Google™ AdWords

 

Google™ AdWords is Google's™ online marketing and advertising platform. Google ‘Adwords’ lets businesses target their Google listing to a very specific market, by using keywords that relate directly to their business. The way it works is that a business or service bids on keywords that their customers might use to search for their product or service. When these keywords are used in a search, the business is listed in the sponsored links column of Google’s search page. Google Adwords system constantly seeks out search queries related to the keywords selected, and displays them to highly targeted audiences. When a user clicks on your listing, they will be directed immediately to your website. In this way, searchers and providers are perfectly matched increasing customer satisfaction, web traffic and sales.

 

For example, someone looking to buy an Academy snowboard in Queenstown New Zealand will type in the following keywords – ‘New Zealand’, ‘Queenstown’, ‘Snowboard’, ‘Academy’. If your business has bid on these words, your ad will appear in the sponsored links column of Google’s search page.

 

Advertisers chose their pricing system either using PPC - pay per click, or CPI -cost per impression. Pay per click means you only pay when a user clicks on your link and is directed to your website. Cost per impression means you pay every time your website appears on a search.  It is recommended that a professional Advertising Web Service guide you through this process as bidding on popular words should be closely monitored and an online marketing strategy will ensure a high return on your investment.



New Page 2 Lessons Catalog

 
If you're an AdWords advertiser, Google Advertising Professional, or just interested in learning more about AdWords, you can use our free training to sharpen your AdWords knowledge. We offer both multimedia and text lessons to match your preferred learning style. While lessons are organized to build upon previous ones, you can skip between topics and take them in any way you like. After each lesson, test your knowledge by taking a quiz. Because so much is covered, you probably can't complete training in one sitting (without the help of caffeine), so return often. Content is updated regularly to keep you current.
 
 
1. Introduction to AdWords
a. AdWords Basics    
  Google and Google AdWords - 5 min.   Quiz
  Basic AdWords Features - 5 min.   Quiz
  Benefits of AdWords - 4 min.   Quiz
b. AdWords Policies    
  Link Policy - 7 min.   Quiz
  Editorial Policy - 12 min.   Quiz
  Image Ads Policy - 4 min.   Quiz
  Trademarks - 7 min.   Quiz
  Copyrights - 4 min.   Quiz
  Google's Invalid Clicks Policy - 3 min.   Quiz
  Identifying Invalid Clicks - 6 min.   Quiz
c. Pricing and Ranking    
  Paying for AdWords - 7 min.   Quiz
  Ad Ranking - 3 min.   Quiz
 

 
2. Getting Started with AdWords
a. Account Types, Setup and Structure    
  Starter Edition and Standard Edition Accounts - 5 min.   Quiz
  AdWords Account Structure - 2 min.   Quiz
b. Account Navigation    
  Campaign Management - 10 min.   Quiz
  Ad Group Management - 9 min.   Quiz
  My Account Tab - 2 min.   Quiz
c. Starting Off Right, Organization, Keywords, Ad Text    
  Selecting Keywords - 8 min.   Quiz
  Writing Targeted Ad Text - 8 min.   Quiz
d. Using Different Ad Formats    
  Image Ads - 3 min.   Quiz
  Video Ads - 3 min.   Quiz
  Local Business Ads - 3 min.   Quiz
  Mobile Ads - 3 min.   Quiz
  Traditional Media Ad Formats - 5 min.    

 
3. Targeting
a. Search and Contextual Targeting    
  The Google Network - 5 min.   Quiz
  Contextual Targeting - 11 min.   Quiz
b. Placement Targeting    
  Introduction - 7 min.   Quiz
  Creating a Placement-Targeted Campaign - 4 min.   Quiz
  Pricing and Ranking - 4 min.   Quiz
c. Language and Location Targeting    
  How AdWords Targets Users - 7 min.   Quiz
  Language and Country/Territory Targeting - 7 min.   Quiz
  Region and City Targeting - 7 min.   Quiz
  Customized Targeting - 7 min.   Quiz
d. Keyword Targeting    
  Keyword Matching Options - 5 min.   Quiz
  Implementing Keyword Matching Options - 5 min.   Quiz

