Google AdWords

[asdisc]

Ok I looked around and haven't seen much on a search on this topic. Does anyone use this and if so what is your pay per click and maybe a few of the keywords that helps you out as well.

We just signed up so we will see if it works out or if I wasted part of our advertising budget on it.

[Jim7226]

I use it for something totally different than photography...and it works great. In fact, I have built much of my business around this form of advertising. But my feelings are it will only direct traffic to your website...your services, product, etc. still needs to capture the viewer's attention. Also, if you don't use the right keywords for your site you will be disappointed and feel it is a waste of money.

Give it a try and don't be scared to use different words if the ones you've sampled are not doing it for you. Furthermore, I doubt that too many folks will share with you the "keywords" they use (if they are actually working) as this information is like gold and usually a closely held secret (or at least it should be). Good Luck!

[asdisc]

Great, Just wanted to make sure I don't waste my money doing it. I figured as much about the keywords, but some people are willing to share and help others, and since everyone here isn't really competing for ones business since we are geographically seperated. I have only had it going for about 12 hours now and have got 2 hits and 140 impressions so I know it will work I hope. :crossfingers:

[asdisc]

Ok maybe people won't share the keywords, but whats your average impressions to Click ratio?

And how much do you spend on this a month?

[Banbert]

When you expect others to share you should at least share a bit yourself I reckon, dont even see a website listed for you, would be nice to see what your advertising and then you may get some more specific advice.

We used adwords when we first started up and whilst we were working on our SEO, max we were spending was £35 a month ($70 US) and 45p per click and that was keeping at the top for most of our targeted keywords.

Now our SEO has had time to work we don't spent anything on adwords, well just 3 pence last month because its still switched on but set very low so hardly ever displays.

When we were using it it was definitely generating enquiries and bookings, we traced them coming through with Analytics and also checked directly with clients how they were finding us and at that time if they said Google it meant adwords because we didnt feature on the organic results.

If your spending money on adwords then its definitely worth working on your SEO, organic results are free and a little work there can save a lot of potential spend on adwords.

[asdisc]

When you expect others to share you should at least share a bit yourself I reckon, dont even see a website listed for you, would be nice to see what your advertising and then you may get some more specific advice.

Good point, right now its just a few

Town, with portrait studio photography photographer and variations of the same

We used adwords when we first started up and whilst we were working on our SEO, max we were spending was £35 a month ($70 US) and 45p per click and that was keeping at the top for most of our targeted keywords

Ok we set it to 50 dollars a month to start.

Now our SEO has had time to work we don't spent anything on adwords, well just 3 pence last month because its still switched on but set very low so hardly ever displays.

And how long did this actually take? Months, Weeks, Years?

When we were using it it was definitely generating enquiries and bookings, we traced them coming through with Analytics and also checked directly with clients how they were finding us and at that time if they said Google it meant adwords because we didnt feature on the organic results.

Well that's good to know, I don't want to waste our time/money on it if it isn't going to produce any leads

If your spending money on adwords then its definitely worth working on your SEO, organic results are free and a little work there can save a lot of potential spend on adwords.

True, I need to do some more work on the site I know that, take a look let me know what you think.

[John Mireles]

You also need a great set of web stats. I use web-stat.com. It's much better than the web stats you get with your web site hosting. One thing I like is that it will tell me how each visitor got to my site and will show me the path. I can then click on that path to see what it is. For example, I found out about this forum when I looked in my stats and clicked to a thread where a link to my site was posted.

I can also see how each visitor clicked through my pages and how long they spent on each page. If someone does a google search, I can see exactly what the page looked like that they saw when they clicked. This helps me to see how my ad dollars are being spent and where they are best utilized. The beauty of internet advertising is that you can really see how it's paying off for you. It's not like magazine advertising where it's one big mystery.

John

[Banbert]

Originally Posted by John Mireles

You also need a great set of web stats. I use web-stat.com. It's much better than the web stats you get with your web site hosting. One thing I like is that it will tell me how each visitor got to my site and will show me the path. I can then click on that path to see what it is. For example, I found out about this forum when I looked in my stats and clicked to a thread where a link to my site was posted.

