Inside AdWords recently posted a helpful list of reasons why your ads may not be showing up on Google. All of the tips they give are quite good. I wrote on this topic previously and discussed how Google protects you from impression fraud (whether you realize it or not). However, there is one bit of information presented in Inside AdWords' post that is very helpful (for me, at … [Read more...] about Google’s Ad Preview Page is Your Friend
Search Results for: google
Google’s Search Query Performance
Last week Google unveiled yet another exciting reporting function for AdWords: Search Query Performance. This report provides the actual search queries that triggered ads (and received clicks) on the Google network. Advertisers can break the information down with the usual metrics like clicks, impressions, CTR, etc. But what makes this report really special is that it … [Read more...] about Google’s Search Query Performance
Are Your PPC Ads Disappearing in Google?
An interesting question/issue has been posted over at WebmasterWorld: On the 16th of May, I noticed that most of the websites that were in the first page rankings in Google USA, had been dropped to second and third page positions. Websites that have replaced them are mostly irrelevant listings from large corporate companies and over-bidded newbies. Is this a glitch in the … [Read more...] about Are Your PPC Ads Disappearing in Google?
Peeling Back The Layers of Google’s Pay-Per-Action Beta Test
This past week I finally jumped on the Pay-Per-Action (PPA) bandwagon and started a campaign for one of my clients. Despite having read through the official documentation and a very helpful step-by-step guide to setting up campaigns, once I actually delved into the process I quickly realized that I had completely missed the point. Initially, I saw this beta test as just … [Read more...] about Peeling Back The Layers of Google’s Pay-Per-Action Beta Test
Are Your Google Keywords Actually Active?
I entered some new keywords into my Adwords account and I checked them the next day and found I had received no impressions yet. I scrolled over to the magnifying glass icon (the ad diagnostic tool) next to the actual keyword, and the pop up read: "The keyword phrase you've entered has a low search volume and isn't showing any of your ads. If more users start searching for your … [Read more...] about Are Your Google Keywords Actually Active?
Google Apps Invitation Distributed to AdWords Users
I’m a huge fan of Google and their new Apps software package. It’s truly fascinating to me to watch them take the idea of a web-application to new heights. This week, in an effort to continue growing in this new market space, Google began distributing emails to AdWords advertisers. The email boasts the new programs (email, calendar, spreadsheet, etc) and offers … [Read more...] about Google Apps Invitation Distributed to AdWords Users
Breaking Free from Misleading Ad Results: Using First-Party Data for Smarter Measurement
As marketers, we’re all familiar with the sinking feeling when a client asks, “So… how do we know this is working?” You’re not alone — according to recent research, 39% of marketing decision-makers struggle to measure the impact of each marketing channel. Personally, I think that number is conservative. Measurement has always been difficult, but in the last few years, it’s … [Read more...] about Breaking Free from Misleading Ad Results: Using First-Party Data for Smarter Measurement
How to deploy email to turbo charge your PPC results
When you consider digital marketing, two channels usually come to mind: email and PPC (pay-per-click). Both are used individually by most companies. They send email campaigns on one end and place Google or social ads on the other. But when you use these two channels together, you can get better outcomes more often than when used separately. The concept is straightforward. … [Read more...] about How to deploy email to turbo charge your PPC results
Lessons From 15 Years in Paid Media: The Mistakes That Still Haunt Me (and How You Can Avoid Them)
I started my career in paid media back in 2011 at a small PPC agency called Periscopix. It was, in many ways, a much simpler time. Performance Max didn’t exist. Campaign management meant making one bid change a day. You had full control. It was also the year that Prince William and Kate Middleton got married, and the year Charlie Sheen made headlines for all the wrong … [Read more...] about Lessons From 15 Years in Paid Media: The Mistakes That Still Haunt Me (and How You Can Avoid Them)
Rethinking Paid Search: Diversification as the Future of Fair Advertising
From Google reliance to Microsoft Ads innovation, advertisers must embrace multi-platform strategies. Advertising, at its core, is about connecting people with valuable products and services. It’s the act of calling attention to something to attract interest, engagement, and sales. In practice, however, the industry has evolved into a highly complex auction where billions of … [Read more...] about Rethinking Paid Search: Diversification as the Future of Fair Advertising
Why UX is the Secret Weapon for Maximizing Ad Performance
The aim of this article is a simple one: To cause you to make UX a core part of your marketing strategy, not an afterthought. It shouldn’t be a separate team hidden in a corner that nobody talks to. It needs to sit at the heart of your marketing efforts because that’s how businesses win today. What UX Really Means When I first started in UX about seven … [Read more...] about Why UX is the Secret Weapon for Maximizing Ad Performance
Brand Ads Done Right: The Power of Smart Copywriting
Most businesses running Google Ads focus on targeting new customers through non-branded keywords. But there's a crucial piece many overlook: brand campaigns, the ads that show up when someone searches specifically for your business or products. These aren't just afterthoughts. Branded ads are powerful tools for building trust, shaping how people see your business, and guiding … [Read more...] about Brand Ads Done Right: The Power of Smart Copywriting
