Category: Google AdWords

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Google AdWords New Extensions

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McCord Web Services is a Google Partner.

Google AdWords has been improving and enhancing their ad serving platform. There are several new ad extensions of note that every account should be watching and some new ones planned for rollout in the very near future.

New Ones Coming Soon and in Some Accounts Now

One of the newest ad extensions that has been in testing and is now starting to roll out to all accounts slowly is the third party review extension. Let’s say you’ve received an award, if it is from a legitimate third party, you can now add the link to the third party review and add exact text or a paraphrase and Google will show this under your ads. What a great way to let the world know and to give your business more credibility with these new type of testimonials. I am seeing this in my client accounts as of today.

Social annotations is another one that is moving out of beta and into accounts. This extension now matches your ad to your Google+ profile with the number of followers. You’ve got to be active and have a strong follower base on Google+ to see this extension show up in your account, but once you link your Google+ page it is automatic. Google will show your number of followers under your ads – again power to boost your ads due to what others think about you.

Seller ratings, this one is a big cherry for businesses with lots of online reviews at third party sites. Google will show star ratings based on aggregate number of reviews. Again this additional input can powerfully boost your ad above your competition by letting readers know how you’ve been reviewed and the number of reviews. This extension has a filter. You’ve got to have 30 reviews in the last 12 months in the language of the ad, participate in Google Product Search, and have at least 3.5 stars out of 5.0.

Communication extension, is one still in beta that a few of our clients are using. Google puts in a small entry field below your ad for readers to sign up without clicking into your website for deals, promotions or your e-newsletter. Google will email you a spreadsheet with the users name and email address every time you get a submission. It’s a great way to build your mailing list.

When we hear of other new extensions from our account rep at Google, we’ll share them with you on our blog.

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How to Opt Out of Google’s Shared Endorsements

I am not sure why we have to go down this path again, but we do. However this time it is not Facebook or Twitter that is using your name and face to sell services, but Google!

Plastered all over the home page of Google.com is a blue bar letting you know that in November Google will be starting to use any Google+ user’s information on +1’s, reviews, and comments in advertising around the Web to other people in your circle. Google calls this new brand of advertising Shared Endorsements.

For now, this really only impacts users who are on Google+, but I would not be surprised if eventually this will impact all users of Google. If you don’t want to share what you do and like in this way with others, you can opt out of this new program, and here’s how:

1. Visit this Google Page: https://plus.google.com/settings/endorsements?hl=en&partnerid=gplp0 you will need to login to your Google account.

2. Go to the bottom of the page where it says “Based upon my activity, Google may show my name and profile photo in shared endorsements that appear in ads.” and remove the check mark from the box. If there was no check mark you are fine.

3. Make sure to click save. Google will pull up a comment asking you “are you sure you want to do this?” click “yes” and you are good to go.

Facebook took a huge black eye months ago when it rolled out it’s own version of Endorsement Ads when it revealed what people had bought in ads embarrassing users who maybe did not want others to know that they had bought certain items. Why Google has decided to go down this same path, one can only guess.

I for one have already removed my name and I encourage you to do so too. We already share so much online I don’t want my name and image to hawk products to others I may know.

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Google Partners is Replacing AdWords Certified Partners

Announced on October 2nd in a YouTube livestream, Google announced that it is retiring its Google AdWords Certified Partner and Certified Individual program. Replacing these important programs is a new program called Google Partners.

Google AdWords Certified Partners will not be automatically grandfathered into the new Google Partner program. They will need to reapply for acceptance. But passing exams now is not the only hurdle to becoming a Google Partner. The prospective applicant firm must now prove competency in the AdWords accounts that it manages with Google rating performance on use of new strategies, frequency of account updates, value of the manager’s capability in changes enacted that will benefit an account, and customer service. Additionally Google Partners have a minimum ad management spend requirement.

We welcome these changes as Google tightens up on qualifications and helps consumers to understand the real value a Partner account manager brings to a professionally managed account. My firm is in the last stages of the approval process and I expect to have our Partner badge in the next two weeks.

With the previous Google AdWords Certified Partner program and badge expiring by mid November, make sure your account manager is staying abreast of these important changes that validate their skill level.

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Google Allows Longer Tracking of the Conversion Window in Google AdWords

Now you’ll be able to choose your own conversion window from 7 to 90 days instead of the previous 30 day window. For many AdWords advertisers, especially those with a higher ticket price, those that encounter more research time in order for a user to make a purchase, this is a huge boon.

So how exactly do you change this setting in AdWords?

Here’s how:

1. Once in your AdWords account, click the “Tools and Analysis” tab and then select from the drop down menu “Conversions”.

2. Find the conversion item you would like to update. Place your mouse over the wording in the column that says 30 days. You will then be given the option to change your conversion window to 90, 45, 30 days, 4, 3, 2, 1 weeks, or a custom range. Select your option and then click save. Before you may your choice you may want to click the link just below this field to see your “conversion time report”. This may give you some additional insight into what you would be best served choosing as your conversion window.

3. Remember when a conversion happens, the resulting conversion number and cost is assigned back to the date the original click happened. So keep this in mind when you change your conversion window.