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Compare your AdWords Metrics by Date Range on the Fly

May 14th, 2010

I am psyched to see this addition to the AdWords user interface today – not sure if it is new or I have not been drinking enough coffee, but either way I like it!

The option to quickly compare metrics has been available on the campaign snapshot for awhile now but only on the campaign level, not down the the keywords level as shown below.

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Compare Metrics by Date - Nice!

Nice little time saver.

As usual, comments welcome!

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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1 comment »

Posted in New Features, News, Reporting

AdWords Shares Search Query Data for Keywords that did NOT Result in a Click

May 3rd, 2010

I have run into a few accounts recently that displayed search query data for keywords that had no clicks.

This is not the ‘norm’ as far a search query reports are concerned. Until recently the only data that has ever been shared on a search query report is data that resulted in a click. Sadly advertisers who use broad or phrase match keywords were left guessing as to what actual keywords caused the impressions that did not result in a click-through to their website. This lack of information hinders account optimizations because we are left guessing at what negative keywords need to be included or what new keywords we could be adding to improve CTR.

In reviewing a new account today I see strong evidence that Google is making some changes or perhaps testing something in a limited number of accounts.

As you can see below, there are a good number of keywords that did not result in clicks but Google has provided the keyword data anyway. This report was a quick search query report from within the User Interface vs. the Reporting Section. However the formal search query report includes tons of data on keywords with Zero (yes, I said Zero) clicks!

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Search Query Data Provided for Keywords that did not result in a click

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What is extra interesting is the additional bit of data highlighted in yellow above {more:}. I am not sure if this is additional data from expanded or session based search queries.

What does this mean to people who manage adwords accounts? This much needed transparency allows us better control over the account which ultimately increases quality score and reduces costs.

I hope this is something we can expect to see in all AdWords accounts soon.

I have requested a comment from Google and will report back when/if I get a reply.

Perhaps you have seen this in an account already?

Comments Welcome!

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

More About Kim and her services at: KimClink.com

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13 comments »

Posted in Keywords, New Features, News, Reporting

AdWords Known Issues: Missing Billing Pages

April 30th, 2010

Google has another ‘known issue’ they are working hard to resolve.

Apparently some advertisers are not able to get to access billing pages in their AdWords Account. Google has offered up a suggested work around that may resolve the issue.

If you are experiencing this issue Report it to Google here

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New AdWords 'Known Issue'

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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2 comments »

Posted in News, Reported Known Issues

When Google Should Stop ‘Helping’ AdWords Advertisers

April 27th, 2010

Yet another interesting AdWords Issue that I have run into…

I have been re-working an account recently brought to me and encountered an issue which has me deeply concerned.

I have come to notice that many keywords, really great, relevant, exact match keywords are not being served with the following message.

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“This particular search term is already associated with an ad from one of your other campaigns or ad groups. Only one ad per advertiser may appear on a given page per search term. When two or more of your ads are eligible for a single search term, we show the one with the highest ranking at the moment.”

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As you can see the keywords shown in the screenshot above are “phrase” and [exact match]. The keywords DO NOT appear anywhere else in this account – no other campaigns or ad groups.

I started the troubleshooting process by adding negative keywords to ad groups. For example in the DUI defense Attorney ad group I added negatives for -lawyer – dwi, etc. It had no effect. I then added many exact match negative keywords i.e. -[dui defense lawyer], etc. still no effect. I next went with only [exact match] keywords in the two adgroups that gave me the most trouble, the problem persisted.

I contacted Google and bounced it off a couple of people and received a reply referencing this page in the help center.http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66292

This page explains how keywords will be treated when they fall into three different types of criteria:

1. the same keywords in multiple adgroups

2. Similar keywords to the search query within the same adgroup

3. Similar keywords to the search query within multiple adgroups.

I am fine with the details on #1. I am concerned about details on #2 and #3.

Here is a screenshot of details on #2

Within the same ad group, multiple keywords are similar to the search query.

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So now an [exact match] keyword can be trumped by another ’similar, better performing or cheaper’ keyword? According to Google, Yes.

Then it keeps gets better…..

Here is a screenshot of details on #2

Keywords within multiple ad groups are similar to the search query

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I am concerned about what I am reading. If Google feels that the keyword is close enough, cheaper, or has a higher ad rank they will trump an exact match keyword to serve a different keyword from a different adgrop they deem better? That takes my control away.

How can I accrue CTR data to improve the account performance if Google will not serve keywords that exactly match a query because they like a price or adrank of another keyword? This also allows for the potential of the wrong ad text being served. What if I have specific landing pages set per keyword? How does that effect CTR? Ultimately, what if Iwas OK with spending more on the keyword because it converted better? Quality Score and CTR are not everything when it comes to PPC advertising. Sometimes keywords that are not your best ‘quality score’ performers are your best converting keywords what provide the best ROI.

Even with adding negatives and going with exact match only in specific groups I ultimately was never able to identify the ‘other keyword’ that was trumping my exact match keyword. I had to pause the campaign and slowly add back adgroups and keywords, watching all the time for the dreaded message. The account is a smaller version of its previous self which is fine because I am in the process of recovering the account CTR but I do get a little nervous anytime I add a new keyword.

Is there a ‘fix’ for this? Not that I am aware of…

Is this something that is being tested on limited accounts or is there the potential for this to happen on any account? I am currently seeking a comment from Google and will post here if/when I get a reply.

For the record I have only seen this happen in one client account. However I am starting to hear some talk in other places such as the AdWords Help Forum on the topic so I feel the blog post is warranted.