 
4. Costs and Billing
a. Cost Control    
  How AdWords Controls Costs - 4 min.   Quiz
b. Billing Cycle    
  Basic Billing Process - 6 min.   Quiz
  Billing Details & Issue Resolution - 7 min.   Quiz
c. Payments Outside the U.S.    
  Payment Options - 6 min.   Quiz
  VAT or EU Advertisers - 5 min.   Quiz
d. Invoicing    
  Invoicing Basics - 6 min.   Quiz

 
5. Tracking Ad Performance
a. Quality and Performance Basics    
  How it works - 7 min.   Quiz
b. Ad Visibility and Troubleshooting    
  Account-Wide Issues - 7 min.   Quiz
  Campaign-Specific Issues - 15 min.   Quiz
  Ad Group Specific Issues - 15 min.   Quiz
  Keyword- and Site-Specific Issues - 15 min.   Quiz
c. Reports    
  How to Create a Report - 7 min.   Quiz
  Additional Reports Features - 3 min.   Quiz
d. Basic ROI and Conversion Tracking    
  Understanding ROI - 7 min.   Quiz
  Introduction to Conversion Tracking - 3 min.   Quiz
e. Advanced Conversion Tracking    
  Introduction to Advanced Conversion Tracking - 3 min.   Quiz
  Getting Your Conversion Tracking Code - 3 min.   Quiz
f. Cross-Channel Conversion Tracking    
  Intro to Cross-Channel Tracking - 3 min.   Quiz
  Detailed Setup and Maintenance - 3 min.   Quiz

 
6. Optimizing Ad Performance
a. Optimization Overview    
  Preparing to Optimize - 4 min.   Quiz
b. Your Website    
  Choosing Landing Pages - 5 min.   Quiz
c. Your Account    
  Account Optimization - 5 min.   Quiz
  Advanced Optimization Features - 7 min.   Quiz
  Optimizing Ad Position, Position Preference - 7 min.   Quiz
d. Specific Optimization Strategies    
  Increasing Traffic/Clicks - 5 min.   Quiz
  Increasing Conversions - 5 min.   Quiz
  Adjusting CPCs to Maximize ROI - 6 min.   Quiz

 
7. The AdWords Toolbox
a. Account Performance Tools    
  The Keyword Tool - 4 min.   Quiz
  Site Exclusion - 1 min.   Quiz
b. Analytics Tools    
  The Traffic Estimator - 3 min.   Quiz
  My Change History Tool - 2 min.   Quiz
c. Troubleshooting Tools    
  Ads Diagnostic Tool - 2 min.   Quiz
  Disapproved Ads Tool - 2 min.   Quiz
d. AdWords Editor    
  Introduction to AdWords Editor - 4 min.   Quiz
  Add, Edit and Delete - 13 min.   Quiz
  View and Sort Information - 6 min.   Quiz
  Share and Post Changes - 5 min.   Quiz

 
8. Google Analytics
a. Google Analytics Basics    
  Introduction to Google Analytics - 5 min.    
  Introduction to Google Analytics Settings - 5 min.    
  Tracking Your Advertising Campaigns - 5 min.    

 
9. Managing Client Accounts
a. My Client Center    
  My Client Center - 5 min.   Quiz
b. Selling AdWords    
  Selling the Benefits of AdWords - 7 min.   Quiz
  Understanding the Basic Google Sales Pitch - 3 min.   Quiz
  Handling Common Questions and Concerns - 5 min.   Quiz
c. AdWords API    
  AdWords API Overview - 4 min.   Quiz
  Getting Started - 5 min.   Quiz
  API Implementation - 8 min.   Quiz



What is Google™ AdWords?

