Adwords - Competitor Ads

[olimits7]

Hi,

My competitor's are US based websites/companies, but that target 100% intnerational customers.

I've been doing different keyword searches on Google US, and I've noticed that adword ads appear for their website on Google US.

This strikes me as weird because why would they want to target Google US if their customer base is 100% international? I don't now why they wouldn't exclude Google US from their adwords campaign since it would attract clicks from US users?

The only answer I could think of as to why they would want to include Google US is if international customers are going to Google US to perform searches. But how often do international customers actually search on Google US?

I know when I search I just use Google US since I'm from the US. And I'm guessing users in the UK use Google UK, users in AU use Google AU, and users in CA use Google CA.

So I'm not sure if I'm missing something, and maybe I should also include the US in my adwords campaign just in case international customers use Google US to search?

Thank you,

olimits7

[Leosghost]

If one wants to get prices for things which one knows are much cheaper in the US ( or wherever ) than where one is ..one searches using US ( or whichever ) Google..doing so clears out of the serps the first 2 or 3 pages of people in ones own geographical area who are selling expensively what they are buying from the US or elsewhere..

The difference on some items can be 10 times cheaper in the US ( or wherever )..so even if paying shipping one gains..

Most people who speak more than one language use more than one geographical search engine..especially if they know that local prices are very high for imported items..

HTH :)

To use a specific..steel ball bearings ( all types, stainless steel , case hardened, mild , etc ) are 15 times cheaper when ordered by 1000 units from the USA than from France..even including shipping..and 4 times cheaper than the UK..

[olimits7]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Yes, that definitely makes sense; so I think it would then be helpful to include Google US in my adwords campaigns.

However, I know I will probably get clicks from US users just due to curiosity which wouldn't help me gain more customers.

There isn't a way to include Google US, but exclude searches made by users from the US?

[olimits7]

I was just poking around in Adwords. If I exclude USA from my targeted locations; will my ad still show for international located users searching on Google US and my ad won't show to US users searching on Google US?

[Leosghost]

However, I know I will probably get clicks from US users just due to curiosity which wouldn't help me gain more customers.

There isn't a way to include Google US, but exclude searches made by users from the US?

If I exclude USA from my targeted locations; will my ad still show for international located users searching on Google US and my ad won't show to US users searching on Google US?

For answers to those questions you'll have to wait for rhinofish or someone with similar detailed knowledge of the adwords system to join the thread..

[RhinoFish]

the results you see in SERPS may not be indicative of what most people see.

location targeting has two aspects -- location and intent. it's not quite this simple, but good enough:
location = where they are
intent = what they said in their search

read this:
[adwords.blogspot.com...]

you can do the targeting you mentioned, intent=yes, location=no.

use the combinations of:
+location targets
+location targeting method
+exclusion locations
+exclusion method

[Leosghost]

Thanks RhinoFish <=( sorry for the earlier typo :)..I knew you'd know how it worked..

[olimits7]

Thank you for the reply!

I'm having a hard time selecting the options I need to be able to show my ads only to physically located UK users that search either on google.com (us) or google.co.uk (uk). The physically located UK users can perform searches relating to the US; however, any physically located US users will not see my ads at all. Do the following selections I currently have setup for my Adwords campaign below accomplish this?

Target: UK
Target: People in my targeted location
- Your ad can appear for anyone who is likely to be physically located in your targeted location, even if she shows interest in other locations.

I re-read a bunch a times what Google has written for these options; which the wording kind of throws me off, but I think the setting above should be correct for what I'm trying to accomplish?

Thank you,

olimits7

[RhinoFish]

your chosen method says "ignore intent", just target people who are located in the UK.

they say "likely located" because geo-targeting isn't perfect.

knowing these two things above...

"Your ad can appear for anyone who is likely to be physically located in your targeted location, even if she shows interest in other locations."

should make sense to you.

~~~~~~

i answered what you are doing currently. now that you understand the settings, if needed, please restate what you're trying to accomplish.

[lorax]

Unless of course you're targeting people that live and work in a country that strictly controls it's INet traffic and search like China and Korea. Then Google US has absolutely no relevance. The only way they'd see those ads are if they travel for work.

[Leosghost]

You mean the "Norks" ? ..the South Korean govt doesnt control their INET traffic and search..AFAIU ...

[olimits7]

Thanks RhinoFish!

Yes, I think I have this setup properly then by using...

Target: UK
Target: People in my targeted location

[RhinoFish]

as it is, if someone in the UK types...
widgets from Thailand
your ad will show.

to nuke them, exclude by location and intent (the recommended choice), and exclude the countries where your languages are prevalent.

or skip this exclusion targeting advice, and keep an eye on the Search Terms report, and see what searches (indicating intent) are coming thru, and neg those words (like -Thailand).

[olimits7]

Ok, I think I should still keep it the same because searches like this I still want my add to show up on if someone in the UK types...

widgets from USA

But maybe I will still add neg words for places like -Thailand where I don't want my ad to show if a UK user types this.

[RhinoFish]

perfect!
:-)