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

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Owner of Clinks Web Service, AdWordsPI in Chicago, Illinois

AdWords Training: AdWordsHour.com

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11 comments »

Posted in Keywords, News

AdWords Help Experts Articles Included the AdWords Help Center

March 23rd, 2010

The Google AdWords Help Center continues to develop great help content. We have seen the addition of video, the AdWords Classroom, On Demand Webinars, more details help articles, and even a link to the new Google Advertising Professionals section. The Help Center continues to evolve and produce incredible up to date help content.

In an effort by Google to provide help center visitors with different sources and styles of AdWords help, the AdWords Help Experts blog has been invited to provide articles that are now included in the AdWords Help Center. The AdWords Help Expert team is immensely proud to be recognized by Google as a source of trusted AdWords Help Content.

More articles by AWHE will soon be included in the AdWords Help Center and we hope to serve AdWords users with help content that allows them to get the most from their AdWords experience while enjoying the learning process.

adwords help experts in the adwords help center

AdWords Help Experts Articles Included in the AdWords Help Center

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP
Get to know more About Kim
Owner of Clinks Web Service, AdWordsPI in Chicago, Illinois
AdWords Training: AdWordsHour.com
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No comments »

Posted in Keywords, News

AdWords Launches New My Client Center

March 3rd, 2010

Google launched a New My Client Center.

AdWords Launches New My Client Center

This updated version will allow one to:

Edit Client Descriptions inline
Link Several Client Accounts at one time
Unlink from accounts directly from the MCC vs. drilling down into the client account.

Welcome changes to make life a little easier.

Here is a peek at the new MCC.

New AdWords My Client Center

To see the About the New My Client Center Interface page visit. https://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=164135

Learn More About the New My Client Center

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

Owner of Clinks Web Service & AdWordsPI in Chicago, Illinois

Twitter: Kim Clink on Twitter – AWHE on Twitter

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2 comments »

Posted in New Features, News

Tags: adwords my client center

Looking for a Negative Experience in the New AdWords Keyword Tool(beta)

February 22nd, 2010

I find the AdWords Keyword Tool to be a really great way to proactively manage accounts by identifying negatives before they have resulted in traffic and expense in my clients accounts. I truly appreciate (or did appreciate) the keyword tool for helping me identify negative keywords vs. relying only on the Search Query Report where you are identifying keywords that have already resulted in a click/expense. The beauty of the tool is it assists in identifying negatives ahead of time before it costs you money.

Problem is, the newest version of the Keyword Tool – the now only version of the keyword tool in all my clients accounts, does not include the option to identify and add negative keywords. I can only assume this was some kind of oversight on Googles part.

I have reviewed the page over and over looking for the negative keywords option and there is nothing. Luckily there is a link to the ‘previous interface’ which will take you to the old tool. I am afraid many people will not notice this – see screenshot below marked in Green. This new Keyword Tool (beta) is active as the default internal tool so using the previous interface is your best bet as an internal keyword tool to allow you to review suggestions based on your actual adwords account.

How can we use this tool to add negative keywords?

Can we use this latest keyword tool to identify and add negative keywords?

I have posed the question to Google and will update this post if I receive any official comment.

2/23/10 Update – No official comment yet but AWP Stephen aka @adwordshelper on twitter kindly responded letting me know he was forwarding a copy of this article to the appropriate product team at Google – Thanks Stephen!

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

Owner of Clinks Web Service & AdWordsPI in Chicago, Illinois

Twitter: Kim Clink on Twitter – AWHE on Twitter

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8 comments »

Posted in News, Tools

New Round of AdWords Suspensions for Landing Page & Site Quality Guidelines

February 18th, 2010

Looks like Google has begun another round of suspensions on advertisers who violate Landing Page & Site Quality Guidelines.

I received frantic calls and emails from 4 different advertisers yesterday (2/17/10) who all received a final warning from Google stating their accounts were to be suspended if their landing page quality score issues were not fixed immediately.

Here is an Excerpt from a Google Email:

Advertisers Receiving Emails from Google

These emails need to be taken seriously because advertisers who do not act immediately do run the risk of suspension from Google AdWords.

This issue is extremely difficult for advertisers because Google shares very little info about *why* these advertisers are in violation of site quality guidelines. Google shares a small list of the possible reasons a landing page can be of poor quality but there are many other reasons for low landing page quality. Many advertisers have no idea what they are doing wrong and Google will not give advertisers much direction when it comes to exactly what the issue is and how they can fix it.

If you are facing a possible suspension for Landing Page & Site Quality Guidelines and do not know what is wrong with your website there are services such as the AdWordsPI who can help you identify your issue.

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

Owner of Clinks Web Service & AdWordsPI in Chicago, Illinois

Twitter: Kim Clink on Twitter – AWHE on Twitter

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7 comments »

Posted in AdWords Policies, News, Suspended Accounts

Welcome Additions/Updates to AdWords User Interface

February 12th, 2010

New changes were recently launched in the AdWords User Interface. The addition of a submenu under the AdGroups, Ads, Keywords and Networks tabs. This submenu holds features that were available in the interface but not easily accessible and not known about by many advertisers.

I am really pleased to see this change in the user interface. I find that many AdWords users (mostly the DIY groups) do not even know of many of the features available to them. This change will bring them additional transparency when managing allowing them to make better decisions when optimizing their accounts.

Example from the AdGroups tab

- new submenu makes it easy for advertisers to manage their accounts.

New Menu added to the AdWords User Interface

New Sub Menu

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Posted by: Kim Clinkunbroomer, GAP

Owner of Clinks Web Service & AdWordsPI in Chicago, Illinois

Twitter: Kim Clink on Twitter – AWHE on Twitter

Subscribe: RSS Feeds