Internet Marketing and Google Adwords

In October of 2000 Google first introduced the AdWords system whereby advertisers could create text ads for placement on the search engine results page, but the advertisers were charged per thousand ad displays (CPM).  Then, in 2002, PPC was introduced where advertisers only paid when a user actually clicked on the ad.

The big hitters in the PPC search engine competition are Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing and Microsoft adCenter.  Others include Yandex, LookSmart, Baidu and  Miva. 

Why is Google AdWords so popular?:

1. Google Adwords is a totally automated system that allows your ads to go live within a few minutes after you write them.  Thus, you don't have to wait for human intervention for the approval of your keywords and ads.  The human intervention process can take up to several days on other PPC engines.
2. Google AdWords does not always charge you your maximum bid amount when your ad is displayed, but will charge you just one cent over the bid lower than yours.  Although Google keeps the bid prices under wraps and will not allow bidders (advertisers) to see what their competition is bidding for keywords.  This secrecy does reduce the threat of bidding wars.  Whereas, some PPC search engines do allow you to see this bid information. 
3. Another advantage to AdWords is that it includes conversion rate calculations in their ad-ranking algorithm.  What this means is that your ad may rank higher than your competitor's ad even if you have a lower bid for the same keyword.  This can happen because you have a higher conversion or click through rate (CTR). Thus, AdWords is rewarding ads that are better written and are getting user's attention.

PPC advertising has become a great way to reach the world wide internet market without spending a ton of money.  Where else could you test a sales page or product by capturing one hundred leads for a nickel a lead, thus spending only $5 for your test?

If you are want to promote your website or product but don't want to wait for your website to become popular with the search engines then you need to consider using PPC advertising as a way to bring in instant traffic and sales.  You will need to continually monitor you ad placement with the search engines because as new advertisers come in, others go out, and some will be changing their bids, your ad position on the search results pages will fluctuate, thus necessitating changes to your copy and bid in order to stay on the top page for your target keywords.

Mastering the Google Adwords System

AdWords has some nuances that can take a some time to get used to. Most people have a rough time when they first start out and can easily become frustrated.

A guy named Perry Marshall has written one of the best books available that answers all the “how-to” questions concerning Google AdWords AND it also gives you advanced strategies for even turning around “failed” ad campaigns in just a few hours. 

The e-book is called Perry Marshall's Definitive Guide to Google AdWords and it would be well worth your time to get a copy if you are going to work with the Adwords system.  In the Internet Marketing world it is considered the AdWords Bible.

Perry also has written a very helpful Free e-course called "5 days to success with Google AdWords".
Click the on the link to sign up for his FREE e-course.  If you want to succeed at AdWords, it has information you need to know. 5 Days to Success with Google AdWords

You Get Targeted Traffic

The traffic that you get with PPC advertising like Google Adwords is not random traffic. It is laser-targeted visitors who are looking for the specific services and/or products that YOU are offering.

PPC advertising on the Internet is about as close as you can come to instant traffic.

Not only are you getting instant searchers, you are getting hungry searcher.  They are "hungry" for the product,  service or information that you are offering.  This is because the ad that they "saw and clicked on" was presented to them based on what they were searching for.  They are people who have a need and you are offering to fill that need.

Why You Should Consider Using the BIG Guys

The two biggest hitters in the PPC search market system are Yahoo! Search Marketing (formerly Overture) and Google AdWords.  Eventhough they are not the only PPC systems "on the block", and neither are they the cheapest, they do have some distinct MAJOR advantages:

• Market Share:
  Combined, Google AdWords and Yahoo! Search Marketing have the largest market share of all the other PPC advertising systems.  They control 80% of the market!!!   If you want COVERAGE, then they have it.
• Traffic Quality:
  These two PPC engines bring in a much better quality traffic.  This quality equates to people who are seriously looking for products, services and information and are willing to BUY.  That means more conversions.
• Click Fraud:
  That these two systems don't have near the problem with click fraud that the rest of the industry does.
• User Friendliness:
  AdWords is way ahead of the others when it comes to ease of use and set up.  AdWords also has a very extensive HELP area and a great number of tools that can be used to do all kinds of click tracking, visitor monitoring, statistics gathering, etc. 
  
  Also, it is very easy to make campaign-wide changes to your Google ads.  This is a big consideration when you are managing numerous ad campaigns and have a large list of keywords.
  
  There is a downside to Yahoo's Service. The review and approval of your ads and keywords is performed by humans and this can mean up to a 3-5 day delay before your ad campaign actually goes live.