I can also see how each visitor clicked through my pages and how long they spent on each page. If someone does a google search, I can see exactly what the page looked like that they saw when they clicked. This helps me to see how my ad dollars are being spent and where they are best utilized. The beauty of internet advertising is that you can really see how it's paying off for you. It's not like magazine advertising where it's one big mystery.

John

Google Analytics does all of that, and much more and is completely free, it also ties in very nicely with Adwords for indeptch analysis of your adwords spend.

[Picture North Carolina]

Originally Posted by Banbert

Google Analytics does all of that, and much more and is completely free, it also ties in very nicely with Adwords for indeptch analysis of your adwords spend.

Agree with many posts above:

Adwords
Work. I have placed customer's websites in the program and they have benefitted from it.

Webstats
Agree. Google analytics work well and integrate well with the ppc program. I would disagree that the stats that are found on hosts are bad. Perhaps for specific hosts that I have not seen, yes. But I place all my customers on a host using cPanel and the stats choices there range from a choice of simple to very comprehensive, also offering raw files to download and analyze yourself. Getting a good hosting service is often an overlooked aspect of the process.

[Banbert]

Originally Posted by CannedHeat

Webstats
Agree. Google analytics work well and integrate well with the ppc program. I would disagree that the stats that are found on hosts are bad. Perhaps for specific hosts that I have not seen, yes. But I place all my customers on a host using cPanel and the stats choices there range from a choice of simple to very comprehensive, also offering raw files to download and analyze yourself. Getting a good hosting service is often an overlooked aspect of the process.

Yup I agree with that, there are some bad ones out there but certainly not all of them, I choose to use Analytics rather than what I get with my hosting primarily because I can compare stuff thats hosted externally (e.g. my blog on blogger) and just look at one type of report rather than different ones.

[John Mireles]

I have used google analytics as well and find that web-stat.com is far more powerful and easy to use. It costs an extra five bucks a month, but it's worth it. It's worth checking out at any rate.

John

[Banbert]

Originally Posted by John Mireles

I have used google analytics as well and find that web-stat.com is far more powerful and easy to use. It costs an extra five bucks a month, but it's worth it. It's worth checking out at any rate.

John

When was the last time you used analytics John ? I only ask because its keeps getting updated so may not be the same now when you last used it.

I get a decent stats package from my host that does everything I need but so does Analytics so thats what I choose to use ... ive looked at web-stat.com but I dont see any features I would be prepared to pay for, specifically what do you find it does better than analytics ?

[*Mike*]

For adwords, your budget is going to vary depending on where you are, how effective you are at converting clicks to sales, etc.

But, here's a tip that's worked for us... our keywords include the names of all of our competitors (search for xyz studio and we'll pop up on the side), as well as all related industries - so if you're looking for an area caterer you'll also get our ad. Same for florists, limos, etc.

[S.Horton]

Originally Posted by John Mireles

I have used google analytics as well and find that web-stat.com is far more powerful and easy to use. It costs an extra five bucks a month, but it's worth it. It's worth checking out at any rate.

John

@John - Nice little website you have there. <bookmark>

+1 for your post as well.

[John Mireles]

Originally Posted by Banbert

When was the last time you used analytics John ? I only ask because its keeps getting updated so may not be the same now when you last used it.

I get a decent stats package from my host that does everything I need but so does Analytics so thats what I choose to use ... ive looked at web-stat.com but I dont see any features I would be prepared to pay for, specifically what do you find it does better than analytics ?

Web-stat.com is just so easy to use and accessible. Google is more confusing and didn't seem to give me the information I wanted. All I can say is that I'm hooked on web-stat. It's like the difference between driving a bmw and a honda. They're both nice cars, but once you get behind the wheels, you really understand the difference.

Actually, one key difference is that web-stat uses cookies. That makes it so much more accurate than google or the other stats. Also, the customer service is great. Anytime I've had problems with my site, I get a quick response that takes care of the problem. Good luck getting anything meaningful from google.

Try it for a month and see if you like it. I'll bet you'll be hooked too. (I have no connection to web-stat. I'm just a happy customer.)

John