View Full Version : Google's robbery!
I think advertising on Google is definetly shit.I got tired to pay them for activation fee($5 per time).Whatever your keywords,your CTR will be under the average in few seconds,so you will have to change or modify your keywords.This means you will pay $5 again.Even 1 minute later,again and again..What is this? They are getting their income under a quarantee but what about the advertisers?
I gave up ads on Google because as a stats,the visitors comes from Google dontbe member or come again.So you are loosing as second time.
And when you write them,their reply seems they never care about you and snob.
As an experience,Google doesnt worth to advertise for me.
Greetings to all
abochman
07-30-2003, 07:31 PM
Eko,
I started my site on adwords about one week ago with no prior knowledge and my experience has been much more favorable than what you described for yourself.
Have only paid 5 bucks activation once.
Have changed keywords multiple times but they don't charge for that.
Have been able to find keywords that have kept me above the .5% click through rate they seek.
How can our experiences be so different?
Andy
Andy,
Dont know but their system depends on not letting your main keywords but very detailed ones.Their editorial stuff offer you very ridiculous words as keywords but nobody search for those.
Good luck ..
KarenH
08-02-2003, 12:34 AM
I think advertising on Google is definetly !bleep!.I got tired to pay them for activation fee($5 per time).Whatever your keywords,your CTR will be under the average in few seconds,so you will have to change or modify your keywords.This means you will pay $5 again.Even 1 minute later,again and again..What is this? They are getting their income under a quarantee but what about the advertisers?
I gave up ads on Google because as a stats,the visitors comes from Google dontbe member or come again.So you are loosing as second time.
And when you write them,their reply seems they never care about you and snob.
As an experience,Google doesnt worth to advertise for me.
Greetings to all
Karen Here - I have been having some problems to. But what My screens says is that I will be charged an additional 5 dollars if I have to reactivate for a third time.
abochman
08-02-2003, 11:51 AM
Does not require opening a new campaign. "Edit campaign" let's you change as many keywords/phrases as you like as well as the maximum cost per clickthrough. I have done this many times without incurring any new charges, and have as many as 15 different keywords/phrases active at a time in my single campaign.
I recently turned off the system's ability to put my ads on syndicate sites and search engines after I some other stuff on this site about how many folks find those placements to be less effective. Probably depends on what you're advertising, though.
Hope that helps a tiny bit. andy
bcopeland
08-08-2003, 11:51 AM
I too have had my share of troubles and frustrations. Sometimes your ad can be left alone for some time; other times it seems they are bugging you about low CTR every day. I think its unreasonable to expect a .5% CTR across the board for every ad. This is especially true for "niche" products like software. The economy has not been kind to CTR either. I sometimes wonder if Google is making its living off $5 reactivation fees! However, the rates are really pretty good. On some sites, I am payring upwards of $2 per click, so I take the good with the bad with Google.
thusmann
08-08-2003, 09:20 PM
When I was using Google Adwords to promote iBuilt.net, We got a very good response. After about 30 revisions of our advertisement and keywords, we were getting an 8.0% clickthrough rate (as high as 12% when they kicked our ad into the top 2 spots).
However, we did not get the results we initially expected. The reality ended up being that about 0.5 to 1% of people who clicked through actually ended up paying for our service. At times this meant that each customer cost over $100, but when averaged out, it was about $45 per customer. Since our margins made that a winning scenerio, we kept with it until we got our site positioned. Now we pay nothing for the same exact clicks!
subrosa2
08-13-2003, 12:15 AM
Thusmann what was you cost per click in that campaign....I get excited when i get over 1.4 on on my daily campaign. was this keyword elimination or what?? I am lloking for some good google strategy......
oldhippy100
08-14-2003, 06:55 PM
I have to come down on the negative side as far as Adwords is concerned. I tried it for a month to promote my site, www.incense-man.co.uk , which as the name implies is a site selling incense and related products.
The cost for the more commonly searched-for keywords was VERY high... I ended up spending about £100 a week for very little return in the way of new customers.
Then to add insult to injury, when I added a new product to my site Google decided to suspend my ads because they didn't approve of the product - a wholly legal herbal "substitute" for Ecstacy - so I've said goodbye Google. Now, if I can just sort out my Kanoodle PPC account... :o(
The main problem on Google ads is the users of the directory.Everybody uses google when they need an info about anything,thus means they dont have time to surf,their time is limited for another info.So they click an ads on google just for a few seconds,not reading and searching the advertiser's site or product.They see and leave very quick.Never buy of lead.In this case,it definetly does not worth to advertise on Google.These are my professional thoughts ofcourse I can be mistaken.If you ask me about which is the best way of advertising,I will write it next time..
