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did you all read about this at Planet Ocean? I checked it out, but I figured somebody who really deals in ppc might be able to tell me their thoughts on this.....or any other similar sites.
They do have a privacy policy and that is nice.
However it does not cover the issue I'm most interested in.
My KW sets!
[this is only my opinion]
We've worked long and hard on this, and frankly a server-based system is the only really viable solution. Doing total bid management in a PC-based client environment is just way too full of pitfalls to be truly effective.
We've talked to our clients and covered the security issue. Some were hesitant, but later realized that their concerns were unfounded. Our software takes extensive measures to make sure their information is not compromised, including fully encrypting both the Goto account number AND the password.
Some folks may not want to supply us their PPC account password, and that's fine -- then our service is simply not for them. Since we've put a lot of thought and effort into what we do, I sincerely hope that they will have a tough time finding an alternative that offers the breadth and depth of our product. Once they've set up their account in our system, they'll never have to touch it or Goto again, unless they want to.
Of course many of the same folks who are worried about their Goto account info don't mind giving out personal information to any number of other faceless sites. I guess it's a matter of personal comfort level.
If a Goto bidder is serious about reducing their PPC bid management overhead and turning a task that takes hours into one that takes literally less than five minutes a day (if any time at all -- once the rules are set up our system is on autopilot) then they'll be willing to provide the information we need to do it for them.
Once total bid management is live, our privacy policy will be very strict and straightforward regarding their PPC account info: it will be encrypted, protected, and not ever shared, even within our organization. Even our support personnel will NOT have access to it. Only the client themselves, with dual authentication, will be able to touch their PPC account info.
One client who has agreed to be one of the first into the full beta of our total management system has almost 10,000 keywords at Goto. He's currently spending 3 hours a day managing them -- and by his own admission, doing a pretty lousy job at it because there are simply too many. Every single day he overpays for clicks or loses position because he just can't keep up.
Our product will save him 15 hours a week in labor and does a better job. Plus it will manage his bids 24/7 -- yep, even on Saturday and Sunday, something he can't do.
It's a tough issue, but one we've thought through and considered fully and talked with our clients about before moving forward. They are overwhelmingly in favor of sharing their account information in exchange for saving them hours of work and hundreds of dollars per month.
I looked at paidse..tools about a month ago, and it doesn't do anything that some free tools on the net do better - I can't imagine paying for the service.
Most of these sites wrap simple cgi's in a pile of marketing foo so thick you can't see just what it is they are selling until after you signup. Make sure you take full advantage of any freebie offers to see what they have.
I don't think there are any out their worth subscribing to at this time DogBoy - put your checkbook away.
Point me at some free tools that do a good job. I'd like to take a look. Of course, don't include MY free tool among them! :)
actually, I just wanted to keep an eye on them for them now so that in 6 months I would be an intelligent consumer:)
...keep it coming:)
(okay, I know the tool on searchengineworld.com - but others!?)
I don't know of any free sites that do this either. I did get an offer from did-it.com sometime back. -- They offer a free try, sample at their website, but, though the results were interesting, I could not see that they gave me anything I couldn't do myself. But I don't manage anywhere near 10,000 keywords.
Even so, I thought of using did-it.com, because, frankly even with the few 100 keywords I manage, it gets to be a chore when you do it for 7-8 PPCs, and there is no doubt -- as often as the bid prices change you can lose money by paying too much, or lose postion by not paying what you are willing to pay -- if you could just keep up.
Has anyone had a positive experience from these type of services? So far every post above has been negative except scslawin's.
I use paid web-based bid management software for my 900 keywords. It definitely saves me heaps of time. It's impossible to work out whether it's saving me money though. My CPC is lower, but that could be due to other factors as well.
I actually have a page devoted to these sites and programs on my site now.
Mike, there is a piece of software called the pay per click optimizer that is downloadable. (After you purchase it.)
It used to just generate reports but now it also automatically adjusts bids and holds ranking, etc.
