CTR for last 7 days: 6.1%
CTR alltime: 12.3%
Current Status: Disabled due to low clickthrough rate.
:(
Maybe there is a "declining percentage" component to the disabling algorithm?
Unfortunately I also have words with a pretty good(by my standards ;)) clickthrough rate of 3-4%. However, every now and then the last 1000 impressions receive a ctr lower than 0.5% resulting in a disabled keyword. Perhaps google should increase the 1000 impressions or atleast consider the alltime ctr?
And 48 hours passed, no email recevied from Google!
What should I do now?
No email replied, no phone call can be reached!
God help me! God bless me!
Maybe only AdWordsAdvisor can help me at here! Are you around?
* When a keyword with a 'high' CTR is disabled, it really boils down to one thing: the keyword has not met the CTR standard, which is measured on Google alone.
* The standard is measured on Google alone, because we need to hold all advertisers to the same standard - and the one thing all advertisers have in common is that their ads show on Google.
* The 'high' CTR as shown in your statistics includes clicks from partner sites, where the keyword may have performed better than it did on Google alone. However, these clicks and impressions are not counted toward meeting the standard, for the reasons mentioned above.
* Google is exploring ways to break out the CTR as measured on Google alone, from the CTR as measured on partner sites.
* The most effective fix for low CTR is to avoid general keywords, and instead focus on more specific keywords. Then be sure that the ad that shows up is highly related to the keywords, paying special attention to the ad's title.
* The CTR standard is not particularly high: it is less than half of the average CTR, which is a bit above 2%.
Hope this helps!
* The CTR standard is not particularly high: it is less than half of the average CTR, which is a bit above 2%.
Why does your FAQ say the standard is .05%?
You said:
* The standard is measured on Google alone, because we need to hold all advertisers to the same standard - and the one thing all advertisers have in common is that their ads show on Google. (emphasis mine)
Myself, like many here, have experienced the huge influx of new ads due to the new automatic broadmatching. On some keywords, where in the past there were 6 - 8 advertisers total, there are now 4 - 6 pages before the first one repeats. Based on my overall CTR on page one - and assuming the Google-only CTR is lower than that - I don't see how anyone past page three is still showing. Is this something that will take care of itself in time or is Google "fudging" on its own stated 0.5% standard?
On a similar matter, I had a keyword that I tried this past month - it generated approximately 20,000 impressions but only about 50 clicks. A conversion rate of 0.1% - 80% below the stated amount needed to continue. Yet it continued to show. Does Google "pick and choose" or follow its standard absolutely?
seasalt
An outside possibility, but highly unlikely.
The ad racked up 5000 impressions on Google before it was approved for the partner sites. Conversion on Google alone was not any better.
seasalt
Is it any surprise Google want to bypass the analysis they'd get on Wall St, and sell shares direct to the poor unsuspecting public? I never thought I'd say it, but I look forward to the time Microsoft get their act together and offer us a proper ppc alternative!
Neil
* Google is exploring ways to break out the CTR as measured on Google alone, from the CTR as measured on partner sites.
AdWordsAdvisor, I do not know if you are a technical person, I am, so for Google to imply that there are technical issues (OK I am reading between the lines) does not stand up. I think there are negative business issues because you already have the data at your fingertips but do not want to show it.
What I think they are really trying to figure out is how to show the CTR on Google and not damage the Adwords business model.
Lets take a simple case.
Broadmatch, phrase, exact, KW has -
TOTAL CTR 2.5% (& more)
GOOGLE CTR 0.9%
Ad is banned.
I chose these figures as I have had this happen many times and judging from the posts at WebmasterWorld this has happened to many people.
Now ask yourself. "Who do these figures hurt?"
Google partners? No, they are getting clicks and money.
Advertisers? No, they are getting clicks and money.
Searchers? No, they clicked 2.5% so must have had some relevancy
Google? YES
Because ads shown on the right of the page are probably largely ignored.
I say 'probably' because of course I do not have stats. like Google has.
I suspect very strongly that this sort of scenario exists for a high proportion of KWs and *THAT* is the main reason they will not show the CTR at Google.
If this is the case then it fundamentally and negatively affects the Adwords business model.
Also I suspect there are many more business activities that the divulgence might impact on.
Would you kindly respond to the questions in MSG #8 and the comments in MSG #12.
seasalt
AdwordsAdvisor is not in a position to comment with authority unless he/she is in a very very senior position and then would definitely *not* comment for all the obvious reasons.