On the other side,I saw that some others also had some probs too.Everybody knows the power of Google but Im sure they will have some monopoly case probs in a few years.Also the customer complains will make this process faster.If I were Google managers,I would really redecide about Google's policy.
Do you know what happened after I wrote my thoughts on this forum? Google doesnt accept me as advertiser anymore.They know me before and I think they saw my article on here.
I was also expecting this but I also suprised.They explained "past problems with you" Has anyone got this reaction too or Im the only one?
Dear Doogle(sorry Google), I was also not planning to advertise by you,just asked to see whats your thoughts.Ofcourse I will talk again about google.I would like to remind that one day you will have monopoly trial.When that day come ,I will laugh too.
outkast
12-04-2003, 04:39 PM
Are you telling us that Google/AdWords booted you as an advertiser, a paying customer, because you expressed your concerns about the way they do business via a forum. If I read this correctly then I am "speechless". There has to be more to the story than this. Is there?
definetly yeah.Their keyword offers were ridicilous.And I chaged after I first time started ads.Maybe they didnt like this ,because my campaign was local and very few editors.
greetings
kjohnson5576
12-06-2003, 10:41 PM
When I first started with Adwords, I went with their suggested budget for a great ranking. I got a good ranking, but not the sales to support the bill. I've been advertising for quite a while with Adwords. I think the key is not google, but your competitors. If your competitors want to pay outrageous amounts for TOP placement, let them. Me, I'm satisfied with 2-6 placement and the cost is really reduced.
It's Christmas season and Google Ads have really Paid off. Much Better return than Overture and at a better price.
I can still complain about the latest shuffle...but the ad results are rock solid, if you bid within reason.
Maybe it's just me.
Kent
www.discount-leather.net
Yeah Kent ,
I also realised that overture is more effective especially after Yahoo cooperation.In European search engines overture resulted better than google as registration or shopping base.
I think all web masters have to live this stage and have their own experiences. I discoverred the affiliates more effective and more economic way.Ofcourse affiliates have some disadvantages according to your choice.If needed, I can inform about my experiences later.This is a free service;
Have a nice day, greetings from Europe
Moyeed
12-08-2003, 07:12 PM
Kent :
I agree with you. Infact most of us are trying to direct the right kind of traffic on the website. Everyday the numbers and the bills reflect the traffic directed to the website. But do these really reflect in sales?
Isnt it really amazing that thousands of dollars is spent on marketing the site for building traffic, getting up on the search engines, playing around with tags and meta tags. What should be the focus is traffic retention and understanding the needs of the website visitor ( potential customer ) . To have an online business and not know how many of these visitors (who came from google or any other marketing campaign) actually purchased from your website makes little difference to businesses (small and large).
I think the focus should shift to the next level viz Traffic Retention.
Regards
Mark
www.WebGreeter.com
kjohnson5576
12-08-2003, 07:56 PM
I couldn't agree more Mark. About the only way to really retain customers, in my book, is to give them GREAT product and GREAT service. The ones that buy will come back, I know, they are. I can't tell you how many times I've answered questions by email within a few minutes of them landing in my box, and I always get a response of "That was quick, I didn't expect that." It kind of tells me that site owners aren't taking care of potential customers the way they should. Same with Phone Calls. People really expect and want great service.
I'm a little higher priced than some of my competitors, but there has only been a few people that actually wanted to bargain me down, which I usually don't do. Most are so happy with the service and product, they come back and they tell people. I have a little survey at the end of the checkout form for purchases that asked where they heard about the site. Most are new and got me off the internet, but I have had a number of "friends" responses also.
A web store is not too much different than a brick and motar store. If someone is a potential customer and you've got them on the site, don't let them leave until you close the sale. If you go out of your way to make them feel at ease and give them good product, they'll be back.
I will tell you about the effect of Google on the potential customers.I have a theory about this,lets see if other webmasters will also agree me:
As the design of Google Adwords 1) At the top,there is large budgeted ads (starts at $15.000) 2)on the right and cleary seen that they are ads(Pay per Click Min. 0.05)
Everybody knows this,right?
Now, Im writing my keywords on Google toolbar as much peopleon the net.When the results came ofcourse there is ads on the right part.Do you know how I behave ? I never open any advertisers URL, I directly click the normal ranked URLs,one by one till I found my need in good conditions(price,shipping..) This is not a planned behaviour,maybe just a reflex. I though about the reasons why I never click the ads even they are selling my need. Finally I found.Listen carefully now. As everybody I know that they are ads of the companies who payed for that and if I buy from those companies I belive they will add the cost of their ads on their price and this means I will buy more expensive than normal ranked companies.Because their ads cost will increase their prices,so why I should pay more.I will buy from the normal ranked companies and pay less.
