Google Adwords.

[Guest]

Hi folks.

 

I thought I'd try Google Adwords the other day.

 

But , after only TWO days, I've stopped my ad.

 

The reason???

Well, it seems that all they want out of you is money. :(

 

After every thousand impressions of your ad, if your "clickrate" is below average, they don't show your ad so much , then they charge you ? 5.00 to "restore" it to it's full potential.

 

I run an online CD store, so, the trouble is, most keywords like online cd store, chart cds, etc are quite commonplace.

 

At first I thought that Adwords would be cool because it's good targetted advertising, (which is always best), but, if I had continued with it, it would have cost me a fortune.

 

 

Does anyone else use Google Adwords??

 

If so, what are your views?

Good or bad?

 

Mike.

[agiftcodotcom]

Maybe try Overture's Search Term Suggestion Tool and try some words that get less hits so it doesn't burn up your impressions so quick. Plus, you can get more detailed with the search terms.

 

Example: You use "CD" as your word, people type in "CD Rom" and still get you when you really want the smaller amount of people looking for "Music CD"; which cuts your impressions in half. Hope that helps.

[Guest]

Thanks for the input.

 

Yeah, I DID try a number of different combinations of keywords.

But the system STILL wanted to charge me. :(

 

 

*edit*

By the way, Adwords HAS a keywords suggestion tool which I used several times.

 

Don't they know that only a small number of peole will actually click on the Sponsored links bit?

 

Can't they see that not every clickthrough to a website will result in a sale?

 

 

Any more opinions anyone?

[burt]

You need to target your Ads better. Imagine you are selling Ford Cars.

 

Adword: "cars"

many hits, not many sales.

 

Adword "ford cars"

less hits more sales

 

Adword: "ford edsel gearbox"

Hardly any hits, but almost a guaranteed sale.

 

If your ads are not producing the desired results, then you need to change them. ?5.00 is not breaking the bank is it?

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice Burt. :)

 

 

 

No, it's not breaking the bank, but it just seems like Google wants ???? any way they can.

[burt]

but it just seems like Google wants ???? any way they can.

They are just a business, and without income any business will eventually go bust. I agree with you though that the charges they apply are steep with regards the ?5 charge. But look at it as a business expense, like any other.

 

FWIW, I have a few targetted adwords, and I turn every 6th customer into a buyer. Highly targetted ads is the name of the game.

 

hth.

[braclark]

I think the Adwords fee is a lot better and cheaper than what Overture charges just to open an account.

[Guest]

Finding the right keywords is very difficult though.

 

Earlier , I changed the keywords to things like

 

"buy cds of chart music"

"how to sell my cd online"

 

...and similar stuff like that.

 

 

The keywords started as "moderate" but now they're "slowed."

 

They even sting you if there are low impressions too.

 

 

Trouble is, there are a lot of online CD shops out there.

 

 

My site sells cds by both chart stars AND unsigned bands.

Finding good keywords is nearly impossible.

[♥ecartz]

There's a post (perhaps in Tips & Tricks?) that suggests adding "buy" or "purchase" to your keyword phrase. That way you are almost guaranteed that it is someone who is at least considering buying an item (as opposed to looking for info).

 

As you mentioned, many places sell CDs online. What's special about your CDs? For example, if you specialize in modern British rock, advertise that. Also make sure that the little summary Google prints sets you off well. I would ignore the "chart stars," as there is going to be lot of competition there. Concentrate on particular stars and unsigned bands. For example, if one of your bands is called Vivid Grey and has a music style similar to Pearl Jam, put ads on "Vivid Grey music" or "buy Pearl Jam CDs" (assuming you also sell their CDs).

 

I am fairly sure that if Google is charging you for not getting enough click-thru, that means that other sites *are* getting enough click thru for that search term. Since Google gets paid for click thru, they don't want to display your site instead of another site that will actually make them money *and* satisfy their main customers (people who search for things they want to find). Don't forget that Google is based on providing the search terms that people want. Apparently your store is not what most people who search for "online CD store" want. Doing my own search, I see a number of stores of which I've heard, like Amazon, eBay, and BMG. I suspect that most people click on names they recognize rather than your store.

 

Btw, given your genre, you might want to concentrate more on finding other music sites to link you to with hyperlink phrases like "buy vivid grey" here. That will help you appear in the *free* listings. Further, you might consider giving some of the unsigned bands free or low cost web sites with forums under the agreement that they will only link to your store from that site.

 

Cheers,

Matt

[Guest]

Wow.

 

Thanks for all that advice. :)

 

 

they don't want to display your site instead of another site that will actually make them money *and* satisfy their main customers (people who search for things they want to find). Don't forget that Google is based on providing the search terms that people want.

 

Yeah, now you say it, the more clearer is IS to me. :)

 

 

Funnily enough, I DO rank quite high in the normal search results at Google.

I just figured that I'd try our Adwords to see what happens.

 

I've also done my homework in the respect that I do have my site linked to lots of other music related sites.