Selective and proactive use of match types (broad, phrase, exact) is a key technique in optimizing the performance of Google AdWords™ campaigns. Unfortunately, many less experienced advertisers tend to over-use the default setting, broad match, for their campaigns, based on the faulty logic that it will generate the highest volume… Read More
Tag Archives: Google AdWords
Failing at Paid Search? Maybe You’re Just Measuring It Wrong.
The lack of an appropriate and complete tracking system is one of the most common errors, or omissions, that B2B marketers make in setting up a paid search program. It’s easy to see why. Google, for example, provides basic tracking services – impressions, clicks, cost per click – automatically and… Read More
5 Simple PPC Landing Page Changes that May Improve Your Quality Score
As most PPC advertisers already know, Google’s Quality Score measures what Google perceives to be the quality of your keyword ads. Every keyword in a campaign receives a quality score, ranked on a scale from 1-10, that, in combination with other factors – not all of which Google discloses –… Read More
Ego Bidding: Why Paying for #1 Position on Google Costs You More Than You Think
In the process of managing search marketing campaigns for clients, we occasionally run into situations where client management is dictating that their company “own” certain key search terms on Google. Additionally, if that domination can’t quickly or easily be achieved through organic means (via Search Engine Optimization), then at minimum… Read More
26 Must-Have Negative Keywords for B2B PPC Campaigns
Success in paid search (PPC) is often defined as generating quality clicks and conversions at the lowest possible cost. But just as often, a successful search campaign depends as much on avoiding bad clicks as it does on generating good ones. In fact, any experienced search marketer will tell you… Read More
How Do I Use SEM If People Aren’t Searching For What I Do?
This issue comes up a lot with tech clients whose products don’t fit neatly into defined or established categories. A client writes (details changed to preserve confidentiality): “Our product is on demand health & wellness software for small businesses and we’re promoting it as a tool for improving productivity, claims… Read More
Google/TechTarget Study Shows How IT Buyers Use Search
Too often, B2B technology companies fall into the trap of using search advertising (SEM) primarily as a means of capturing prospects in the latter stages of the sales cycle, i.e. those potential buyers actively shopping for a solution. However, search advertising needn’t just be about finding people ready to buy… Read More