If I was Google decision maker, I would definetly change my design and would rank the advertisers like the normal ranked URLS(Like Overture Sponsored Links).I would not clearly mention that they are payed ,so they are at the top rank.A user musnt relise that the top ranked URLs are at the top because they are paying for this.Do you agree?
So, I belive they can not analise users behaviour very well.But I m sure these kind of complains will increase in future.Lets see..
I use google adwords and their suggested words are crap. I use findwhat.com suggested words and I am fine tuning my words all the time so as not to pay for a word that is too generalised. For example the word GPS is a bad keyword, it would cost a fortune (as I found out early in the peace) and changed it to a more specific keyword of Garmin GPS or Magellan GPS. I removed the words Garmin and Magellan as stand alone keywords because, from what I can tell, people who are pretty much ready to buy know what they want, and therefore are more specific, ie, Garmin Etrex. Some of my CTRs are around 15% with one or two at 50% (with only 2 or 3 click throughs though ;) ). I have other issues with Google like placement of the adwords on the right hand side of the page. Unless you are Asian you never read right to left and to me an Ad word should be on the left hand side. Sorry, had to tell you all. It's okay, I am over it now.............. NOT!!!
Im afraid I couldnt explain my theory very clear.Its not the main to read from left to right or right to left.I meant the advertisers are spending money to take part on the right part while normally ranked sites are seen on normal part.
When you think as a client, you know that advertising needs cost and they have to add this cost to their prices,so as a client maybe I will buy same product more expensive if I buy from an advertiser.But if I prefer a normal ranked seller for buying,this will maybe cost me cheaper.This is the main point and on Google's design.In my opinion they must hide advertisers because of this point.
If its asked I will mention another points for Google.I wish happy Cristmas to everyone.Dont think business exept your family(If possible ofcourse)
AussieWebmaster
12-31-2003, 01:05 PM
Eko: you need to take a deep breath and relax. Any PPC campaign regardless of cost has to be carefully worked not just throw money at it and expect a solid return.
You need to start an ad group for each term (you are allowed a hundred for each ad campaign and 25 ad campaigns are allowed).
To improve your results try the following:
put the term in quotes "keyword" that way the exact word or words need to be typed to show up.
Then add qualifiers to the keywords... if you are advertising cars try doing Ford Taurus cars etc... this helps to reduce the cost of the PPC and gets better results.
Make sure to include the keyword in the Title line, it also helps.
Develop a solid landing page... do not send everyone to your front page... each term should have a separate page promoting that element and going for a sale.
You can also use the minus sign - to exclude certain words. For example I use foreign exchange but - students, so I am not inundated with the college crew when I want money people.
Trying those steps will help.
If you set up a new email address you can open a new account. Make sure you start a large number of campaigns and ad groups and when one goes down the rest will still be going for you.
You will have words dropped... just create all new ads... they get dropped because you are not getting enough clicks... see what the others are doing and maybe go in that direction (they are still there)
adposter
01-05-2004, 05:54 PM
I think advertising on Google is definetly !bleep!.
Wouldn't it be great if advertising in Google would just be PPS, pay per sale, instead of PPC pay per click? The thing is, when people click on a site and just passess through, the person advertising ends up loosing more. Whereas if it's a per sale basis, then at least both parties are winner. But I guess it always doesn't work that way...one always has to loose...and the other...takes it all...
tata!
Jon
AussieWebmaster
01-05-2004, 06:30 PM
I think advertising on Google is definetly !bleep!.
Wouldn't it be great if advertising in Google would just be PPS, pay per sale, instead of PPC pay per click? The thing is, when people click on a site and just passess through, the person advertising ends up loosing more. Whereas if it's a per sale basis, then at least both parties are winner. But I guess it always doesn't work that way...one always has to loose...and the other...takes it all...
tata!
Jon
Unfortunately it does not work that way. You have to put a little work into harnessing the opportunity. TV ads, magazine ads etc all do not come with a per sale cost. It is basically the same thing. You have to develop a business model that will take advantage of the traffic, just like any other form of advertising.
Otherwise everyone would just go okay I will pay you x percent per sale and there is no exposure for the business only for Google.
Try establishing an affiliate program - that works as a per sale basis and some people are good at monetizing offers so you can get that chance... just don't expect Google to do it... they are a publication (of information) that sells ad space.