Forum Moderators: werty
What to expect:
Low cost clicks, low traffic, dodgy system performance, and a new interface/process to learn. I have been using AdCenter since its first launch and have seen vast improvements in version two, so I am expecting things will get much better, and all feedback will be listened to.
Here are a few things to consider when signing up for AdCenter:
The new sign up that will launch on Monday will be for the US only, does this mean that it is for US customers, or for US traffic? I work in Canada, and have a US account, so it would seem like if you are in a country other then the US, you can sign up for the service, but you will only be able to target US based traffic. (they already have separate Singapore and France that are open for sign up)
How much does it cost to sign up?
It is not free to sign up; it will cost $5.00 USD
How does AdCenter compare to AdSense or YPN?
This is not for the AdSense part of AdCenter; it is only for BUYING advertising, not selling clicks on your site. AFAIK that product has not been released.
How many accounts can you get?
You should be able to get one Master Account, with up to 3 sub accounts per credit card within one interface. So you can have more than 3 accounts within one main login, if you have numerous credit cards. You may be able to play the system and get numerous accounts with different credit cards and email addresses.
How is this different from Google?
Well it is very similar however the main thing is the Ad groups on Google, would be the equivalent of an ORDER on MSN. The second biggest thing is that you have one description line of 70 characters VS 2 lines of 35 characters each like on Google.
How does the bidding system differ from Google? [webmasterworld.com]
Minimum cost is $0.05 per click. If there is competition you only pay one cent above the advertiser below you (overture style). There is talk of MSN switching to a CTR*CPC structure like early Google (before quality score), but now it is closer to Overture.
What Are Parameters?
These allow you to dynamically add things other than keywords to your Ad Copy, up to 3 parameters can be stored per URL. Parameter 1 is best used for using a unique URL per keyword, since it allows more characters than parameter 2 or 3. I have had issues when trying to put parameters into the URL dynamically, especially when there is a space. Worth testing however.Read more about Parameters here [advertising.msn.com]
In addition to this there are massive amounts of targeting features:
Target by location, sex, income, time of day, etc…
How accurate is the targeting data?
“As accurate as the forms are filled out by passport users”
Where does it get the data from?
Passport information (this is Microsoft passport – used for hotmail, msn messenger, etc)
How does the traffic convert?
I have been very happy with it, just wish there was more.
How much traffic can I expect?
They just upped the serving by 70%, from the original 25ish%, so roughly 40%. So just imagine if you are happy now, you will have the potential to reach 2.5x the traffic when it is rolled out 100%, and that is if they do not gain market share.
I can’t see my ads?
MSN is attaching cookies to users, so once they get an overture ad, they stick with overture ads, to bypass this and see MSN ads go to: [adcenter.search.msn.com...] it should overwrite your overture cookie and show you MSN ads for the next 30 days [advertising.msn.com].
AdCenter does not work on my machine?
Make sure you have the proper equipment/software: [advertising.msn.com...]
I had issues with IE 7.0 (beta) and had to downgrade to 6.0
I have a great suggestion for AdCenter, how can I tell them about it?
You can try to fill out their form: [advertising.msn.com...] but you are better off adding to the WebmasterWorld AdCenter wish list [webmasterworld.com].
Where can I learn more about MSN AdCenter?
AdCenter Home Page:http://advertising.msn.com/msn-adcenter
AdCenter Login: [adcenter.msn.com...]
FAQs: [advertising.msn.com...]
Official AdCenter Blog: [blogs.msdn.com...]
Keep in mind AdCenter is a beta and they do want your business and feedback. Please follow-up with any pointers you may be able to add to this for the AdCenter newbies.
2. Keywords that are clearly relevant to your site may be rejected. Email support and request their "Appeals Spreadsheet". Fill this out, send it back, and then they do give it pretty prompt human attention.
3. Most reports don't seem to total things up. So, just export to a .csv and do a sum function. Hopefully they'll address this soon, as alot of users are requesting "Totals".
4. When you import keywords from a spreadsheet, a surprising amount of them will be rejected as duplicates. You have to strip them out and re-submit the spreadsheet, Adcenter doesn't just go ahead and load the non-duplicates.
