Tag: Google AdWords

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Yes, Google AdWords Has An Auction Component

I’ve seen mentioned on the Web in several places that Google AdWords is an auction,  and then again in other places that it is not. Finally in Google’s own help information on AdWords they use the “Auction” term.

I have long felt that getting to position one on a keyword had an auction-factor as one could bid up the price, but in some cases never pay the actual bid price and yet still raise a keyword’s position. Now at least it is clearly in the open. Yes, Google AdWords does have an auction-like bid to position.

Remember there are additional factors that affect your keywords page position like quality score, ad text, and even landing page match and now bidding high enough to get into the auction is another one.

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Organic Search Results Shrink Even Further on Mobile

The Google Carousel
The Google Carousel

Tell me you haven’t seen it yourself? The space on Google and Bing for organic results is shrinking again. Have you looked on your smartphone? Could you even find organic results when the page loades?

The amazing shrinking world of organic search results on mobile

Searchengine Land just wrote about this issue complete with screen shots in this article. They highlighted a travel query with no space left at all for organic search results on a mobile device.

In Google Analytics I am seeing many clients have shrinking organic traffic numbers as both Google and Bing revamp their results displays to show more ads, bigger ads, and on mobile fewer organic results.

On desktops the organic results were already being pushed nearly below the fold by the Google Knowledge Graph and Google Carousel and the six pack of Google Local results. On mobile the space is even more precious. It is not unusual to see only ads when the screen opens, then local results and only with significant scrolling any organic results.

For more information about the changing face of organic results read my blog post about the Google Knowledge Graph and Google Carousel from 2014. The space was shrinking then and now appears to be nearly gone in some new searches.

 

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Search Plus Display Select in Google AdWords

Google Partner Badge
McCord Web Services is a Google Partner.

I have two AdWords accounts that I have had in Search and Display Select for several months. I personally hate comingling the two networks in one campaign, but I have to say that this strategy is definitely working for these accounts.

In fact, when I move them out of Display Select and simply run them in search conversion number really drop. Moving them back in almost instantaneously bumps up conversions – Why?

Google has stated a few things about advertising in the Display network that I wanted to share with you.

• Adding Display to a Search campaign increases brand recall by 124%.

• Increases purchase intent by 31%

• After seeing a Display ad customers are 140% more likely to click on an organic link.

• Driving traffic by combining Display with Search increases the likelihood of a visit by 27%.

With Display Select being better than just regular Display, for some accounts this is the “secret sauce” that seems to build strong conversion activity.

If you are looking for a very savvy, experienced AdWords account manager, I invite you to visit my website and then give me a call.