PPC
For Dummies
Two of the most important factors of any Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign
are creating successful ads and deciding how much to pay per click.
There are many PPC options out there to choose from, I am going
to focus on the two most popular, Google AdWords and Overture.
Creating your ads for AdWords
Creating your ad copy is the single most important part of any
ad campaign. You want your ad to stand out amongst the others and
scream out ‘click me!' If your add looks and says the same
thing as everyone else users will simply pass it by.
Before creating your ads you need to determine your target market
and keyword selections. If your company focuses on a specific market
niche try to target your ads in regards to that niche. Properly
targeted ads will almost always out-perform those directed at a
general audience.
When creating your first ad be sure to fit in your main keywords
either in the title or near the beginning of the body text. Say
something to draw attention by using call to action phrases and
words that provoke enthusiasm and response. Things like “
Save on DVDs," "Get cheap stereos," or "Join
now for 20% discount,” etc. Just be cautious, if you advertise
something that you don't offer, Google will pull your ad. If your
ad says you have something for free, you better have something for
free listed on your landing page! Always be sure to follow Google's
Guidelines .
Once you are happy with your first ad, create 3 more ads that are
radically different from the first. After 3 or 4 days take a look
at how your ads are doing. (If you are using less frequently searched
terms you may have to wait 1-2 weeks for better results.) Check
the click through rate (CTR) of each ad. In most cases one of the
4 will show to be out-performing the rest. If this is the case,
delete the poorly performing ads and create 3 new ads that closely
resemble the successful one, each with subtle differences in the
title and body text.
Again wait 3 or 4 days to see which of the ads is out performing
the rest. If you again notice that one stands out, repeat the process.
Eventually you will end up with 4 quality ads that are performing
equally. Once the ads have leveled out, continue to keep an eye
on them, I recommend daily. If one begins to slip, slightly tweak
the wording. You must always keep an eye on your ads if you wish
for them to continually perform well.
Determining your Max Cost Per Click with AdWords
With AdWords when you enter your MAX CPC, it will then show you
what Google estimates your average position will be for each keyword.
( The position predictions provided by Google are based on historical
data from previous advertisers and are not 100% accurate, but it
will give you an idea what to expect.)
Unfortunately there is no way to see what the competition is paying,
so in most cases it's a bit of a duck hunt in the beginning. I suggest
starting out with a MAX CPC slightly higher than you would normally,
this will give you a slightly higher ranking and increase your chances
of accumulating clicks. If your ad performs really well your rank
will increase. As you begin to establish a good click through rate
(CTR) you can adjust your max CPC to reflect the position you wish
to obtain. (See part one of this article to find out how Google
ranks ads.)
Creating your ads for Overture
With Overture, writing the perfect ad is slightly different than
with AdWords. Overture only allows you to create one ad per keyword,
so this takes away the option of trying out various ads and going
with the obvious winner, however, the basis for creating your initial
ad remains virtually the same. After you have selected your target
market and main keywords, write a specific ad targeting each individual
keyword and be sure to include the keyword in the title or beginning
of the main body text along with a call to action phrase or something
that is sure to draw attention. Remember to check the status of
your ads on a weekly basis, and tweak as needed. Keep and eye on
your click through rate and regularly tweak poorly performing ads
Determining your Max Cost Per Click with Overture
Deciding how much to spend on Overture is simple. Take a look
at what the competition is spending, and out bid them. With Overture
you should always try to be in the top 3 if you wish to have your
ad dispersed among partner sites. (Yahoo, Lycos, MSN, etc). If the
number 1 spot is currently paying 25 cents per click you need only
bid 26 cents to grab the number 1 spot. If you want the number one
spot, but are also willing to pay more, you can bid 40 cents, and
will only be charged the 26 cents. One penny above the competition.
Keep in mind though, if someone else increases their bid, your actual
cost will also increase up to the max CPC you have entered.
Managing an AdWords or Overture PPC campaign can be confusing at
first, but it doesn't take long to get a handle on what works. Creating
a highly successful ad the first time around with either AdWords
or Overture is a rare occurrence, but with a bit of regular maintenance
and a well targeted campaign it won't take long to start seeing
results.
About the Author Scott Van Achte is
a Search Engine Optimization Professional and PPC Manager at StepForth
Search Engine Placement Inc. Based in Victoria, BC, Canada. You
can read more of Scott's articles and those of the StepForth team
at http://news.stepforth.com
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