Google™ is the most well known search engine in the world. In fact, Google™ accounts for nearly 65% of all traffic on the Internet. No wonder it is so popular! However, not that many people know about Google™ AdWords – their online marketing and advertising platform. The revolutionary Google™ AdWords program has changed the way companies and individuals market their products on the Internet. In a nutshell, here’s how Google’s™ Adwords program works: Anyone with a website can advertise their site on the Google™ search engine results pages (or SERPS). The AdWords system does this by using a revolutionary ‘keyword based’ system. When someone types a keyword into the Google™ Search box, Google™ will return ads that are related to that keyword. AdWords Ads will appear on the right hand side or very top of the search pages – which are designated for ‘sponsored links’. When an Internet user clicks on your ad, they are taken directly to your website. Talk about targeted! The Google™ AdWords program is based on what we call the ‘Pay Per Click’ (PPC) model – meaning you pay only for the ad when someone clicks on it. In the past this kind of exposure was very expensive, making it out of reach for many small to medium sized companies.

  • Google AdWords
  • Google AdWords: Keyword Tool

    • New Page 1

    10 Worst AdWords Campaign Mistakes


    By Tyler Huston
    June 9th 2006

    On the highly competitive Google AdWords pay per click (PPC) search engine, it's now more important than ever to ensure that your PPC campaigns are optimized to their utmost potential. All of us want to achieve maximum return on investment (ROI) for the keywords or phrases that are most relevant to our businesses, and are most likely to provide our sites with targeted traffic.

    With the cost-per-click (CPC) prices available through various PPC search engines always increasing, it's essential that you avoid certain mistakes that will undoubtedly result in poorly performing PPC campaigns. The mistakes that you should avoid include:



    creating a long list of less than targeted keywords

    failing to identify unique aspects of your product or service

    a lack of keywords in your ad text

    directing users solely to your home page

    creating single ad groups

    utilizing single campaigns

    using broad match only

    failing to optimize ad serving for your ads

    failing to track results

    entering the content network without modifying bids


    This article will explain each of these mistakes in turn, so that you're aware of the problems they cause, and know how to avoid the pitfalls.

    1. Creating a Long List of Poorly Targeted Keywords


    When you first set out to create your AdWords campaign, it's important not to go "keyword crazy" -- resist the temptation to create long lists of irrelevant, generic keywords. For example, if you ran an automotive dealership then, it wouldn't be in your best interests to target the keyword "truck." The cost per click (CPC) for such a generic keyword would be incredibly high when compared to a more descriptive and relevant keyword, such as "T-Z783 Extended Cab."


    Similarly, the keyphrase "tail light covers" would not produce conversions if you strictly conducted automotive sales only. The phrase may bring visitors to your site, but if they don't find what they're looking for when they get there, they'll leave just as quickly as they arrived.

    It's important to identify your specific niche, and to market directly to users who want the products and services that you offer. Don't trick yourself into thinking that broader is better. With AdWords, that's just not true.

    2. Failing to Identify Unique Aspects of your Product or Service


    Before you implement your AdWords campaign, you must understand exactly what it is that makes your organization stand out from the competition. By identifying your unique products, services, or offerings, you'll see clearly how you can rise above your competitors and zone in on the keywords or phrases that are unique to your business.

    I'd recommend that you perform an analysis of your competition. Have a look and see what they're doing, and which phrases they're using. After you've conducted a competition analysis, and you understand what makes your products or services unique, you'll be able to come up with a strategy that will topple your competitors.

    3. A Lack of Keywords in your Ad Text


    When you're creating descriptive ad copy, it's imperative that you manage to inject your keywords in to your title and description while maintaining a delicate balance between clarity and relevance. Your ad copy should be tailored in such a way that as visitors read it, they understand exactly what they can expect when they click on your ad.

    4. Directing Users Solely to your Homepage


    Few site owners take the time to decide which destination URL should be applied to each ad. Instead, they point all ads in a campaign to the site's homepage, then wonder why they're not getting decent conversions.

    If you've spent time compiling a list of relevant keywords that describe the unique aspects of your offering, why on earth would you send everyone to your homepage in the hopes that they'll navigate through the site to find what they're looking for?

