Adwords... I like it!

[artarmon42]

Adwords has a really steep (and expensive) learning curve.
After 2 months of trying, I think I finally have it worked out.

In my opinion, you need to think a lot more for Adwords.
You just can't spam it with long-tails (like YSM) and get away with it.

Anyone else doing Adwords?

[walshy]

I was trying for ringtones.... You have to be really tight to get the QS to great for the keywords. I gave up a little because I wasn't sure about my bidding strategy.

[Tom]

I'm still struggling with YSM... I tried adwords a few times but failed...

[artarmon42]

I use the one keyword per adgroup strategy.
My CTR is >15%, and "Great" QS with bid of $0.04 after 3 days.

Mind you, in the past two weeks of experimentation with Adwords, I've SPENT over $1k compared to Azoogle revenues (from Adwords) at about $200. Like I said, it's an expensive learning curve :D

[shotsix]

I've been using Adwords now for 2yrs and even though it does require more work than YSM it is MUCH better, IMO. The UI is cleaner, loads faster and easier to use. Yes, you can't just throw in 1k of keywords but it really makes you narrow down and think about what keywords would convert in the beginning so you don't have to do much tuning later.

With Adwords it's best to use no more than 25 keywords per adgroup. I think everyone should learn how to use Adwords now because YSM will likely go the same route and tighten up their QS and you won't be able to throw up tons of keywords in the future... they've been copying Google's ad strategy for a while now.

[Junkyard Dawg]

I'm looking forward to trying AdWords, but I need to master YSM before I venture over to Google. I have heard a lot of stories of people getting eaten up with AdWords costs...

Here's an article I came across today that may help some of you out: http://www.here.org.uk/2007/06/google-adwords-landing-pages-how-to-build-a-page-that-wont-get-banned-with-examples.html

[shotsix]

I'm looking forward to trying AdWords, but I need to master YSM before I venture over to Google. I have heard a lot of stories of people getting eaten up with AdWords costs...

Here's an article I came across today that may help some of you out: http://www.here.org.uk/2007/06/google-adwords-landing-pages-how-to-build-a-page-that-wont-get-banned-with-examples.html

Yeah, I just got hit hard with the recent Google slap myself. It is becoming very clear that Google does not like affiliates. This latest slap is beyond frustrating. I've been running 2 particular campaigns for the last 6-months with all my keywords having a 'great' quality score. All the keywords were in my ad and on the landing pages. This was a 5-page site with a site-map, privacy policy and contact page. The CTR was at least 3% on the ad and I have changed NOTHING about the ad or site during this time ....

Now bam, ALL 12 keywords in each group now have a 'poor' QS. Yet, I'm still seeing completely irrelevant competitor sites advertising the exact same keywords... friggin' Shopzilla.com is COMPLETELY a bad user experience, IMO! They don't even have this product on their site.... just a rehash of adsense ads!

[artarmon42]

Did you cloak your (affiliate) links?
I was reading that that might be the cause...

[shotsix]

Did you cloak your (affiliate) links?
I was reading that that might be the cause...

No, masking affiliate links doesn't seem to help (read this (http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=3397997&postcount=68))

Also, Kieron (http://www.here.org.uk/2007/06/google-adwords-landing-pages-how-to-build-a-page-that-wont-get-banned-with-examples.html), who is one of the biggest affiliates out there states that he doesn't think it has a major effect on the AdWords algorithm either.