So far here its just resulted in a lot more traffic and expense that doesn't convert so switched everything to phrase match.
It would be nice if the option was still there to keep the old matching in place while being able to see the potential broad matches without automatically getting them or having to put tons of negatives on everything.
looks like i'm going to go back to a lot of exact word/phrase matches to filter out the junk.
-c
[edited by: cayenne at 10:50 am (utc) on Oct. 10, 2003]
For anyone currently using broad matching, I'd seriously recommend checking stats asap.
A better way to counter the expanded broad matching feature is to use negatives (rather than using exact/phrase). Plug in your main keyword into the new keyword suggestion tool and keep an eye on the right hand side for keywords under "expanded broad matches".
If you see an irrelevant keyword, just put that under your negative list. If you see a fairly relevant keyword, create a new adgroup for that keyword with its own unique ad copy.
Changing all keywords to phrase/exact matching may be the easy way out but you will lose out on a lot of traffic. The above procedure maybe time consuming but it is worth it.
I used to have a bunch of keywords/keyphrases that had maybe 4 or 5 people showing up on Adwords, now, suddently there are 20 or so showing and my, relevant and very targeted, ads are nowhere to be found.
By biggest problem with it, is not where my ads are going to be shown, but where other people's ads are showing up.
Basically Google is rewarding people that don't know how to write and target ads, of course, that means a lot more money for Google's coffers.
[edited by: Shak at 12:49 pm (utc) on Oct. 17, 2003]
[edit reason] language please :) [/edit]
This week has been the lowest CTR I've had outside of the first month I used G and was still working on how to use the system.
I like the old broadmatch, this new one has dropped by CTR by 1.3% for all campaigns combined, not happy...
Basically Google is rewarding people that don't know how to write and target ads, of course, that means a lot more money for Google's coffers - you have to fatten the pig before the big feast (read IPO).
I completely agree. Google is rewarding the lowest common denominator and ignoring those who have strived for relevance.
I had one highly targeted keyword go from an average position of 2.5 a couple of days ago to 22.0 today. There was only four ads showing on Wednesday. Is this the best for the customer? Talk about oversaturation.
I wonder how long it will take before Google starts weeding through and disabling the irrelevant ads? Or how long will it take advertisers to begin deleting irrevelant keywords or adding negative keywords - like many deleted the content targeted option (AdSense) when it came out?
It feels like Google AdWords has turned into Overture in the period of a day - and that is not necessarily a good thing.
seasalt
Competition for all your keyword bids has just increased by a factor of at least 5. For one of my best-performing ads, what used to be a top 3 position on the first page is now 7th on the second page. And they're charging a higher CPC for the privilege! This is ridiculous.
Instead of rewarding highly targeted, exact match terms used by advertisers that have spent time & effort researching & narrowing down their keyword terms, you're now competing with every tom-dick-and-harry that happens to be using broad match.
For those of you that thought you'd be protected by using only phrase & exact matching options (myself included), think again. With the expanded broad match option now active, your average CPC is going to skyrocket!
I am not a happy punter. :(
This will help keep the tom, dick, & harrys at bay.
Thanks vibgyor i'll give your suggestion a try.
-c
I converted my account to exact matching, but my average position and CTR have gone way down. The reason: my competitors' ads (which are no longer relevant to their sites) are being shown above mine (which are).
:(
My (local language) broad matched campaigns (with lots of negative matches) have gone down in clicks with about 20% mainly because the average position dropped a little.
I guess it is still a matter of exact matches and writing very targetted and distinct ad text, something that your typical dick and harry can't do anyway.
not converting
Bingo. It's pretty clear they're ticking off their users, incrementally.
I'm sitting here making changes, trying to guess how the site will react, and it's so unpredictable and frustrating. I've got CTR's of 5.0% that aren't getting the impressions they got before. Phooey.
The implications of the Broad Matching are less than desirable even if you aren't using the feature.
Google is becoming more and more like Overture/etc everyday... so much for being different.
The suggested 'broad match' is 'Buffy gifts'!
Sure, I can see how they make the association, since "Angel" and "Buffy" are related shows. However, it is totally useless for me to get a visitor from 'buffy' keyword, since I have no items at all on the subject!
Andy
>>>>>AdWords has turned into Overture in the period of a day<<<<<
- A(GREED)
See [webmasterworld.com...] .
Until this glitch is fixed we can't really make decisions on what to do with our search terms.
it just became fun.
Shak
I'm simply expressing my opinion to a change that I think should have been at least discussed and thought through better.
Example: Why did advertisers have to forfeit hard earned CTR?
This could have been easily avoided by introducing a new match style: Extra-Broad Match or something like.
Unless someone changes the rules & the tool breaks.
It just became time-consuming.
Shak
(just making it a bit interesting, rather than agreeing with all of you)
I refuse to jack up my cpc to match the irrelevant ads. I have taken the money from my AdWords budget and hired a professional seo.
Thats the right Move IMHO. :)
DaveN
Where is GoogleGuy...
It think this is AWA's territory. But it's Sunday morning out here.
I'm going out for pancakes, and I betcha' AWA is doing something similar- if AWA is awake.
We got a week's notice, or not even, since no email came, and we only saw the changeover if we logged in.
Our CTR has tanked a bit
More importantly, our ROI has tanked alot, and in fact, for google adwords, is in serious negative territoy.
We'd like to be able to get in and pause the campaigns before they eat up too much money.
And guess, what? Adwords login gives a DNS error.
When we talk to our rep next, she/he better be telling us something that will make us happy.
Yeah google adwords makes us 75% of our traffic. But only 20-25% of our revenue. Get the picture?
[edited by: Shak at 5:51 pm (utc) on Oct. 12, 2003]
[edit reason] Language Timothy, please! [/edit]
TIA