Overall, be patient and communicate with the support staff - they are very helpful. And the product is improving with each release.
or firefox. I wonder what happens if I change the useragent though - will that work? Save me having to set up my laptop to run this stuff?
It is worth noting that they don't just consider identical keywords duplicates. I saw a few cases where MSN stripped out the word "and" from a keyword and thus matched it as a duplicate to another keyword. This makes finding and removing duplicates in a spreadsheet quite difficult.
With that said, it is a beta so it won't be perfect. It is a nice-looking interface with interesting keyword metrics and graphing. I'm looking forward to seeing their system mature.
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[edited by: werty at 12:15 am (utc) on Mar. 7, 2006]
[edit reason] Removed URL - Please see TOS #13 [/edit]
I can't seem into import using the csv and excel formats even though I used their templates. It should be saved as Microsoft Office Excel Workbook or CSV(Comma Delimited) right?
Thanks
The adtitle was more than 25 characters
or
The description was more than 70 characters
When I tried to import as csv I was informed of these errors, but not with xls.
I went back to my spreadsheet and added some Nto inform me of the number of characters I was using. Then when I was ready to submit I deleted these columns.
The next problem was a restriction on the number of ads in one order - it is 20.
Then another problem because I realised all these ads had to share the same keyword. I was thinking that I could give each ad a different keyword - like I can in Adwords.
Thus in my opinion the upload feature is very limited almost not worth having. I want to upload lots of "orders" but as far as I can see I can only upload "ads" - which I guess is for split testing. Adwords allows you to use your last ad as a template with MSN you have to start from stratch.
The more I start to use MSN in earnest the more understand that this really is in BETA.
"I don't see any way to import ads or campaigns - where is it? "
-- There is no way to import campaigns or orders, just ads into an order.
So if you have spreadsheets you have used for uploading to Adwords or Overture you really can't use them for MSN Adcenter.
MSN need to look at how you can upload to Google with their spreadsheets. You can select a keyword and say which campaign and adgroup you want it in - exactly how anyone would want it.
I'm asking myself do I really have to submit everything manually..this is crazy surely when the creators sat down to create this product they would have been thinking how to we make it as easy as possible for everyone to add campaigns they have in Adwords.
I made campaigm just for the sake of doing it, but it's still waiting to be approved.
It's not that good for my needs this week, since I want to target Canadian buyers with a product that costs too much to ship to the US.
The status of my keywords is still pending, it looks like they are a bit overwhelmed by the influx of new advertisers.
I was able to find a contact US page, but it didn't contain any e-mail addresses or phone number to actually contact MSN. (Although it did contain the graphics)
I do most of my advertising with Google since Overture take so long and can be a real pain in the ass with keywords. I hope MSN Adcenter is not going to be like another Overture.
I wish they would at least approve the ads so the algorithm can do the keywords.
On another order, it asked in DOLLARS, but not on the other one. And they are exactly the same.
Can I change that?
Thanks
[edited by: skuba at 12:27 am (utc) on Mar. 9, 2006]
Does conversion tracking code go only on receipt page or every page?
And is it possible to track the conversion value or is it just true or false?
Do you guys also think that most sites will have only one order? I mean, otherwise you need to include several tracking codes to your pages and it might even cause problems to tracking. What do you think? What's the point of using more than one order?
I couldn't find a reason to have more than one campaign too.
Thanks a lot
Man, this Adcenter is really BETA!
Although all my setting are for USA adn even geo targetting is set for USA it is asking for my budget in EUROS!?
On another order, it asked in DOLLARS, but not on the other one. And they are exactly the same.
Can I change that?
Another thing I couldn't find.
Does conversion tracking code go only on receipt page or every page?
And is it possible to track the conversion value or is it just true or false?
Do you guys also think that most sites will have only one order? I mean, otherwise you need to include several tracking codes to your pages and it might even cause problems to tracking. What do you think? What's the point of using more than one order?
I couldn't find a reason to have more than one campaign too.
Thanks a lot
