I have a critical keyword that consistently has an adequate CTR - around 2.4 - and solid impressions, but regularly is listed as being "At risk". (I make changes to the match type or ad content to keep it from being disabled, but it's a temporary fix.)
In the same Ad group, I have keywords with lower CTR and the same impressions that are listed as strong.
Is there something about the keyword content or match type that would flag it for tougher scrutiny?
I would not worry about it mate.
I often have record breaking CTRs, which still show "at risk"...
personally I dont even bother looking at them these days.
Shak
To Shak's response, I'd add the short list of nuts and bolts details below. This topic has been covered at much greater length in many threads over the past few months, btw, so a site search might net you more info.
The nuts and bolts:
* Ad performance in terms of positioning and whether the keyword will continue to run is measured on Google alone, exclusive of all partner sites.
* The 'Status' column in your stats indicates how your keyword is doing on Google alone.
* The CTR column in your stats reflects how you are doing on Google and partner sites.
* So an keyword 'At risk' keyword with a 2.4% CTR is not doing very well with Google's audience, but is doing well on partner sites.
* And a keyword marked 'Strong', but with a low CTR, is doing well on Google, but not so well on partner sites.
Is there something about the keyword content or match type that would flag it for tougher scrutiny?
No, it all boils down the performance of that keyword and the ad that shows when it is searched. The better the match between keyword and ad, the better you'll do with CTR - as a rule.
AWA
When you say "you don't worry about them", does that mean that your high CTR, at risk kwds never actually get disabled?
My main "bread and butter" kwd suddenly went to at risk status, while having over 3% ctr. I pay on average $1000
for that kwd alone - it is a good deal for me and the Google. It wouldn't make sense for them to disable it, just because it is not doing so well on Google.
I don't wan't to mess with the setup (don't fix it if it ain't broken approach), but the whole situation makes me a little worried.
Google's response that says they need to take into account only google CTR for uniformity sake is pure baloney as far as I am concerned - as if they are not making any money off of the partner sites?
I don't quite understand the logic that the stats are based on "Google clicks alone" - especially since this is really the first I have heard that particular distinction.
We are *actively* targeting AOL & ASK users and we get the clicks, Google gets the money, and my clients get to work with customers who are searching for them using the trademarked name.
We track actual conversions carefully and know the non-Google clicks represent our targeted demographic because we see the relative conversion rates. Content CTR also appears to be good as well.
This seemed to be working well for all parties - in fact the client wants to roll this out further.
Then we get disabled on our very own name?
I can't imagine what I'm going to tell the client on Monday morning.
Early on, I even wrote emails to their customer service kicking and screaming and threatening to abandon the infuriating service.
To their credit, AW customer service has always helped out, offered feedback and assistance, and done as much to make it easier as possible. (Bear in mind, customer service can only work with what they've got.)
The problem is the learning curve is huge (way too many man-hours for a small business operator), and the methods that determine "at-risk" and "disabling" should be reconsidered.
But for any newbies out there, I'll add this: after the first (traumatic) month, it's been mostly smooth sailing. This forum is exceptionally helpful. Search it often. Once you get your head around it, AW is pretty fantastic.
You might even make enough ROI to cover the treatments for your new ulcer.
I2
