Google AdWords- New Interface (in Beta)

Google AdWords is allowing some of its established clients view and actually use it new interface, which is in the beta stage.  This new approach is designed to 'make campaign management faster, clearer, and more intuitive' in their words.  And I must say, that while I am still getting used to it, the new interface is also prettier in a way.

Here are some other notable differences:
1. Custom Graphs on every management page
2. Single tab editing for keywords
3. Bid Editing all on the keyword tab, no longer needing a separate page
4. New Reports- search query and URL reports
5. Specific Content Management tab- for better assessment and custom bidding

It is always good to see the big search engines attempting change and progression when so much of the time complacency and ignorance are the big criticisms of a company that knows it is the biggest dog in the yard.

Has anybody else tried this new interface and found anything super useful or even found bugs to look out for?

Google AdWords' New 'Search-Based Keyword Tool'

Google has created another AdWords tool for finding keywords to put in a PPC account, creating more competition, bidders, which therefore raises the price in addition to other factors.  This time the tool proposes that it finds relevant keywords by 'matching (keywords) to specific pages of your website with your ad and search share'.  To translate, it is trying to provide keywords not currently in the account that are best for the account as determined by looking at the whole picture- website, ads and budget.

Of course past PPC blogs on 'helpful' tools created by the big search engine giants have made my tone a bit cynical.  These tools are created at best based off user demand, but always tailored to and quietly aimed at revenue.  This is not to say that there isn't utility and useful qualities of a tool like this one, but it is important to read between the lines.

I used the tool for the first time on a current account I manage, and found some keywords I didn't currently use; but nothing major or shocking.  Having said that, that is the way it should be.  This should be a comment that I am doing my job as a Pay Per Click administrator.  On the other hand, this tool may be helpful for business owners who are attempting to run the marketing themselves and have to balance the business with the marketing.

The tool can be found in the Campaign Management tab, 'tools' sub-tab left-hand column.  Use of the tool is simple- put the web address in the search field and in another box type the essence of the topic to be explored.  The parameters included in the results are keyword suggestions, monthly searches, competition as a bar graph, suggested bid and ad share.

Use this tool in addition to the Keyword Tool, but in both beware of general and expensive keywords that will not return a positive ROI.

Do you need help with Google AdWords or any PPC tools like this one?  Let us know at Webconsuls.com.

Yahoo Phishing Hijackings- Be on the Lookout

I have recently come into contact with  a Phishing scheme where an owner of a Yahoo Search Marketing sponsored search account was emailed falsely as Yahoo.  The account owner then logged into this fake page giving the phishing thieves access to that account.  The thief then hijacks the account using someone else's money to pay for advertising until the fraud is captured and stopped by Yahoo themselves.  Whats more is that the thieves even leave the previous advertising campaign active and running so that the owner will not notice any difference until logging in to the account itself.

Similar fraudulent tactics have been widely publicized with eBay.  Again, this is not Yahoo or eBay's doing and that parent company does give all stolen funds back to the rightful owner.  But the best case scenario is a major headache and time wasted researching the issue and dollars lost/refunded.

In conclusion, do not ever log-in to any account of any type using a hyper-link from an email.  Always go to your normal log in page to enter in private information.  I promise you will not notice a difference in the fake and real log in pages- these guys are pro's.  Save the irritation and time.  It can happen to anyone not paying attention.

Here is Yahoo's company line on the matter- http://www.ysmblog.com/blog/2008/12/12/no-phishing-here/

How to Merge Your Gmail Duplicate Contacts

Merge your duplicate gmail contacts with this new feature found in Gmail's Contact Manager.

1. Sign into your gmail account. Select Contacts.

2. To eradicate all the duplicates in your contact list select All Contacts.

3. Select your duplicate listings.

4. Select Merge these 2 contacts.

5. Check your entry for edits.

6. Press Save.

Merging your contacts this way is not only a convenient way to keep your database clean and organized it will prevent you from losing a contact on Google Talk. Prior to this feature I had tried to manually merge contacts together and inadvertently dropped an important Google Talk contact (sorry Dennis). Had I had this simple but necessary feature that would not have happened.

Be sure to sync and backup your phone prior to merging contacts to insure you have a current backup.

Great addition Google. Thank You.

Google AdWords- Local Business Ad

The Google AdWords 'local business ad' is one of the forms you may choose to create for your keyword listings. If your business is localized to any extent, this is probably very helpful. To take it a step further, if your business takes 'walk-in' traffic and/or has a brick and mortar presence, then this functionality is a must.

If you have ever done a Google keyword search where your query included a location, you may have seen this type of ad appear. Underneath the sponsored results but before the organic results, a google map will appear with points on the map representing local results for your query. An easy example would be local pizza restaurants- a business-person is traveling and doesn't know the area well. He or she is looking for a good pizza for dinner, but wants one in walking distant to the hotel. That person can look at the map to see the closest match and how to get there.

The ad itself as has a description for a tag line like normal PPC ads. The business web site, physical address and phone number can all be included, making this a very useful tool for businesses in a community.

Need help setting up and creating a local business ad for your Google AdWords account? Don't even have an AdWords account? Either way Webconsuls can help, its what we do.

Google AdWords- Analyze Your Ad Performance

Analyze Your Ad Performance
-Ads Diagnostic Tool Are your ads showing for a particular search? Find out with this tool.
- Ads Preview Tool See your ad on Google without accruing extra impressions, and preview your ad as it appears to users in other geographic locations.
- Disapproved Ads Find out which ads have been disapproved and why, (editorial status).
- Conversion Tracking Define campaign goals and then pull data to determine which ads are the best at helping you reach those goals.
- My Change History Browse changes you've made to your account since January 1, 2006.

When it is all said and done, your ad performance is what determines your minimum bids for keywords for positioning, or in other words- the above analysis is how to make your campaign as cheap as possible by being efficient and relative according to Google.

Contact us at Webconsuls for more information and feel free to add to this topic if you have additional notes.