However I sure wish other forum members would throw their opinions into the ring.
Sure I am speculating, suppositioning, theorizing, and maybe even assumptioning (or is that assumtionizing). And maybe my premise is wrong 'cos it is just too darn hard to show that little ol' Google CTR in our accounts 'cos it is just too dag nab fancy a technical feat to perform by the technical staff.
No!
Any reasons are business reasons. Full stop.
But what are they?
What's your theory?
AdwordsAdvisor is not in a position to comment with authority...
Yeah, I kind of figured that. Just trying to press the issue.
I agree the technology is there to immediately show Google CTR. I think it is obvious they do not want it to show because the disparity between Google CTR and partner CTR can be large at times. It's just specific information they do not want the competition to readily see.
I envision them coming up with something like a needle display, and calling it the Googlometer, that shows how close or how far you are from being disabled because of Google CTR - without showing you the actual Google CTR . (I can see it now - someone trying to sell an e-book titled, "How to Stay in the Green") This way they can bend their rules - which I believe they do (and to a point is their prerogative). I just wish they would be upfront about it.
seasalt
As I mentioned in my initial post to this forum, my primary focus in posting here is to answer 'nuts and bolts' questions about how accounts operate, to offer suggestions as to how results might be improved, and so forth. This remains my focus, and it seems like a very worthwhile thing to do.
To be blunt for a moment, responding to theories and speculation regarding the AdWords business model, and similar topics, is decidedly not a part of my reason for being here.
So mostly, you'll find that I won't participate in speculation.
With that said, here are a few observations regarding post #8, and post #12.
* keywords are disabled by math. Either a keywords meets the standard (which is measured on Google alone, for the reasons mentioned elsewhere), or it does not. This is judged by an automated monitor. "Picking and Choosing" or "Fudging" is not a part of the algorithm.
* It is certainly no secret that the CTR for a keyword on Google alone can be considerably less than on partner sites. I mention this to advertisers every single day. Equally, however, the CTR might be considerably higher on Google. It pretty much depends on the industry, the market, the advertisement, the audience, and probably a whole slew of other variables.
AWA, now stepping down from soap box. ;)
"Theories and speculation" are generally the result of a lack of information - pertinent information, to be exact. This pertains to most anything in life.
We are not looking for you to spill the secret ingredients of the AdWords program. We are not that naive to think you would.
"keywords are disabled by math" - yes, we know that. Most everything Google does is by algorithm. What many here on this thread and forum are saying is "I know what Google has said are the parameters, so why is "this" or "that" happening?". Valid questions from a paying clientele. If you cannot tell us an answer, please be direct and not obfuscate or ignore the question.
Since I did not receive a direct answer to my questions I will answer them based upon what you have said.
1 You said the parameters are 0.5% CTR on Google for all ads except for expanded broad match terms which are 1.0% CTR on Google. Therefore all the ads on pages 4 - 6 in my original question are most definitely receiving CTRs equal to or greater than stated above.
2. My ad that had 50 clickthroughs for approximately 20,000 impressions - 0.025% CTR - continued to run because my Google clickthroughs received the minimum of 0.5%. Or in other terms, my Google CTR was around 20 times better than my partner CTR. I don't necessarily believe that, but if your standing by your word, then OK.
We appreciate you being here. It's just that so many of us have progressed beyond AdWords 101. We can tell when a system is not working quite right. I would hope you appreciate our concern.
You will find that those who are investing their own money to make a living, tend to pay more attention than those spending other peoples money. Believe me, I've been on both sides.
seasalt
Neil
You will find that those who are investing their own money to make a living, tend to pay more attention than those spending other peoples money. Believe me, I've been on both sides.
Ahmen brother!
I think the 1000 impressions needs to be increased, atleast for established keywords.
You will find that those who are investing their own money to make a living, tend to pay more attention than those spending other peoples money.
I really take offense to that statement.
If you know the parameters and they are consistent then it's the same rules for everyone and a level playing field.
The fact that ads are on page 4-6 means the number of impressions will be significantly lower for these advertisers than those on the first page.
The demographics of a google user is VERY different from an AOL user, or an Ask Jeeves user or a Yahoo user or an MSN user, this is why the results from Overture and Google and Espotting are different.