    Why not send them straight to the page that contains exactly what was described to them in the ad copy? Referring back to our example, if, as the automotive dealership owner, you'd created an ad that contained the keyword "T-Z783 Extended Cab," which URL would you send prospects to? Instead of sending them to www.auto-motive-dealership.com, you'd send them straight to www.auto-motive-dealership.com/T-Z783_Extended_Cab.html, of course!

    5. Creating Single Ad Groups


    If you categorize ads that target related keywords into a common AdWords ad group, you'll establish a high level of control over your entire campaign.

    Let's image that you own a sporting goods store. You might start by grouping all the ads you'd targeted towards hockey skates into a single ad group. You'd then create another ad-group which would contain ads that targeted hockey sticks, another that contained ads for hockey gloves, and so on.

    Organizing your ad group structure in this manner gives you the ability to create in-depth reports on each ad-group, and to make real changes that have a significant impact on those ads' performance over time.

    6. Utilizing Single Ad Campaigns


    Once you have your AdWords ads sorted into easily identified ad groups, you can move on to the next step: creating campaigns.

    In the example above, we created ad groups that contain ads relating to separate products: hockey skates, sticks, gloves, and so on. Now, it's time to create a container entitled "hockey equipment" to hold all of the ad groups in the campaign. Then, you can repeat the process of creating ad groups for tennis -- one group for shoes, one for racquets, and so on -- and drop all the groups into a single campaign called "tennis equipment."

    Having highly organized campaigns is the key to determining which ads are creating the optimal conversions. Don't simply put all your ads into the one campaign -- split them into separate campaigns to make tracking and amending the ad groups easy.

    7. Using Broad Match Only


    Unless you take advantage of the phrase matching options that AdWords makes available, chances are that you're missing out on potential customers and creating a higher CPC for yourself.

    As the name suggests, broad matches are usually less targeted than exact and phrase matches. Broad matching is the default option under which your ads will appear for expanded matches such as plurals or relevant keyword variations.

    When you utilize phrase matching, your ad will appear for your chosen search terms in the order that you specify, and sometimes for other terms, too. Exact matching is by far the most targeted option to use, so don't neglect it! You ad will appear for the exact keyword you specified. The negative keyword option is also a great tool -- it allows you to specify the keywords for which you don't want the ads to appear. Here's a quick example of how these targeting options work:



    Broad match: Default option: blue widget
    Phrase match: Surround the keyword in quotes: "blue widget"
    Exact match: Surround the keyword in square brackets: [blue widget]
    Negative match: Place a negative character before the keyword: -blue widget


    Take the time to test these different matching techniques, and to tweak your selections to improve your conversions. Broad matching is not necessarily the best -- or only -- option!

    8. Failing to Optimize Ad Serving for your Ads


    When you take advantage of the AdWords ad serving service, you'll ensure that your most popular ads are displayed more often.

    The AdWords platform will give more weight to the ads with the highest click through rates (CTRs), and will display them more often than ads with lower (CTRs) in the same ad group.

    9. Failing to Track Results


    In order to have any idea about your AdWords campaign's performance, you must be able to identify which keywords work and which do not. Google AdWords supplies a vast array of very useful tracking tools. Google has also built into the AdWords interface Google Analytics -- a marvellous web analytics tool that provides in-depth reporting on all aspects of your campaign's performance.

    I cannot stress enough the importance of creating goals for your AdWords campaign, then comparing your actual performance against these goals so that you can gauge your success.

    10. Entering the Content Network without Modifying Bids


    The AdWords platform has recently given advertisers the ability to set different bids for the content network than for the search network.

    If you don't set different bids on the content network for your keywords, you'll be paying more than you should be for each click. Lower the prices on certain keywords, and you'll notice that the number of clickthroughs you'll receive will remain the same as at the higher bid.

    Conclusion


    The purpose of this article was to create awareness among AdWords advertisers about the common mistakes they can make with this network, and to eliminate frustrations that may emerge as you manage Google AdWords campaigns.

    The points outlined above are compiled from the mistakes that I've stumbled upon time and time again. I hope that this advice helps you to create a marketing campaign that will generate dramatic increases to your business profits.

     
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