company or other individual, which will then connect them to the directory listing selected.
History
The AdWords product was launched in 2000.[2] At first advertisers would pay a monthly amount, and Google would set up and manage their campaign. To accommodate small businesses and those who wanted to manage their own campaigns, Google soon introduced the AdWords self-service portal. As of 2005, Google provides a campaign management service called Jumpstart [3] to assist advertisers in setting up their campaigns.
In 2005, Google launched a program to certify individuals and companies who have completed AdWords training and passed an exam. Due to the complexity of AdWords and the amount of money at stake, many advertisers choose to hire a consultant to manage their campaigns.
Legal context
AdWords has generated lawsuits in the area of trademark law and click fraud. Google recently settled a click fraud lawsuit for US$90 million. [4]
Overture Services, Inc. sued Google for patent infringement in April 2002 in relation to the AdWords service. Following Yahoo!'s acquisition of Overture, the suit was settled in 2004 with Google agreeing to issue 2.7 million shares of common stock to Yahoo! in exchange for a perpetual license under the patent. [5]
Search
The ads are displayed on the top or right hand side of the natural search results. The ads are pure text, and thus difficult to block for normal ad-blocking software. However, the Mozilla Firefox extension CustomizeGoogle can remove them.
Content network
Advertisements on content websites are displayed via JavaScript-generated iframes and can be easily blocked, either by turning off JavaScript or using ad-blocking software such as Adblock.
Proxies
The search proxy Scroogle allows users to perform Google searches without receiving Google advertisements.
Technology
The AdWords system was initially implemented on top of the MySQL database engine. After the system had been launched, management decided to use a commercial database (Oracle) instead. As is typical of applications simultaneously written and tuned for one database, and ported to another, the system became much slower, so eventually it was returned to MySQL ([2])
[edit] Competitors
Yahoo! Search Marketing
Microsoft adCenter
[edit] See also
List of Google tools and services
Click fraud
Central ad server
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Google adwords help
For starters you can get all the basics http://adwords.google.com/support/ Ask questions, share answers, and post your favorite AdWords tips and tricks on the AdWords Help Discussion Group. Posts are not moderated by Google.
You dont need a degrees in education its pretty straight forward.
How it works:
You create your ads You create ads and choose keywords, which are words or phrases related to your business.
Your ads appear on Google When people search on Google using one of your keywords, your ad may appear next to the search results. Now you're advertising to an audience that's already interested in you.
You attract customers People can simply click your ad to make a purchase or learn more about you. It's that easy!
Google AdWords offers you:
Targeted reach
Now you can advertise to people searching on Google. Even if you already appear in Google's search results, AdWords can help you target new audiences on Google and our advertising network.
Greater control
You can edit your ads and adjust your budget until you get the results you want. You can also display a variety of ad formats and even target your ads to specific languages and geographic locations.
Measurable value
There's no minimum spending requirement or time commitment. And with the cost-per-click option, you're only charged if people click your ads. This means every dollar of your budget goes toward bringing new prospects to you.
Concerned about costs?
Don't worry—AdWords puts you in complete control of your spending.
Set your budget There's no minimum spending requirement--the amount you pay for AdWords is up to you. You can, for instance, set a daily budget of five dollars and a maximum cost of ten cents for each click on your ad.
Avoid guesswork Google provides keyword traffic and cost estimates so you can make informed decisions about choosing keywords and maximizing your budget.
Pay only for results You're charged only if someone clicks your ad, not when your ad is displayed.
Local and regional targeting
Set your ads to appear only to people searching in a particular state, city, or region. Now it's easy to target online customers within, say, 25 miles of your front door. Learn moreLocal business adsGet noticed on Google Maps. People searching for information related to your business will see your location, contact information, and an image of your choosing highlighted on a map of your area.
You dont need a degrees in education its pretty straight forward.
How it works:
You create your ads You create ads and choose keywords, which are words or phrases related to your business.
Your ads appear on Google When people search on Google using one of your keywords, your ad may appear next to the search results. Now you're advertising to an audience that's already interested in you.
You attract customers People can simply click your ad to make a purchase or learn more about you. It's that easy!
Google AdWords offers you:
Targeted reach
Now you can advertise to people searching on Google. Even if you already appear in Google's search results, AdWords can help you target new audiences on Google and our advertising network.
Greater control
You can edit your ads and adjust your budget until you get the results you want. You can also display a variety of ad formats and even target your ads to specific languages and geographic locations.
Measurable value
There's no minimum spending requirement or time commitment. And with the cost-per-click option, you're only charged if people click your ads. This means every dollar of your budget goes toward bringing new prospects to you.
Concerned about costs?
Don't worry—AdWords puts you in complete control of your spending.
Set your budget There's no minimum spending requirement--the amount you pay for AdWords is up to you. You can, for instance, set a daily budget of five dollars and a maximum cost of ten cents for each click on your ad.
Avoid guesswork Google provides keyword traffic and cost estimates so you can make informed decisions about choosing keywords and maximizing your budget.
Pay only for results You're charged only if someone clicks your ad, not when your ad is displayed.
Local and regional targeting
Set your ads to appear only to people searching in a particular state, city, or region. Now it's easy to target online customers within, say, 25 miles of your front door. Learn moreLocal business adsGet noticed on Google Maps. People searching for information related to your business will see your location, contact information, and an image of your choosing highlighted on a map of your area.
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