I had the same problem promoting
The Secret Diary of Adrian Cat - one minute I was getting hits for $0.10 nest they were demanding $10. Here is a discussion I had with them before closing my account.
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Thank you for contacting Google AdWords. Please hold a moment while we route your chat to a specialist who will help you with your question: "Question regarding minimum bids.".
Nefertiti has received your message and will be right with you.
Nefertiti: Hello Stuart. Thank you for waiting. I'm happy to help you with Google AdWords.
Nefertiti: I understand you've a question about minimum bids.
Stuart: Hello - I set up a campaign and was number 1 position for several keywords with a bid of $0.10 - why are you now requesting a minimum bid of $10
Nefertiti: What would you like to know, Stuart?
Nefertiti: Due to the dynamic nature of search, a keyword's minimum bid is likely to fluctuate.
Nefertiti: However, if you find that your keyword's minimum bid increases often, this is an indication that your keyword's Quality Score is not strong enough.
Nefertiti: Can you please tell me which campaign you're referring to so that I can look into your account?
Stuart: Secret Diary > Group-1
Nefertiti: Okay
Nefertiti: Please wait while I look into this situation.
Stuart: I do not believe for one minute that people are bidding $5 for obscure terms such as "children's book cat"
Nefertiti: First, I'd like to clarify that the minimum bids of your keywords are not determined by your competitors' bids.
Nefertiti: Your minimum bids are based on the Quality Score of your keywords.
Nefertiti: I see that your keywords have a poor Quality Score.
Nefertiti: As a result, you see these high minimum bids.
Stuart: So what would attract a Good Quality Score for a children's book about a cat?
Nefertiti: Your Quality Score is determined by your keyword's clickthrough rate (CTR), relevance of ad text, historical keyword performance, the quality of your ad's landing page, and other relevancy factors.
Nefertiti: You can increase your Quality Score and lower your minimum bid by choosing highly targeted keywords and writing relevant ad text.
Stuart: Look I want to advertise a book - NOT take a degree in how to work with Google
Nefertiti: Also, consider deleting keywords that have accrued a large number of impressions and yielded only a few clicks.
Nefertiti: I apologize for your frustration, Stuart.
Stuart: Maybe better if I just advertise elsewhere - where it is simpler!
Nefertiti: I'm sorry for your frustration, Stuart. However, if you would like to decrease the minimum bids of your keywords, please consider the options I've provided above.
Stuart: What you have said does little to help - on one keyword there is a click through rate of 5% - yet you still ask for minimum bid of $20
Nefertiti: Stuart, please remember that the clickthrough rate is just one of the several factors that determine your Quality Score.
Nefertiti: I suggest that you try refining your keyword list by making it more specific.
Nefertiti: The more closely your keywords relate to the product you're offering, the better it is.
Stuart: Yes I understand that - It is far too confusing - I really just want to advertise books - not study Google's rules and policies etc etc etc
Nefertiti: I do understand, Stuart.
Stuart: So tell me how to get advertsising at around $0.10 - $0.20 per click
Nefertiti: Stuart, you'll need to improve your Quality Score to decrease your keywords bids. To do this, please consider optimizing your ad campaign.
Nefertiti: To start, you can refine your keyword list to make it more specific.
Stuart: What can be more specific than the keyword "book about a cat"
Nefertiti: For example, you can use the names of the books you're promoting on your website.
Nefertiti: This would make your keyword's Quality Score better since it closely relates to your ad text and your website.
Stuart: If people were searching for the name of my book they would find my website - I am trying to use Google to promote my latest books
Nefertiti: Stuart, I suggest that you use our Keyword Tool to refine your keyword list.
Stuart: I did!!!!!!!
Nefertiti: I just ran the tool for your keyword 'best cat books'
Nefertiti: And found that it has no searches.
Stuart: Most of the keywords came from running the tool
Nefertiti: Stuart, please add the keywords which have a high search volume.
Nefertiti: Also, make sure that these relate closely to your ad text and your website.
Stuart: Ah - like cats - which was originally $0.10 when I first added it - then jumped to $10
Nefertiti: Stuart, 'cats' is a very generic term.
Nefertiti: It doesn't closely relate to your ad text or your website.
Nefertiti: When a user searches for cat, several results are likely to come up.
Stuart: I have 49 keywords - ranging from generic to very specific - most started at $0.05 - $0.10 then jumped to $0.50 - $10
Stuart: there is no point in me using Google if clicks are > $0.20
Nefertiti: If our system determines that these keywords aren't performing well for you, it might raise the minimum bids.
Stuart: that's not a very useful feature!!! - Oh these are not doing well so I will charge the customer more!!! That's like a supermarket with goods that are not selling doubling the price!
Nefertiti: This is done to encourage advertisers to consider refining their keyword list by investing in better keywords.
Nefertiti: As you're aware, the higher the Quality Score, the lower you pay.
Stuart: I have 49 keywords - from general to specific - all are now to expensive - what more can I possibly do???
Stuart: Why not be really helpful - suggest 1 keyword that will be not more that $0.20 per click
Nefertiti: I suggest that you visit the following link to learn more about improving your Quality Score:
Nefertiti:
https://adwords.google.com/support/b....html&hl=en_US .
Nefertiti: I'm unable to comment on the bids of a keyword since the process of determining the bids is automated.
Stuart: As I said earlier - I do not want a Degree in Google Adwords - all I want to do is advertise a book
Nefertiti: However, I can run the Traffic Estimator tool to see how a keyword is likely to perform for you.
Nefertiti: Stuart, I'm trying to help you.
Stuart: I know you are - but it is very frustrating that I spend time creating campaigns with google and withing days the minimum bid goes from $0.10 to $10
Nefertiti: I do understand your frustration, Stuart.
Stuart: So why not raise the issue with management for me?
Nefertiti: Stuart, this is expected behaviour.
Nefertiti: If your Quality Score is poor, your minimum bids will be high.
Nefertiti: You need to improve your keywords' Quality Score to lower your bids.
Stuart: But it is surely driving your customers away!!!
Nefertiti: We've found that this system works best for the benefit of our users and our advertisers.
Nefertiti: High quality ads benefit both users and advertisers.
Stuart: Well I realise that I have only a small budget and am of no significance to Google - but it does not work for me.
Nefertiti: I'm sorry you feel that way. I again encourage you to go through the tips given in the link I've provided. This should help you.
Nefertiti: Stuart, are you there?
Stuart: yes
Nefertiti: Is there anything else that I can help you with for now?
Stuart: Could you give me the URL for the advertising section of Yahoo's site? Looks like I need to find somewhere else to advertise.
Nefertiti: I'm not equipped with this information.
Stuart: I was using irony
Nefertiti: Stuart, I'd be happy to answer any other AdWords questions you may have.
Stuart: I know you have tried - but really you have not answered my questions - just given me the Google Blurb - so there are no further questions - thank you