If you are trying to do well on Google then turn off syndication and content traffic and then you will have pure google results and then if the situations you have encountered occur you will have cause to complain.
Without knowing the specific keywords in question it would just be speculation why the keywords get switched off, similarly with regards to broad matching and/or phrase/exact and/or negatives can also play a role.
E.G. the word "keyword" is what a lot of users on AOL instigate a search for..... keyword widget, keyword widgets, keyword blue widgets. If you were trying to get traffic for the keyword "keyword" then you might get a bunch of clicks on AOL and zero on Google, relevant? I don't think so.
I'm sure that come the new year when the premium listings go to adwords advertisers that there will be complaints that there is too much traffic......
We pay far more attention to spending our clients money, because if we can't react to the system changes to get positive ROI then they become ex-clients.
It must be obvious that AdWords has turned from an excellent system, into bug-ridden crap.
Funny thing is it must be hurting Google as much as their advertisers. My company expenditure with Google is 90% down on before the changes. We just can't get any clicks (and it is in no way our fault, so don't start on that again).
Other people are getting clicks, such as the 5.7% ctr we've just heard of, yet they get their keyword disabled, and are then deliberately handicapped when they try to get the ad going again!
I tell you if Google try to float on the back of this crap, and portray everything is fine and growing profitably, then I'm going to look forward to seeing the Directors hauled off to Jail when they lose the small investors money under false pretences.
Neil
I really take offense to that statement.
Thank you for stating your opinion.
I still stand by mine.
If you know the parameters and they are consistent then it's the same rules for everyone and a level playing field.
I know the parameters. That's why when I see something that appears outside of the norm, I ask questions.
Without knowing the specific keywords in question it would just be speculation why the keywords get switched off..
My keywords weren't getting switched off. They were staying on with a ridiculously low CTR - 1/20 the minimum required. While most here are concerned about being disabled even when they have great CTR, I had the opposite occur. I thought there may be a correlation. If not, I just wanted to show it's possible for Google to have a bug(s) in AdWords.
AdWords, at any time, may have bugs. After all, it is software created by humans. How many patches and security alerts has MS issued over the years? At least that is a partial, albeit anemic, admission of fallibility. Google seems to like our feedback, but also likes a one way street. In my years in manufacturing, I always appreciated suppliers who admitted "we're having a few problems right now". If I could see they were working to fix those problems, I still used them. Why? Because they were a quality company for me to be buying from them in the first place. Just because Google is in the tech/IT/software sector, it doesn't mean they shouldn't follow basic business principles.
I'm sure that come the new year when the premium listings go to adwords advertisers that there will be complaints that there is too much traffic
This has already happened to most of my keywords. I like it. It has pushed a lot of the dead wood out.
seasalt
...Everytime I try to use a keyword that's been previously disabled, it gets disabled again almost instantly.
ASFx2600, it sounds as if you are not deleting the disabled keyword where ever it appears in your account, before you're trying to re-use it. If you delete the keyword first, then re-enter it (preferably in its own very targeted Ad Group), then you will get very nearly 1000 additional impressions.
On the other hand, if you re-use the keyword without first deleting it every place in which it occurs, then the word will be disabled again almost instantly. Why? Well, because the word is still disabled from its previous use.
...Sometimes with my best keyword the last 1000 impressions don't generate 0.5 CTR. Its very frustrating that you cant update your add to try using the keyword again.
Reflection, you can certainly try the keyword again. See above for comments. Other things you may want to try:
* If you had the word as a broad match, try it again as a phrase or exact match. This will often improve your CTR, because it usually makes the word more targeted.
* Most disabled keywords are simply too general. Try making the word more focused on what you actually have to offer. If you've been using the keyword 'widgets' when in fact you sell deep fried widgets, then drop the general keyword 'widgets' and instead run on keywords like 'deep fried widgets'. Your CTR will improve, and you'll also have more pre-qualified customers seeing your ad.
* Use negative keywords to prevent your ad from showing for irrelevant searches.
Example: you are using the broad matched keyword 'widgets', but you don't sell red, pink, or mauve widgets. You also don't sell widget instruction manuals, widget knurling kits, or smokeless widgets. So you'd add the following negative keywords to your keyword list:
-pink
-red
-mauve
-instruction
-instructions
-manual
-manuals
-knurling
-smokeless
-smokefree
Hope this sheds a little light.
AWA
