Content VS. Search resulds

[Mike_Barnes]

I have been running a campaign for about a week now.
When creating the campaign I chose to have impressions appear in both "content" and "search".

I have found some of my ads in various content (like about.com) but haven't really seen it elsewhere...

This is a 2 part question for your advice:

1) how do I find out where google is running my content ads?

2) there is a HUGE differnece in the stats on my content ads vs. my search ads:

content = 11500 impressions 0.7 CTR
search = 400 impressions 12.3 CTR

and I have received about 60% of my clicks from content...

I'm wondering if I don't actually know if this content is being run in an area that is TRULY targeted towards my audience, than could I be wasting money?

I'm also tempted to just drop the content ads altogether based on the CTR, and based on the fact that google is shutting my search ads down for a percentage of the day due to my budget...

advice?

[james_allot]

Mike_Barnes, Welcome to Webmasterworld.

1) how do I find out where google is running my content ads?

There is no way you can find out the source of traffic (from Adwords account). But you can find out the number of clicks which you got from content network, which you already have figured that out. You can consider analysing your raw log files. With the help of log files you can determine the source of traffic. In order to track properly you can consider using tracking URLs in your campaign. For example one of your destination URLs can be
www.example.com?source=adwords+keyword

where ?source=adwords+keyword is the tracking parameter.
After using such tracking parameters you can use log file analysing software to track the source of traffic.

I'm wondering if I don't actually know if this content is being run in an area that is TRULY targeted towards my audience, than could I be wasting money?

That can be a possibility.

In the end if it is not profitable for you to run the ads, then you should very well shut down your ads in content network. You can try out search network to see how well it performs for you and then make a decision.

Hope this helps:)

[mike_ppc]

Mike, a few hints:
1. That difference is normal. These are the usual results. And your Search CTR is very good.
2. In "search", in your account stats it's also included Google Search itself.
3. Usually it takes some time (1-2 weeks) till your ads are approved and served on Search&Content Network. Only on Google it is served immediately (with a few exceptions).
4. Track all clicks, but particularly carefully Content clicks (especially if they are 60% of total). Usually Content Impressions are not very targeted (it's another "procedure") and very often Content Clicks have lower conversions (and ROI).
Hope that helps.